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OF 

WARREN GOCKTY, lUINOIS, 



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Full [Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent 
and Representative Citizens of the County, 

TOCrETHER 'WITH 

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS AND 
OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Also €ontfiininf/ A Histoftf of tlut County, from its Eai-tiest Settlement 

U2* to the Present Time. 



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CHICAGO : 
CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 

1886. 

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'E have completed our labors in writing and compiling the Portrait and Bio- 
iiGRAPHiCAL Album of this county, and wish, in presenting it to our patrons, to speak 
briefly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duty 
of tlie present to commemorate the past, to perpetuatethe names of the pioneers, 
to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the story of their progress. 
le civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and this solemn duty which 
men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity. 
demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, andto waft down the river of time a safe 
vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this region from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the noble men, who in their vigor and prime 
came early to the county and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their 
graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is 
becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of his- 
torical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only 
is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer times full and accurate, but it is also essen- 
tial that the history of the county, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various 
phases, so that- a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to the future. The present the age 
of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times; it is a brilliant 
record, which is destined to live in the future; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, theii 
lives, whether commercial or military, do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrary, grow brighter with age, 
and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will 1 e advanced and 
observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten and their very names hidden in obscurity. 

In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual care and pains were 
taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated 
indifferently ; and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published. 
As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous represent- 
ative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented 
in this department; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose 
portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the call- 
ings and professions worthy to be given. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with 
those given; but of course it was impossible for us to give portraits of all the leading men and pioneers 
of the county. We are under great obligation to many of the noble and generous people of this county 
for kindly and material assistance in the preparation of this Album. 



Chicago, March, i886. 



CHAPMAN BROTHERS. 



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HE Father of our Country was 

% born in Westmorland Co., Va., 
a Feb. 22, 1732. His parents 
ji were Augustine and Mary 
(Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged has not 
been satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John, 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of si.v children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
mathematics. His spelling was rather defective. 



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Remarkable stories are told of his great physical 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 t, though only 19 years of 
age, he was aiipointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



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GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



trip was a perilous one, and several limes lie came near 
losinj^ his lite, yet he returned iit s.itety and furnished 
a full and useful report ot liis exitedilion. A regiment 
of 300 nien was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua J'lv, and Major AVashinglon was 
(Xinimissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most inijxjrtant part. In the 
memorable event of Jidy 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
of disiinctior. who escajied from the calamities of the 
day with life and lionor. The other aids of liraddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that cai)acity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says : "1 had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was levelin", my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

.Vfter having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
look advantage uf the fall of Fort Dutiuesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
to resign his commission. .Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and imixjrtant part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Custis. 

When the British Parliament had closed llie port 
of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of \'irginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
delphia,Se|)t. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were jjlainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
responsiljlc office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a memlier of the Congress. He accepted 
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keej) an exact account 
of expenses and expect Congress 10 pav them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided, 'i'he war was conducted by 
him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often inet with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 17S3, Washington, in 
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
to the Continental Congress sitting at AnnaiKilis. He 
retired immediately to Mount \ernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection wilh public life. 

In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously 
elected I'resiileiit. In his presidential career ht was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the pari 
of other governments; trials from want of hamiony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgujeiit could discern the golden mean; and 
while perhaps tlfis alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were ofien bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of 
]Hililic life. Later in the year, however, his reiKise j 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. *J 
.\t the prospect of such a war he was again urged to | 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superinter.ded from his. 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
his life was suddenly cut off. December 1 2, he took 
a seveie cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in Irs throat, ])roduced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of llie fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force i)f his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
the reverence of all jjarties, and principles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The person of Washington was unusally tall, erect 
and well |)roiX)rtioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. 
He commanded respect without any appearance of 
haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. 



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SECOND PRESIDENT. 







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OHN ADAMS, the second 
, President and the first Vice- 
' President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
""^ miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed liimself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the lowii. He 
had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been turned from this by wliat he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,"' 
of tlie oper.itions of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick perceii- 
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu- 



^'W^P^i 



tions he offered on the subject became very popular 
throughout the Provnice, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the jxipular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguislied himself 
by his capacity for business and for deljate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against the 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume tlie duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of five 
apix)inted June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife, 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in .America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will lie a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celel>rated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with iwmp, showsi 



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JOHN ADAMS. 



games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, tlirough all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which 1 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was ajjpointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Benijamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In Septeuiljer of the same year he was again 
cliosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might l)e found willing to listen to such i)ioposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
H )lland, where he negotiated im[iortant loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. .Adams had passed 
threw him into a fevei. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping ancfdespond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot, he made the trij). 

February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. .\s England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. .\dams fell that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
his own country, where he arrived in June, 17 88. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiions by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .\gain 
at the second election of W^ishington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elet ted President, though not without nuich opposition. 
S>,'rving in this office four vears,he was succeeded by 
Mr. JeTerson, his opponent in politics. 

While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 
• K 



F'rench Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the F'rench people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist philosojihers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefl'erson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted i)i beh.iif of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two jxiwerful ])arties were thus soon organ- 
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
ajiiueciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look ujion his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and huw he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
-good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
su[)porting. In 1824, his cup of ha|)piness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left uiKin the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly iiilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
DErKNnK.NcK. FORKVER," When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was.' He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious founh of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spiiit into the hands of his God. 

The personal apjiearance and manners of Mr. 
.Adams were not jjarticulaily prepossessing. His face, 
as his ]iortrait manifests.was intellectual ard ex]>res- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were fre<pieiitly abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Jefferson. 



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4.6 ■ ■ 



THIRD PRESIDENT. 



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27 





HOMAS JBFFEB 




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HOMAS JEFFERSON was 

born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
!&^\vell, Albermarle county, Va. 
His parents were Peter and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and t\yo sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion 
a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
able in Iiis morals. It is" strange, however, under 
such influences,that he was not ruined.' In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for e.x- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
high intellectual culture, alike e.xcellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls ; and 




•J^ 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow. 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon, 
became the most distinguished resort in our land. 

In 177s he was sent to the Cclonial Congress, 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed upon a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 




^ 



28 



, .v^::^ 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



*% 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was charged witii the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, wliich, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to tlie world, free, 
sovcrign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
markable ])apers ever written ; and did noother effort 
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, ;.s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Monticcllo, to capture the (lovernor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after tlie hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by this e.xcitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two yeirs later he was a|)pointed Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 

' Jan. I, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 

- dent, and four years later was elected President over 

Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 

I 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimii), 

I and George Clinton, Vice President.. 

^ The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adniinstra- 

Ition was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
trancpiilily and peace of the Union ; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an imprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military exi)edition into the Sjjanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the pur[)ose of forming tliere 
a new republic. This has been generally sup|)osed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from [xslitical life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, lie had been continually before the ]>ub- 
lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and Ujwn the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticelio. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
(,ife at Monticelio, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable walerinc- place. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 

great preparations were made in every part of the 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's Jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
ot the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer, 
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to |)articipate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, comjjelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wisii that 
he might be permitted to breathe tie airof the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rajjlure through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble coi.summation of a noble 
life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,-- • 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, . 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, "^ 
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. • 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear j 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for tne good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in afterlife became 
white and silvery ; his compk'xion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and his command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a jiassion. 
His manners, though dignified, were sim[)le and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and 
his language was remarkably pure and corret t. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best models of antiquity. 



-^ 



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:)('. 



FOURTH PRESIDENT. 






3' 



^priQES n]:aDisoi]. 




^ 




AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
President of the United States, 
was born March i6, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
*^ June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparabl)- con- 
nected with most of the important 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great repubUc were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The-Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing uix)n a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
political attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most i"' 




prudent zeal ; allowing himself, for months, but- three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsr ■ , 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of e.xtensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mmd 
suigularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the E.\ecutive Council. 

Botli Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their ai)preciation of his 



*% 



A 



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32 



JAMES MADISON. 



intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
1 7 80, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
the most consjjicuous positions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elected a n)ember of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeiily than Mr. Madison the 
utter inethcicncy of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no power to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
the declaration, that an etificient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to ajjpoint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were re[)resented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
delegates to Phitadelpliia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
the time appointed. Kvery State but Rhode Island 
'was represented. (George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little ix)wer at home and little respect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
States, expounding the princiiiles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Rei)re- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs, Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable jxjwer of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
<pieenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destroyed our commerce, and 
our flag was e.xposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and [jlacesthem on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Covernment coidd induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the tSth of June, t8t2. President Madison gave 
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the F'ederal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, ts'13, was re-elected by a large majority, 
and entered upon his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in gra[)- 
pling with the most formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the LTnited States under blockade. 

The Emi)eror of Russia offered his services as me 
ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by v<'ay of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
metropolis. The wliole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war. \\t met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
caiitured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, i8i5,the treaty of peace was signed atGhent. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder oC.his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 



4->- 



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^^^^^'^^^^^^^^ ^^-z__ 



i- 



, — ^ir:=:; — 

FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 





PEQES n]01]^0B. 








*f* 



\ AMES MONROE, the fifth 
S>- Presidentof The United States, 
was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
life was passed at the place of 
nativity. His ancestors had for 
many years resided in the prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of age, in the process 
of .completing his education at 
William and Mary College, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate upon the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Great Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
tending with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
political emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 

■ ■ A • 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the leffj.l 
shoulder. «c 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy- 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-canip; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unremitting energy for the public good. 






36 



JAMES MONROE. 



-^^^^ 



4 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
the Congress of the United States. 

Deeplyas Mr. Monroe felt the im|)erfei tionsof theold 
Confederacy, he was opposed totlie new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republican party, 
that it gave too much powt-r to the Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
supj)orters, and who, notwithstanding his ojiposition 
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Re[)alilican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central (jovernment as little power, and the State 
Governments as much iwwer, as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists symjjathized with England, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much power to the 
Central Government as that document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure i)atriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conllict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should hel|i our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opposed the I'res- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to trance to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Spain. Tneir united efforts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
This was i)robably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world 

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of our 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. but Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
Madison. While in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. L^jion the return of 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec- 
tion held the jjrevious autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the important measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the L'nited States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1S23. At that 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American slates, and did not wish 
to have European powers longer attempting to std)- 
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "That we sliouUl consider any attempt 
on the part of European ])owers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this heniisijhere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interposition for the pur]K)se of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
I)owers of an unfriendly dis|)osition toward the United 
States." This doctrine immediatelv affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the ap[)roved 
sentiment of the United States. 

At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831. 



la: 



V 




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SIXTH PRESIDENT. 



39 



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30511 QUIRGY ^D^EQS. 



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OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
sixth President of the United 
^Slates, was born in the rural 
home of his honored father, 
John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., 
on the I I th of July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
worth, watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant ab- 
sence of his father. When but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
his mother on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his fattier for Europe, 
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
ihe notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. Jolin Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
John Quincy" accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to study; then accom pained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then 
the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

In this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Tliis long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence, 



*% 



in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent; 
examining arctiitectural remains, galleries of paintings, 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. After 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive; 
Init with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty, 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Gieat Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight in 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as 
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. ■\\"hile waiting he was married to an 
American lady to whom he. had been previously en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London; 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
elevated sphere for which she was destined. 



LA J 



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■^-^ 



40 



/OZ/JV QUINCY ADAMS. 



4 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
wiiere he reuuiincd until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
filled all the purix)ses of his mission, he solicited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1S04. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential memliers 
of that l)ody. Especially did he sustain the Ciovern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
familiar with the arrogance of the Britisli court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
Qiiincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; wliile he 
kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Euroiie, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All tlirough life the Bible constituted an important 
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately apiwinted Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Eurojie, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. f)n the 
i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in (Juincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. .\dams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party s[)irit was never more bitter. Two luindred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, forty -one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
seven. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question wei-.t to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. ,\(l:ims. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
the past history of our country than the abuse which 



was jxjured in one uninterrupted stream, u[X)n this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams ; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. \\'hen at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In W'ashington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
jxjrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, wliich he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occu|)iedthe jxjst as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloquent." Uj^n taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought fi)rward and escape his scrutiny. The 
battle whiih Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in Its moral daring and lieroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination ; 
but no tlireats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when liis 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore yeais, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed torei)eat every night, before 
he slept, the jjrajer which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2istof February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is tin- endof carlli ."then after a moment's 
))ause he added, '' I am conUnt" These were the 
last words of the grand " C)ld Man Eloquent." 



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S£ VENTH PRESIDENT. 



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43 













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NDREW JACKSON, the 
seventh President of the 
'f United States, was born in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. C, 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were poor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took up 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest jMverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but very 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
blow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
diiabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
mother was successful in obtaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long illness 
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

Andrew supported himself in various ways, such as 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
with the Sharp Knife. 

In 17 9 1, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand,' 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack- 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedclphia, where Congress then held its 



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44 



ANDRE IV JACKSON. 



1, 



sessions, — a distance of about eight luindred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic pirty. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
Jaikson took his seat. Gen. Washington, wliose 
second term of oflice was then expiring, delivered his 
last s|)eech to Congress. A committee drew Lip a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his Slate, which position he held fjr si.x years. 

WIk'u the war of 181 2 witii Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred uixsn him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
were assenil)led at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack I'.pon New Orleans, where Gen. \Vilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend tlie river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this ex[)edition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering upon a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were commiiting the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action becanie necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
one of the bendsof the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suply of arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed .\ few probably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. 'Phis ended the war. 'Phe 
[lower of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
so a|)palled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than (ien. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in .\ugust, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force ui)on the beach, anchored near tlie little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. .\l length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
.\nd the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. 'Phis won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. .Xt the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life wew that of a devoted Christian man. 



N^ 



V 



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EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 



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47 






m^ 




W\\M 







ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
eighth President of the 
United States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
[)lace, July 24, 1862. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a [ilain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about half way up on one face. 
The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and e.xemplary piety. 

He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in his native village, 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with ' 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights; though at that time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him, 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, the 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years, 
constantly gaining strength by co'ntending in the 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mr. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In T 81 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



"T 



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1 



48 



I 



. ■ YTZ: . 

MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



%* 



the moral courage to avow lliat true democracy did 
not reciuire that " universal suffrage " which admits 
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
jiath leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of the 
State. 

In 1 82 I he was elected a member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native State. His course in this convention secured 
the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous position as anactiveand useful legislator. 

In I.S27, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
the Senate. He had lieen from the beginning a de- 
termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
"State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 
. Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John (). 
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded throughout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
It was supjxjsed that no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
organize a jwlitical army which would, secretly and 
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
these powers it is said tliat lie outv/itted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
apix.inted Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
IK)sition he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
appointed Minister to England, where he went the 
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 



home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in liehalf of his repudiated favor- 
ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu- 
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
upon him the power to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
'I'he insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which spread over tTie country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re-election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the " F'ree Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived tjuietly upon- his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, 
he still exerted a powerful influence ujxjn the politics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 



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=—- . ^y. . 

NINTH PRESIDENT. 



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51 




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I 



ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the ninth President of 
the United Stales, was born 
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. g, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, w as early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
i William Henry, of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
then repaired to Philadelphia tostudy medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



*t 



dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
From that time lie passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called '" The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included' what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the thiid a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About 



\ 



r 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



\ 



the year 1806, two extraordinary mer, twin brothers, 
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among thcni. Or.e ot 
these was called Teciunseh, or " The Crouching 
I'anther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or "'I"he Hropliet. " 
Tecuniseh was not only an Indian warrior, Init a man 
111 great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise ni which he might 
engage. He was inspired with the higiiest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites iqion the liunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of llie untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

But the I'rophet was not merely an orator: lie was, 
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the suiierhunian dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tril)e to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
ijy the Great Spirit. 

(jov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Ti[)pe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
October 2S, 1812, his army began its inarch. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their ai)pearance and inquired why Gov. Harriion was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of [)cace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by suih protes- 
tations Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
His troops were (wsted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troo|js threw themselves upon the ground for 
rtst; but every man iiad his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bajonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation whicli superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, u))on the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been anqjly provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was acconi pained by a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
ous yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge witli the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing the foe. 



(jov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending troni tire Can- ' 
adas, were ot themselves a very forniidal)le force ; but 
with their savage allies, rusliing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, i)lundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive, i 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the ; 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with tlie conflagra- ' 
tionofthe cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
was appointed by President Madison commander-in- ' 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but ■ 
Cleneral Harrison was found ecjual to the position, ' 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- I 
sponsibilities. \ 

He won the love of his soldiers by al.vays sharing • 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket^ 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British otticers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was lieef roasted 
before the lire, without bread or salt. 

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member 
the National House of Representatives, to represe 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an, 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of elo{|uence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1S19, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the [>residential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United .States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of t>en. Harrison brought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
iMr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nomipated by his 
|)arty, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler tor the A'ice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triunqjh was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of .\pril ; just one month after 
his, inauguration as President of the United States. 



;ed 

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int 



V 








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TENTH PRESIDENT. 



SS 





I OHN TYLER, the tenth 
Presidentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored child of af- 
fluence and liigh social po- 
sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
but seventeen years old. .\fter 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self witli great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and partly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 
At nineteen years of age, ne 
' !j-jj commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
et of the court in which he was 
not retained. When but twenty-one vears of age, he 
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-si.x yeais of age, he was elected 

a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 

ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national 

jbank, internal improvements by the General Govern- 



-^ 



ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con- 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in C'ongress 
Avere so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

Jolm Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, thtn represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. .A portion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the (Jen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the piinciples of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
his profession. There was a split in the Democratic 

A • ■ ■' ' . „ 



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yONA' TYLER. 



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party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jct- 
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forly-si.x. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
seijnence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took, his seat in the Legislature of N'irginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to non)inate a President in 
1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known tliat he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in theNoith: but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time, President Harri.^on died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
une.xpected tidings of tiie death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
ofHce. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his longlife he had been 
opposed to the main jirinciples of tlie party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig caljinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus suiround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own.' or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the ])arty 
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
views which the ^V'higs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccomnunded a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
his veto. He suggested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn uj) uix)n such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botls, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opi)osition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. 'The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
between the VVhigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the jjiessure of his Whig friends. 'Thus 
the four years of Mr. 'Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The ' 
land was filled with murmurs and vitu])eration. ^^'higs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratie candidate for his suc«essor. 

On the 4tii of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, to the regret of neither pnrty, and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tylci was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young l.ady of 
many personal and intellectual .accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Slicrwood For- 
est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished wilh information from 
books and experience in the world, and |X)ssessing 
brilliant ])owers of conversation, his family circle was 
the scene of unusual attractions. \\'ith sufficient 
means for the exeix:ise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have enjoved a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
lX)licy had heliied to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures (o destroy, by 
force of arms, the Government over wlii( h he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 



LAJ 



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ELE VENTH PRESIDENT. 



59 




^. ents 





liaPresident of the United States, 



was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
' of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first pioneers, in 1735. 

In the.year i3o6, with his wife 
and children, ar.d soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk farnly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. I'olk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
pririciples of morality. His health was frail ; and his 



father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoyjing to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disappointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the liest scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's fatlier was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
and James K. Polk ever adliered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a pofnilar public speaker, and was 
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



V" 



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JAMES K. POLK. 



^, 



courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the jo) s and griefs of others whicli ever gave 
hiin troops of friends. In 1S23, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., 'I'enn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, — a la<ly of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction whic h he gave 
to liis constituents may l)e inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinued in that office. He tlien voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might acceiit the Gubernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he s|X)ke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
^formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southeiu usage, Mr, Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
l)er, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. Tlie verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the Americhn Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime. Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
two hundred miles further wesl, to the Rio (irande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, whii li was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took (ilace, and war 
was declared against Mexico by President I'olk. Tlie 
war was pushed forward by Mr. I'olk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of " occu|)ation," 
then of '■ invasion," was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. 'I'he day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her cai)ital was in our hands. 
^Ve now consented to peace upon the condition that 1 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 1 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of " 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This I 
was an extent of territory ecpial to nine States of the 1 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen ' 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Gf this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 31I of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good With an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranciuility and hapjiiness were before him. But the 
cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 



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. ^^r;^=; 

TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



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ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 
President of the United States, 
was born on the 24th of Nov., 
1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
father. Colonel Taylor, was 
a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
*^^ tinguished patriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
ier home, away from civilization and 
all its refinements, young Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, fearless and self-reliant, and 
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In iSoS, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and lie joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in i8i2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
led by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk' 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war-whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Eveiy man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, MajorTaylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



4; 



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64 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 



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tellectual stiinulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
years rolled on Ciradually lie rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the IJlack-Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty-four years Col. 'I'aylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond tire limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
in the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
had promised they should do. The services rendered 
here secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Cloverninent; and as a reward, he was elevated 
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevetT and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was aiipointed to the chief com- 
mand of the United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of sucli wearisome employment 
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. 'Faylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama andCeorgia. Establishing his headtjuarters 
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for ^^•■I'i years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed upon him. 

In 1S46, Oen. Taylor was sent to guard tlie land 
between the Nueces and Rio (irande, the latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
was brought on, and at Palo .Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma, (ien. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
\.\\z sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' 

The tidings of the linlliant victory of Buena Vista 
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name of (ien. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
^Vhig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen toil; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in jwlitics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long years in the jjublic service found 
their claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 



had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It IS said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " it is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloipient speaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umijhantly elected over two opjwsing candidates, — 
Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. 'I'he pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi- 
tions were fitting out to cai)ture Cuba ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, wliile slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians. 

In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the Qih of July, 1850. 
His last woids were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people ; and the Nation bitteriy la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acipiainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character: — " With a good store of 
common sense. Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
ipienco. The frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and (piite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side [locket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short, 
few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor- 
saving contempt for learning of every kind," 



"t" 



1^ 



-hU= 



Xi^ 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



67 





T ^' — s-sr 



I ^'MILLflRn FILLMnHE.^4 I 











ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President of the United 
^" States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 7th of January, iSoo. His 
y father was a farmer, and ow- 

ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she [Xjssessed an intellect 
ofveryliigh order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, u'hich he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain fanner's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



^ 



•JVL 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate; 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
^\'ood, — who was struck with the jirepossessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion about 
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls 
and then enters a law office, who is by no means as 



!j 



4» 



68 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



"l^ 



well prepared to i)rosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at tlie end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

Ill 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of Co-umon Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in foitune or in fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acqiiiremenls, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. *Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
County. Thougli he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and lie found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature, still the testimony comes from all parties, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degn e the resiiect of his associates. 

In tlie autumn of t832, he was elected to a seat in 
the United .States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing re|)- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- 
rience as a representative gave him strength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more tiian an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear uixin the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his iwpularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State. 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting alxaut to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in tiunipet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesofZachary Taylor ar.d Millard Fillmore became 
tlie rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. C^n the 4th of March, 1849, 
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

t)n the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura-"| 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi-I 
dent. He api)ointed a very able cabinet, of which" 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. i 

Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the ojiposition had a majority in both- 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South : but the i)ro-slavery party in the South felt 
theinadeiiuacyof all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the (}overnment should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan, .\fter that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supixised that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 



t— •- 





'mz^ 



. .v- . 

FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



Xj- 












RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
fourteenth President of the 
United States, was born in 
Hillsborongh, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of infle.xible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire,— an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Frankhn was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in bodv, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most popular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
.gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four years. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1S34, he married Miss Jane 
Means .^ppleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with wliich her husband was honoied. Of the 



¥ 



-f^-^ 



72 



^ — 

FRANKLIN FIERCE. 



^ 



^ 



three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in tliis war, ])roving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo-. 

. cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. -He resumed the practice of his profession, 
ver) fretjuently taking an active part in political ques- 

; tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the i2th of June, 1852, the Uemocratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
otlier candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
was therefore inaugurated Tresident of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
country had ever experienced. The controversy be- 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
culminating point. It liecame evident that there was 
an " irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it w-as all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the Nortli on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thorouglily alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4tli of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or ciiild. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
i86g. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the Kpiscopal 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
erous to a fault, he contiibuted liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 



■< 



V 



i T _jL 



t^.^.jS'tsa'ta5'.^ta?'«as'(^ij^i^t^t^«»^ca.' 



^'^t^'^tgSi'^'gSit^'^'^l':^' -• i' : 




rv: 



FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



^ 



7-; 




'.^ '^ji'^':^'^'^! ^^■Sga«^<i'iS>'^T»^ t^, 



^M^?IP« 



•:i>i:S.i.^t^.iS3tg^i^^>gi3<^ii^(^(^(%^^ 






-7»^^ 





AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 

.teenth President of the United 

^y States, was born in a small 

V®] l/J frontier town, at the foot of the 

^■^ eastern ridge of the Allegha- 



nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on 
3 the 23d of April, 1791. The place 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
a/EIma - Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a r;ative of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked jiis claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
cluded liome, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantages. When James was eight yeaisof age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
jirogress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
tlie first scliolars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, antl yet bis native powers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
facility. 

In the year iSog, he graduated witli tlie highest 
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty -one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest law)ers of the State. When but 
twentv-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 01 e of the 
judges of tlie State, who was tried upon articles of 
impeachment. .\t the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House, 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his ])rofession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright ar.d Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri- 



)\- 



4 



^6 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 






^ 



sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country; and defended the course 
of the President in liis unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from otifice of tliose who were not the sup- 
porters of his administration. Upon tlris question he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, witii voice and vote, advocated ex|)unging 
from tlie journal of the Senate tiie vote of censure 
against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents liy the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
tliat the rei)ly sliould l)e returned, that Congress had 
no power to legislate ui)on tlie sul)ject. " Congress," 
said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now e.xists." 

Upon .Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
: of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of tlie course our Government pursued in that 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
tlie party devoted to the perpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all tlie energies of his raind 
to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the I'residency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to Kngland. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side ; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
ceived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The poindar vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
March 4th, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
years were wanting to fill up his tlireescore years «lnd 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
allied in political principles and action for years, were 
seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
wildered. He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently opix)se the State-rights party in 
tlieir assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faitlifuUy to administer the laws, 
lie could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He tlierefore did nothing. 

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominaied Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next I'residential canvass. The pro-slavery 
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Wasliington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
the United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympatliy with the pro-slaver)- 
party was such, that he had been willing to offerthem 
far more tlian they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had [irofessed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention ufxDn the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of tiie Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress liad no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitiable exhibitions of •governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared tliat Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State which had ■ withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from the Union. Tiiis 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed, " The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three montiis before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston ■ FortSumpter 
was besieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
appropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

Tiie administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
jileasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict wliicli rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our countrv's 
banner should trium|)li over the flag of the rebellion. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 





t-'A^LjW^t^TzJ^ 



-6-?^^ 



i* 



SIXTEENTH PRESIDEa\'T. 



79 



aa5:^5ugs2S3a^^^f^^^53sa 







ABRAHAM > #>#€& < LINCOLN. > I 









BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
sixteenth President of the 
reunited States, was horn in 
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
1 809. About the year 1 7 80, a 
man by the name of Abraham 
"^ Lincohi left Virginia with his 
family and moved into the tlien 
wilds of Kentucky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth forever be enrolled 
with the most [)rominent in the annals of our world. 
Of course no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin ; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
laborer in the fields of others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he buill a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of anoliier family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was .\bralxim Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
"All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
ful son "I owe to my angel-mother. 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could. obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and_ 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. -^ 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
education, and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate ; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Lord thy God in vain ;" and a profane expression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer 
amoftg the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippT-<to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven- 









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ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



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ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
his return tney placed a store and n.ill mider his care. 
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted a:id was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from .'\iulrew 
Jackson the appointmentof Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-ottice was his hat. All the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Si)ringfield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stviart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred niilus to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

r In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 

I Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery c[iiestion. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that parly. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 

■ notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
slavery cpiestion, and he took the broad ground of 
.he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the i6th of June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded tiie city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
nrominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: 
and aslittledid he dream that he was to render services 
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
aplaceinthe affections of his countrymen, second 
only, if second, to that of Washington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes' out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitution.iUy elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that was jwured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his 
way making siJceches. The wiiole journey was frought 
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, ujxjn his arrival to" get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an 
une.xpected hour of the night. The train started at 
half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great an.\iety was felt by all loyal people. 

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
innwrtant positions. 

During no other administration havo ihe duties 
devolving u|)on the President been so manifold, and 
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo*h personal and national. Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Li.'.coln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been 
made fur his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
to oneof tliem. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would be present. Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, with liis characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disappointment if lie should f.iil them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the play an actor by the name of John AVilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of tlie world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in sijeechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country will 
live with that of Washington's, iis father; his country- 
men being unable to decide which is the greater. 



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SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



83 





NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
'States. The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
was born December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class of tlie 
"poor whites " of the South, were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave hira the book, 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on- 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos- 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven .years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature, 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1 84 1, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these res))onsible posi- 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abil- 



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ANDREW JOHNSON. 



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ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and bjcome merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the free States of the North should return to the 
South i)ersons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
^ said he 0:1 the floor of the Senate, "I do not forget 
that I an a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
> ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston- Baltimore convention of i860, he 
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
.Presidency. In i86r, when the purpose of the South- 
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, A|)ril 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent 



opiX)sition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted ujxjn that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilly 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States .Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at tlie special 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 A. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect. 



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EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



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87 



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LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
,^ eighteenth President of the 
'■"'United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a liumble 
vi ••'.iI.;,L'i-4^7 home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
I'oint. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhiliition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 



side of the animal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned witli his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sunipter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed liy 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the isth of 



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UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 



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June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing tlie enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
' victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Crrant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. 'I'his won for liim un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
and enter upon tlie duties of his new office. 



LA 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel amiies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the trampof these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago, 
May 21, 186S, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed uix)n any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in uSSo for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked (Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the .Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finislied its deadly work, and July 23,. 
1SS5, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
the ill ustrious General. 



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NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



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UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
^ the nineteenth President of 
"" the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
/"^ death of his father, Rutherford 
'■^ Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes, the father of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 18 13, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious, 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexpHcable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, 
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter- 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, T822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



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92 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



f 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birtli that he 
was not expected to live beyond a mouth or two at 
most. As the mouths went by he grew weaker and 
weaker, so lliat the neighbors were in tiie habit of in- 
quiring from time to time '' if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
him, said in a bantering way, '" That's right! Stick to 
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he wo.ild really come to something yet." 

"You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal i)redictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he went to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
sister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 

His uncle Sardis Birciiard took the dee|)est interest 
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; bit he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
\Vesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838,3! the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Immediately after liis graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thouias Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1 845, after graduating at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attoruey-at-law 
with Ralph V. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acciuiring but a limited i)ractice, 
and apiiarently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a powerful influence u|)on his subse- 
quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 

others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor ujjon American woman- 
hood. The Literary Club brought Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1S56 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the ofitice of 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In i86i, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take up 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright ard illustrious. In 
October, 186 1, he was made Lieulenanl-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio' 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle^ 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while- 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, afterJ 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and jilaced 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "forgnllani and distil guislud services 
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, (ien. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, wliich had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was inqiortuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, "I 
shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. ,'\llen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George II. Pendleton. 
He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 

In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, h-wever, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his adiniinstration was an average one 



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TiVENTIETH PRESIDENT. 




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AMES A. GARt'IELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
I S3 1, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
ents were Abrani and Eliza 
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. 
The household comprised the father and mother and 
their four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
tell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
toil and self sacrifice during tlie twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in her struggles to keep the little family to- 



^H- 



95 



gelher. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neitiier did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, 
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he 
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtain 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. 'I'his was his first visit to the city. 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he went 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the liighest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above slated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : 
A ' . 



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96 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



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" President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and lo God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and lo a more than usual degree. In 
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
syiripathy which Jie ever sliovved in their Chnstian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step ujjward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
church of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
tarian charity for all 'wlio loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in r86i was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted lo defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived liis commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was inunediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
(Humphrey M'.rsl-all) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success connnissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the 
General Coutt-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was tlien ordered to report lo Ger,. Rose- 
crans, and was assiL;ned to the "(,'hief of Staff." 

The military history of Gen, Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of tiie Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 fiom the 
Nineteentli District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
iiad been represented in Congress for sixty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha \\ hittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
you will not find, if you wish mstruclion, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 18S0, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1S81, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Gaifield, and every 
day it grew in favo; willi the people, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way a 'd at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary lilaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inf.icting no farther 
injury. It has been very truthfully said iliat this was 
" the shot that was heard roinid the world " Never 
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his jiower and hope. Fur eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and .August, 
he' lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
ig, 1S83, at Ell>eron, N. J , on the very bank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly jirevious. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had overlived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed. 



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r WENTY-FIRS T PRESIDENT. 



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HESTER A. ARTHUR, 

twenty-first President of the 

United States, was born in 

Franklin County, Vermont, on 

the fifthof October, 1830, andis 

the oldest of a family of two 

sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William 

Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who 

emigrated to this counti-)' from 

the county Antrim, Ireland, in 

his i8th year, and died in 1875, in 

Newtonville, near Albany, after a 

long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, Schenectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration cf that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
and entered the office of ex-Judge 
E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
ill the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward married the daughter of Lieutenant 
■ • )Kl 



H 



Hefndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving twi: 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebritj 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon sui 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who hac 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superioi 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs, 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had [laid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 




^T __L 



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CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Com|)iUiy ran a few special cars for colored jjer- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

(ieneral Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Repul)lican party. 
Previous to tlie war he was Judge- Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New \ork., and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, oi that State, apjwinted hun Knginecr- 
in-Chief of iiis staff. In 1861, he was made inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to tlie Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Plielps, the District .\ttorney 
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York liy President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, witli (ien. James A. Garfield, at tiie famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1 880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention tiiat ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the leading ix)liticians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Kinally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. .\rthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the histor\ of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic part), was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
anxiotis suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing^ for the re- 
covery of tlie noble, the good President. The remark- 1 
able ijalience that he manifested daring those hours : 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 1 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly fiod- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and l)e it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the suffering (iarfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored position in the world was at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never ' 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of ; 
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of | 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York, " 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, "^ 



what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point, lender these trying circinnstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the (Government in his own 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to them and with credit to himself. 



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4- 



TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



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103 





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TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, thetwenty-second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con- 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supix)rting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
intluence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, andif he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining witli this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, wliere he had an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a |X)int 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 



IZ^J 



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104 



5. GROVER CLEVELAND. 



4 



calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
there was some chanu in that name for him ; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
ask the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
speak entluisiastically. " What is it you want to do, 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
law," was the reply. " Good gracious ! " remarked 
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put 
that into your head.? How much money have you 
got.?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 

n 

any. 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
year, while he could " look around." One day soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 

iaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
e was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
ave the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
>f $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
I the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
; with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
\ where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
1 circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
I was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
I but indue time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
\ Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
! exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
j possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
it," was practically his motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was tliat of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
to his duty to inflict capital punishment ujjon two 
criminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Buff.ilo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of SherifT, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos'; bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the people and to worse 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York ; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William V. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, .\. H. Garland, of 
.Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
inauguration. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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111 





HADRACH BOND, the first 
Governor of Illinois after its 
organization as a State, serving 
from 1818 to 1822, was born in 
Frederick County, Maryland, 
in the year 1773, and was 
raised a farmer on his father's 
plantation, receiving only a plain 
English education. He emigrated 
to this State in 1794, when it was a 
part of the "Northwest Territory," 
continuing in the vocation in whiclr 
he had been brought up in his native 
State, in the " New Design," near 
Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe 
County. He served several terms as 
a member of the General Assembly 
of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such, 
and in 1812-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelfth 
and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his seat Dec. 3. 
181 2, and serving until Oct. 3, [814. These were 
the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov- 
ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain. 
The year 1812 is also noted in the history of this 
State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature 
was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and 
adjourned Dec. 26, following. 

While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond 
was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp- 
tion on the public domain. On the expiration of his 
term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of 
Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of tli-e 
Territory. In company with John G. Comyges, 



Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones, 
Warren Brown, Edward Humphries and Charles W. 
Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the 
initial city of Cairo, whicli they hoped, from its favor- 
able location at the juncrion of the two great 
rivers near the center of the Great West, would 
rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter- 
prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis- 
lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of 
Cairo. 

In 1 8 18 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor 
of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct. 6, 
that year, which was several weeks before Illinois 
was actually admitted. The facts are these: In 
January, i8i8, the Territorial Legislature sent a ped- 
tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a 
State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The 
petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the 
State on the latitude of the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan; but the bill was afterward so amend- 
ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In 
July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a 
constitution, which, however, was not submitted to 
the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros- 
ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record- 
ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed 
by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This 
constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At 
that time Illinois comprised but eleven counties, 
namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be- 
ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears 
that Mr. Bond was honored by the naming of a 



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SHADRACH BOND. 



county l>efore he was elected Governcr. The present 
county of Bond is of small limitations, about 60 to 80 
miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor 
the people chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and 
worthy Frenchman, after whom a county in this State 
is named. In this election there were no opposition 
candidates, as the jxipularity of these men had made 
their promotion to the chief offices of the Siate, even 
before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con- 
clusion. 

The principal points that excited the people in 
reference to political issues at this period were local 
or "internal improvements," as they were called. 
State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the 
personal characteristics of the proposed candidates. 
Mr. Bond represented the " Convention party," for 
introducing slavery into the State, supported by Elias 
Ke It Kane, his Secretary of State, and Jolin Mc- 
Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led 
the anti-slavery element. The people, however, did 
not become_ very much excited over this issue until 
1820, when the famous Missouri Compromise was 
adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south 
of the parallel of 36° 30' except in Missouri. While 
this measure settled the great slavery controversy, 
so far as the average public sentiment was tempor- 
arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed 
under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue 
as considered locally in this State was not decided 
until 1824, after a most furious campaign. (See 
sketch of Gov. Coles.) The ticket of 18 18 was a 
compromise one, Bond representing (moderately) the 
pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery. 
An awkward element in the State government 
under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec- 
tion of the State constitution. The Convention 
wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor 
of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed tliat the 
new Governor would not appoint him to the office, 
the Convention declared in a schedule that " an 
auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and 
such other officers of the State as may be necessary, 
may be apix)inted by the General Assembly." The 
Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large apiwint- 
ing power in the Governor; but for the purjwse of 
getting one man into office, a total change was made, 
and the power vested in the Legislature. Of this 
provision the Legislature took advantage, and de- 
_. -"- A' 



clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners, 
bank directors, etc., were all " officers of the State " 
and must therefore be appointed by itself independ- 
ently of the Governor. 

During Gov. Bond's administration a general law 
was passed for the incorporation of academies and 
towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of 
1822 authorized the Governor to appoint commis- 
sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners 
appointed by the State of Indiana, to report on the 
practicability and expediency of improving the navi- 
gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation 
generally. Many improvements were recommended, 
some of which have been feebly worked at even till 
the present day, those along the Wabash being of no 
value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the 
capital of the State was removed from Kaskaskia to 
Vandalia. In 1820 a law was passed by Congress 
authorizing this State to open a canal through the 
public lands. The State appointed commissioners ' 
10 explore the route and prepare the necessary sur- 
veys and estimates, preparatory to its execution j 
but, being unable out of its own resources to defray 
the expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned 
until some time after Congress made the grant of 
land for the purpose of its construction. 

On the whole. Gov. Bond's administration was 
fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from 
any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration 
of his term of office, he was brought out as a candi- 
date for Congress against the formidable John P. 
Cook, but received only 41374 votes to 7,460 for the 
latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had made 
many fast friends by a judicious bestowment of his 
gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously 
for him in the campaign. 

In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg- 
islature, with Wm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom 
Jayne, as Commissioners to locate a site for a peni- 
tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton. 

Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis- 
position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap- 
preciation of events. His person was erect, stand- 
ing six feet in height, and after tniddle life became 
[Kjrtly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were 
strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and 
eyes hazel ; was a favorite with the ladies. He died 
April 1 1, 1830, in peace and contentment. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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DWARD COLES, second 
Governor of Illinois, 1823- 
6, was born Dec. 15, 1786, 
in Albemarle Co., Va., on 
the old family estate called 
" Enniscorthy," on the 
Green Mountain. His fath- 
er, John Coles, was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary War. Having been fit- 
ted for college by private tutors, he 
was sent to Hampden Sidney, where 
he remained until the autumn of 1805, 
when he was removed to William and 
Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va. 
This college he left in the summer of 
1807, a short time before the final and graduating 
examination. Among his classmates were Lieut. 
Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wni. S. Archer, 
United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice 
Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The 
President of the latter college. Bishop Madison, was 
a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir- 
cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming 
personally acquainted with the President and re- 
ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15. 
The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir- 
ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old- 
fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by 
such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the 
age of 23, young Coles found himself heir to a plant- 
ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever 
since his earlier college days his attention had been 
drawn to the question of slavery. He read every- 



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thing on the subject that came in his way, and 
listened to lectures on the rights of man. The more 
he reflected upon the subject, the more impossible 
was it for him to reconcile the immortal declaration 
"that all men are born free and equal " with the 
practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to 
free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove 
his residence to a free State. One reason which de- 
termined him to accept the appointment as private ^ 
secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed 
that through the acquaintances he could make at 
Washington he could better determine in what part 
of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he would 
prefer to settle. 

The relations between Mr. Coles and President 
Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished 
men, were of a very friendly character, arising from 
the similarity of their views on the question of slavery 
and their sympathy for each other in holding doc- 
trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti- 
ment in their own State. 

In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a 
portion of the following autumn in exploring the 
Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo- 
cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his 
negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with 
an extra man and horse for emergencies, through 
many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time, 
however, a misunderstanding arose between our " 
Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles was selected 
to repair to St. Petersburg on a special mission, bear- 
ing important papers concerning the matter at issue. 
The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex- 



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EDIVARD COLES. 



ander) of the error committed by his minister at 
Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
the latter from the post. On his return, Mr. Coles 
visited other parts of Europe, especially F'aris, where 
he was introduced to Gen. Lafayette. 

In the spring of iSig, he removed with all his 
negroes from Virginia to Edwardsville, 111 , with the 
intention of giving them their liberty. He did not 
make known to them his intention until one beautiful 
morning in .\pril, as they were descending the Ohio 
River. He lashed all the boats together and called 
all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad- 
dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him- 
self that by a turn of a sentence he proclaimed in 
the shortest and fullest manner that they were no 
longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty 
to proceed with him or go ashore at their pleas- 
ure. A description of the effect uiion the negroes is 
best desciibed in his own language : 

"The effect uixin them was electrical. They stared 
at me and then at each other, as if doubting the ac- 
curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless 
>ilencc they stood before me, unai>le to utter a word, 
l)Ut with countenances beaming with expression which 
no words could convey, and which no language 
can describe. As they began to see the truth of 
what they had heard, and realize their situation, there 
came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After 
a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed 
in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to 
their gratitude and implored the blessing of God 
on me." 

Before landmg he gave them a general certificate 
of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu- 
larly with the law of this State requiring that each 
individual should have a certificate. This act of 
Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering 
the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding 
him, has challenged the admiration of every philan- 
thropist of modern times. 

March 5, 1819, President .Monroe appointed Mr. 
Coles Registrar of the Land Office at Edwardsville, 
at that time one of the principal land offices in the 
State. While acting in this capacity and gaining 
many friends by his ixjliteness and general intelli- 
gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in 
Illinois on the slavery question culminated in the 
furious contest characterizing the campaigns and 
elections of 1822-4. '" the summer of 1823, when a 
new Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr. 
Bond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions, 
putting forward for the executive office Joseph 
Phillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C. 
Browne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil- 
itia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr. 
(.'oles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns, 
succeeded in electing him as Governor. His plural- 
ity over Judge Phillijis was only 59 in a total vote of 



over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected 
by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech 
was marked l)y calmness, deliberation and such a 
wise expiession of appropriate suggestions as to 
elicit the sanction of all judicious ix)liticians. But 
he com|Jiomised not with evil. In his message to 
the Legislature, the seat of Government being then 
at Vandulia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the 
modified form of slavery which then existed in this 
State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi- 
tion on this suljject seems the more remarkable, when 
it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the 
population of Illinois being at that time almost ex- 
clusively from slave-holding States and by a large 
majority in favor of the perpetuation of that old relic 
of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course, 
a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority of 
them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of 
the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and 
deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the 
public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of 
mob, or " shiveree" party, who visited the residence 
of the Governor and others at Vandalia and yelled 
and groaned and spat fire. 

The Constitution, not establishing or permitting 
slavery in this State, was thought therefore to be 
defective by the slavery ]X)liticians, and they desired 
a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub- 
mit a new Constitution; and the dominant politics 
of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people. 
Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address . 
published by the latter party. This address revealed 
the schemes of the conspirators in a masterly man- 
ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- 
mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in 
which the Governor was placed at that time. 

Our hero maintained himself honorably and with 
supreme dignity throughout his administration, and 
in his honor a county in this State is named. He 
was truly a great man, and those who lived in 
this State during his sojourn here, like those who 
live at the base of the mountain, were too nearto see 
and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them. 

Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bishop 
De Lancey, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter 
of Hugh Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestrv, 
who cami to this country with \Vm. Penn in 1682. 

After the expiration of his term of service. Gov. 
Coles continued his residence in Edwardsville, sup- 
erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond 
of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri- 
cultural society in the Stale. On account of ill 
health, however, and having no family to tie him 
down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities. 
About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel- 
phia, where he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at 
Woodland, near that city. 



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GO VERyORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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INIAN EDWARDS, Governor 
from 1827 to 1830, was a sou 
of Benjamin Edwards, and 
was born in Montgomery 
County, Maryland, in March, 

., „ ,; 1771;. His domestic train- 

iAz!^ ^ ing was well fitted to give 

his mind strength, firmness and 
boi.orable principles, and a good 
foundation was laid for the elevated 
character to which he afterwards 
attained. His parents were Bap- 
tists, and very strict in their monil 
principles. His education in early 
youth was in company with and 
partly under the tuition of Hon. \\"m. 
Wirt, whom his father patronized 
and who was more than two years 
older. An intimacy was thus 
formjd between them which was lasting for life. He 
was further educated at Dickinson College, at Car- 
lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but 
before completing his course he moved to Nelson 
County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to 
purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and 
sisters. Here he fell in the company of dissolute 
companions, and for several years led the life of a 
spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis- 
lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson 
County lielore he was 2r years of age, and was re- 
elected by an almost unanimous vote. 




In 1798 he was licensed to practice law, and the 
following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes- 
see. About this time he left Nelson County for 
Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his 
dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and 
devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He . 
then began to rise rapidly in his profession, and soon 
l)ecanie an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years 
he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge 
of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth Judge of 
the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State, 
— all before he was 32 years of age ! In addition, in 
1S02, he received a commission as Major of a battal- 
ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a 
Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton 
ticket. In 1806 he was a candidate for Congress, 
but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of 
Appeals. 

Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in 
the spring of i8og, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief 
Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received 
from President Madison the appointment as Gover- 
nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date 
April 24, 1809. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia in 
June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of 
office. .At the same time he was appointed Superin- 
tendent of the United States Saline, this Government 
interest then developing into considerable proportions 
in Southern Illinois. Although during the first three 
years of his administration he had the power to make 
new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always 
allowed the people of each county, by an informal 



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MINI AN EDWARDS. 




vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili- 
tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward 
United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed 
by Gev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of 
the Territory, which office was accepted for a short 
time only. 

The Indians in i8io committing sundry depreda- 
tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from 
the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol- 
lowed between the respective Governors concerning 
the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav- 
ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of 
the treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de- 
predations, and was not re-settled for many .years 
afterward. 

As Gov. Edwards' term of office expired by law in 
1812, he was re-api)ointed for another term of three 
years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving 
until the organization of the State in the fall of 1818 
and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time 
ex-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States 
Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As 
Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and 
acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that 
came up in that body, being well posted, an able de- 
bater and a conscientious statesman. He thought 
seriously of resigning this situation in 182 1, but was 
persuaded by his old friend, Wm. Wirt, and others to 
continue in office, which he did to tlie end of the 
term. 

He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by 
President Monroe. About this lime, it appears that 
Mr. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of 
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States 
Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for tlie Presi- 
dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of 
his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in 
order fully to investigate the charges. The result 
was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards. 

Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws," 
disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and 
the Stale of Illinois during the whole of his career in 
this coinmcnwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- 
tained llie doctrines of freedom, and was an important 
actor in the great struggle which ended in a victory 
for his par'y in 1824. 

In 1826-7 'he Winnebago and other Indians com- 
mitted son-.e depredations in the northern part of the 

--A 



State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands 
and wished to exasperate tlie savages into an evacu- 
ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of 
the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be- 
tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war, 
known in history as the "Winnebago War." A few 
chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson 
succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief, 
and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at 
least until the troubles commenced which ended in 
the "Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre- 
tation of treaties and execution of their provisions 
Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The 
Indians kept themselves generally within the juris- 
diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor, 
Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor- 
respondence vvith him was difficult or impossible. 
Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to 
the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have 
been very efficient and satisfactory. 

For a considerable portion of his time after his re- 
moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his 
farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well slocked with 
horses, cattle and sheep from Kentucky, also with 
fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab- 
lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively 
in mercantile business, having no less tlian eight orten 
stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding 
Ihe arduous duties of liis office, he nearly always pur- 
chased the goods himself witli whicli to supply the 
stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi- 
cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex- 
tent, and took great pleasure in ])rescribing for, and 
taking care of, the sick, generally without charge. 
He w.'.s also liberal to the poor, several widows and 
ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him 
even for their homes. 

He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in 
1803, and they became the affectionate [jarents of 
several children, one of whom, especially, is well 
known to the people of the " Prairie State," namely, 
Ninian Wirt Edwards, once llie Superintendent of 
Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield. 
Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- 
kaskia from 180910 1S18; in Edwardsville (named 
after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- 
ter date at Belleville, St. Clair County, until his 
death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwards 
County is also named in his honor. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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i:OHN REYNOLDS, Governor r83i- 

4, was born in Montgomery Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788. 
His father, Robert Reynolds and 
his mother, nee Margaret Moore, 
were both natives of Ireland, from 
which country they emigrated to 
the United States in 1785, land- 
ing at Philadelphia. The senior 
Reynolds entertained an undying 
hostility to the British Govern- 
ment. When the subject of this 
sketch was about six months old, 
his parents emigrated with him to 
Tennessee, where many of their 
relatives had already located, at the base of the 
Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of 
the present city of Knoxville. There they were e.x- 
posed to Indian depredations, and were much molest- 
ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior 
of the State. They were poor, and brought up their 
children to habits of manual industry. 

In 1800 the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with 
eight horses and two wagons, encountering many 
hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed 
the most of his childhood, while his character began 
to develop, the most prominent traits of which were 
ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle 
and practice of total abstinence from intoxicating 
liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal, 



this time to the '' Goshen Settlement," at the foot of 
the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest 
of Edwardsville. 

On arriving at his 20th year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing 
tiiat he must look about for his own livelihood and 
not yet having determined what calling to pursue, 
concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly 
went to such an institution of learning, near Knox- 
ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his 
diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of 
his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered 
wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a 
shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himself 
into the society of the wealtliy in the vicinity of 
Knoxville ! He attended college nearly two years, 
going through the principal Latin authors; but it 
seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern 
times, had but very little use for his Latin in after 
life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good 
degree of literary discipline. He commenced the 
study of law in Knoxville; but a pulmonary trouble 
came on and compelled him to change his mode 
of life. Accordingly he returned home and re- 
cuperated, and in 1812 resumed his college and 
law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 18 12 he was 
admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time 
he also learned the French language, which he 
practiced with pleasure in conversation with his 
family for many years. He regarded this language 
as being superior to all others for social intercourse. 



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124 



/OJ/AT REYNOLDS. 



n, 



4 



From his services in the West, in the war of 181 2, 
he obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He 
was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate. 

Mr. Reynolds opened his first law office in the 
winter and spring of 18 14, in the French village of 
Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. 

In the fall of 1818 he was elected an Associate 
Justice \.\\p\\ the Supreme Bench by the General 
Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than 
ever into the practice of law, and the very next year 
was elected a member of the Legislature, where he 
acted independently of all clicjues and private inter- 
ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for 
the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi- 
nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and 
raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds preserved a 
judicial calmness and moderation. The real animus 
of the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," 
the former party carrying the State. 

In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- 
ernor, amid great excitement. Installed in office, he 
did all within his power to advance the cause of edu- 
cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun- 
try, etc.; also reccmmended the winding up of the 
State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously 
coni|)licated. In his national politics, he was a 
^moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the 
most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin- 
istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred 
in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted 
the contest with commendable diligence, appearing 
in person on the battle-grounds during the most 
critical periods. He was recognized by the President 
as Major-General, and authorized by him to make 
treaties with the Indians. By the assistance of the 
general Ciovernmcnt the war was terminated without 
much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This 
w.ir, as well as everything else, was materially re- 
tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the 
West. This was its first appearance here, and was 
the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds' 
term. 

South Carolina nullification coming up at this time, 
it was heartily condemned by both President Jackson 
and Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same 
grounds as the Unionists in the last war. 

On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 
1834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- 
gress, still considering himself a backwoodsman, as 
he had scarcely been outside of the State since he 
became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful 
days in the wildest region of the frontier. His first 
move in Congress was to ado))! a resolution that in 
all elections made by the House for officers the votes 
should be given viva voce, each member in his place 
naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This 
created considerable heated discussion, but was es- 



sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin- 
ciple for many years. The ex-Governor was scarcely 
absent from his seat a single day, during ei^ht ses- 
sions of Congress, covering a period of seven years, 
and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed 
to get the Democratic ]mrty to foster his " National 
Road" scheme. He says, in " My Own Times " (a 
large autobiography he published), that it was only 
by rigid economy tliat he avoided insolvency while in 
\Vashington. During his sojourn in that city he was 
married, to a lady of the place. 

In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company 
with a few others, he built the first railroad in the 
Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long, 
leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to 
the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Having not 
the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it 
by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com- 
l)any sold out, at great sacrifice. 

In 1S39 the ex-Governor was apixsinted one of the 
Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow 
money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord' ngly, he 
repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining 
a million dollars, which, however, was only a fourth 
of what was wanted. The same year he and his 
wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, .Mr. 
Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility 
of introducing to President Van Buren the noted 
Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day 
Saint! " 

In 1846 Gov. Reynolds was elected a member of 
the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu- 
larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter 
for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
a distance of nearly 14 miles. This was immediately 
built, and was the first road of the kind in the State. 
He was again elected tothe Legislature in 1852, when 
he was chosen Speaker of the House. In i860, aged 
and infirm, he attended the National Democratic 
Convention at Charleston, S. C, as an anti-Douglas 
Delegate, wliere he received more attention from the 
Southern Delegates than any other member. He 
supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After 
the October elections foreshadowed the success of 
Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo- 
crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi- 
ately preceding and dtiring the late war, his corre- 
spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern 
secession, and about the first of March, i86i, he 
urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the 
treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal 
at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a rather talkative 
man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch- 
words that ever gained currency, besides m.tny cun- 
ning and odd ones of his own manufacture. 

He was married twice, but had 110 children. He 
died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close 
of the war. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



127 





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.LIAM LEE D. EVVING, 
Governor of Illinois Nov. 3 
p to 17, 1834, was a native 
of Kentucky, and probably 
of Scotch ancestry. He had 
. fine education, was a gentle- 
lan of polished manners and 
ed sentiment. In 1830 John Rey- 
s was elected Governor of the State, 
Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor, 
(or the principal events that followed, 
the characteristics of the times, see 
;h of Gov. Reynolds. The first we 
in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in- 
s us that he was a Receiver of Public 
Moneys at Vandalia soon after the organization of 
this State, and that the public moneys in his hands 
were deposited in various banks, as they are usually 
at the present day. In 1823 the State Bank was 
robbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- 
dollar deposit. 

The subject of this sketch had a commission as 
Colonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies 
he acted also as Major. In the summer of r832, 
when it was rumored among the whites that Black 
Hawk and his men had encamped somewhere on 
Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of 
reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians 
from the State. After some opposition from his 
subordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up 
Rock River in search of the enemy. On the 19th of 
July, early in the morning, five baggage wagons, 

' -A 



camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti- 
cles were piled up and left, so that the army might 
make speedy and forced marches. For some miles 
the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps 
and the worst thickets; but the large, fresh trail 
gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. 
Dodge and Col. Ewing were both actnig as Majors, 
and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the*< 
army. It is supposed the army marched nearly 50 
miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed 
became fresher, and was strewed with much property, 
and trinkets of the red-skin'5 that they had lost or 
thrown away to hasten their march. During the 
following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and 
the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On approaching nearer the Indians the next day. 
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a 
battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the 
battle, but the savages were not overtaken this day 
Forced marches were continued until they reached. 
Wisconsin River, where a veritable battle ensued, 
resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's 
men. The next day they continued the chase, and 
as soon as he discovered the trail of the Indians 
leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed 
his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order 
of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the 
ground and ordered a charge, wiiich directly resulted 
in chasing the red warriors across the great river. 
Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly 
efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors 
in driving the main body of the Sacs and Foxes, in- 



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128 



WILLIAM L. D. EWING. 



eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi, 
while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex- 
pedition, with a body of the army, was hunting for 
them in another direction. 

In the above affair Maj. Ewing is often referred to 
as a " General," which title he had derived from his 
connection with the militia. 

It was in the latter part of the same year (1832) 
that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con- 
gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected to tlie 
Senate, was cliosen to preside over that body. At 
the August election of 1S34, Gov. Reynolds was also 
elected to Congress, more than a year ahead of the 
time at which he could actually take his seat, as was 
then tiie law. His predecessor, Charles Slade, had 
just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec- 
tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his 
unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wash- 
ington in November of that year to take his seat in 
Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as 
President of the Senate, became Governor of the 
State of Illinois, his term covering only a period of 
' 15 days, namely, from the 3d to the 17th days, in- 
• elusive, of November. On the 17th the Legislature 
I met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his 
I message, giving a statement of the condition of the 
affairs of the State at that time, and urging a contin- 
uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor; and 
on the same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan 
was sworn into office, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from 



the responsible situation. This is the only time that 
such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi- 
nois. 

On the 29th of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was 
elected a United States Senator to serve out the 
unexpired term of Elias Kent Kane, deceased. The 
latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the 
early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is 
named in his honor. The election of (}en. Ewing to 
the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi- 
tors were James Semple, who afterwards held several 
important offices in tiiis State, and Richard M. 
Young, afterward a United States Senator and a 
Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On 
the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes, Young 19 
and Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was 
dropped ; the ninth and tenth stood a tie ; but on 
the 1 2th Ewing received 40, to Semple 37, and was 
accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing 
received some votes for a continuance of his term in 
Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was 
elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State 
Auditor on the ticket with Gov. Ford. 

Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer 
by profession, and was much in public life. In person 
he was above medium height and of heavy build, 
with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and 
short face. He was genial, social, friendly and 
affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of 
originality. He died March 25, 1846. 




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131 



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OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 
1834-8, was born at Paris, 
Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the 
tender age of 19 years he en- 
Usted in the war against Great 
Britain, and as a soldier he 
acquitted himself with credit. He 
was an Ensign under the daunt- 
iki,-:-t^' less Croghan at Lower .Sandusky, 
\K^ o'' Fort Stephenson. In Illinois 
he first appeared in a public capa- 
city as Major-General of the Militia, 
a position which his military fame 
had procured him. Subsequently 
he became a State Senator from 
Jackson County, and is honorably 
mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for 
a free-school system. In 1826, when the redoubt- 
able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such 
men as John McLean, Elias Kent Kane and ex- 
Gov. Bond, came up for the fourth time for Congress, 
Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his 
friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians. 
As yet he was but little known in the State. He was 
an original Jackson man at that time, being attached 
to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of 
his military achievements. His chances of success 
against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless, 
but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His 
speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were 
full of good sense. He made a diligent canvass of 
the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of 
his health. The most that was expected of Mr. 
Duncan, under the circumstances, was that he would 



obtain a respectable vote, but without defeating Mr. 
Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a 
source of surprise and amazement to both friends 
and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 641 votes ahead! 
He received 6,321 votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- , 
til this denouement, the violence of party feeling 
smoldering in the breasts of the people on account 
of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated. 
Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no . 
other than mere local and pergonal considerations, 
had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. 

From the above date Mr, Duncan retained his 
seat in Congress until his election as Governor in 
.\ugust, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the 
Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey- 
nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the 
volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock 
Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash- 
ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did 
not personally participate in it, but addressed circu- 
lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed, 
attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be- 
cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his 
political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely 
in ascendency in the State, was complete ; but while 
his defection was well known to his Whig frier.ds, 
and even to the leading Jackson men of this Stale, 
the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact 
to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at 
that day were far inferior to those of the present 
time. Of course the Governor was much abused 
afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re- 
garded party ties and affiliations as above all 
other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless 



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JOSEPH DUNCAN. 



f 



sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter 
had vetoed several important western measures 
vk'hich were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural 
message he threw off the mask and took a bold stand 
against the course of the President. The measures 
he recommended in his message, however, were so 
desirable that the Legislature, although by a large 
majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain 
from endorsing them. These measures related 
mainly to banks and internal improvements. 

It was while Mr. r)uncan was Governor that the 
people of Illinois went whirling on with bank and in- 
ternal improvement schemes that well nigli bank- 
rupted the State. The liard times of 1837 came on, 
and the disasters that attended the inauguration of 
these plans and the operation of the banks were mu- 
tually charged upon the two political parties. Had 
any one man autocratic power to introduce and 
carry on any one of these measures, he would proba- 
bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public; 
but as many jealous men had hold of the same plow 
handle, no success followed and each blamed the other 
for the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan 
"* was carried along, suffering the like derogation of 
character with his fellow citizens. 

At tlie height of the excitement the Legislature 
" provided for " railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton 
to Shawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the 
eastern boundary of tlie State in the direction of 
Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the VVabasli, 
Bloomington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, — in all 
about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the 
improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, Great and Little Wabash and Rock Rivers ; 
also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis- 
tributed to the various counties wherein no improve- 
ments were ordered to be made as above. The 
estimate for the expenses for all these projects was 
placed at a little over $10,000,000, which was not 
more than half enough! That would now be equal to 
saddling upon the State a debt of 8225,000,000 ! It 
was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times 
over, even counting all the possible benefits. 

One of the most exciting events that ever occurred 
in this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love- 
joy in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's 
term as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," 
editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- 
slavery slums there formed themselves into a mob, 



and after destroying successively three presses be- 
longing to Mr. Ix)vejoy, surrounded the warehouse 
where the fourth j)ress was stored away, endeavoring 
to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and his friends 
were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the 
brave reformer! 

About this time, also, the question of removing the 
State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for 
its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close, 
i'here was, of course, considerable excitement over 
the matter, the two main points competing for it be- 
ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat- 
ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully 
allayed. 

Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842 
he was again pro]X)sed as a candidate for the Execu- 
tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam 
W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the 
Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi- 
date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died 
before the campaign had advanced very far, and his 
party substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected, 
receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and 
909 for Hunter. The cause of Democraric success "^ 
at this time is mainly attributed to the temjxsrary 
support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the 
want of any knowledge, on the part of the masses, 
that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given ]X)licy en- 
tertained in the respective localities. 

Gov. Duncan was a man of rather limited educa- 
tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited 
greatly by his various public services, and gathered 
a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which 
served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear 
judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral 
courage to carry out his convictions of right. In his 
deportment he was well adapted to gain the admira- 
tion of the people. His intercourse with them was 
both affable and dignified. His jwrtrait at the Gov- 
ernor's mansion, from which tlie accompanying was 
made, represents him as having a swarthy complex- 
ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black 
eyes and straight black hair. 

He was a liberal patron of the Illinois College at 
Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and 
died, after a sliort illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted 
member of the Presbyterian Churcli, leaving a wife 
but no children. Two children, born to them, had 
died in infancy. 



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GO VERNORrS OF ILLINOIS. 



'35 



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JliBli^^HllilBllilSlI 



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rHOMAS CARLIN, tlie sixth 
Governor of the State of 
Illinois, serving from 1838 
to 1842, was also a Ken- 
tuckian, being b6rn near 
Frankfort, that State, July 
18, 1789, of Irish paternity. 
The opportunities for an education 
being very meager in his native 
place, he, on approaching years of 
jiid'-ment and maturity, applied 
himself to those branches of learn- 
ing that seemed most important, 
and thus became a self-made man ; 
and his taste for reading and 
study remained with him through 
life. In t8o3 his father removed 
to Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he 
died in 1810. 

Ill [Sr2 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- 
pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the 
war of that period, proving himself a soldier of un- 
daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rebecca 
Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the 
Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- 
souri, where he followed farming, and then removed 
to Greene County. He located the town site of Car- 
roUton, in that county, and in 1825 made a liberal 
donation of land for county building purposes. He 
was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate 
organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a 
Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the 
Black Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a 
pobt of considerable danger. In t834 he was ap- 
pointed by President Jackson to the position of 
Receiver of Public Moneys, and to fulfill the office 



more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy. 
While, in r838, the unwieldy internal improvement 
system of the State was in full operation, with all its 
expensive machinery, amidst bank suspensions 
throughout the United States, a great stringency in 
the money market everywhere, and Illinois bonds 
forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest 
limes " existing that the people of the Prairie State 
ever saw, the general election of State officers was 
approaching. Discreet men who had cherished the 
hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua- 
tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and 
Legislature were to be elected, and these were now 
looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous State 
policy. But the grand scheme had not yet lost its 
dazzling influence upon the minds of the people, 
rime and experience had not yet fully demonstrated 
its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting 
its career of profligate expenditures did not become 
a leading one with the dominant party during the 
campaign, and most of the old members of the Leg- 
islature were returned at this election. 

Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State 
Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the 
office of Governor, and S. H. .\nderson for Lieuten- 
ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed- 
wards, brother of Ninian Edwards, formerly Governor, 
and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly 
for a continuance of the State policy, while Carlin 
remained non-committal. This was the first time 
that the two main political parties in this State were 
unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The 
result of the election was : Carlin, 35,573 ; Ander- 
son, 30,335; Edwards, 29,629; and Davidson, 28,- 

7I.S- 

Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature 
(1839), the retiring Governor (Duncan) in his mes- 



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^" . . .v. 

THOMAS CARLTN. 



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sage s[»ke in emphatic terms of the impolicy of the 
internal improvement system, presaging the evils 
threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost 
to correct the great error; yet, on the contrary, the 
Legislature not only decided to continue the policy 
but also added to its burden by voting more appro- 
priations and ordering more improvements. Although 
the money market was still stringent, a further loan 
of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal alone. Cft'cago at that time began to 
loom up and promise to be an important city, even 
the great emporium of the West, as it has since in- 
deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe- 
tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan, 
and accordingly hastened to the East on this respons- 
ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera- 
ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment 
to Carlin's administnilion, the Legislature also de- 
clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary 
of State until a vacancy existed, and A. P. Field, a 
Whig, who had already held the post by appointment 
through three administrations, was determined to 
keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car- 
lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in 
this regard, however, was finally sustained by the 
Supreme Court, in a quo warranto case brought up 
before it by Jchn A. McClernand, whom the Gov- 
ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that 
dignified body was denounced as a "Whig Court!" 
endeavoring to establish the princii)le of life-tenure 
of office. 

A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici- 
ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges 
were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas 
Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
Scates, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas — 
all Democrats. 

It was during Gov. Carlin's administration that the 
noisy campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc- 
curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however, 
did not affect Illinois jxilitics very seriously. 

Another prominent event in the West during Gov. 
Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by 
the Mormons and their removal from Independence, 
.Mo, to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time 
they began to figure somewhat in State politics. On 
account of their believing — as they thought, accord- 
ing to the New Testament — that they sliould have 



" all things common," and that consequently " all 
the earth " and all that is uix)n it were the" Lord's " 
and therefore the property of his " saints," they 
were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing 
many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that 
were so rife throughout this country in those days. 
Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the 
Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of 
Missouri the Mormons always supfxarted the Dem- 
ocracy until they were driven out by the Democratic 
government, when they turned their support to the 
Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the 
Legislature of 1840-1, therefore, it became a matter 
of great interest with both parties to conciliate these 
people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben- 
nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing 
through the Legislature (both parties not daring to 
oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir- 
tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed- 
eral Government itself In the fall of 1841 the 
Governor of Missouri made a demand uixjn Gov. ' 
Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, 
as a fugitive from justice. Gov. Carlin issued the 
writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved. 
It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested, 
but was either rescued by his followers or discharged 
by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus. 

In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention 
nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, for Gov- 
ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla- 
ture, rather friendly to the Mormons, the latter 
naturally turned their support to the Democratic 
party. The next spring the Whigs nominated Ex- 
Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime 
the Mormons began to grow more odious to the 
masses of the people, and the comparative prospects 
of the respective parties for success became very 
problematical. Mr. Snyder died in May, and 
Thomas Ford, a Supreme Judge, was substituted as 
a candidate, and was elected. 

At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin 
removed back to his old home at CarroiUon, where 
he spent the remainder of his life, as before his ele- 
vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In r84g 
he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the 
Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4, 
1852, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife 
and seven childien. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



«39 f 




gfegffiSata^ -^-iSS^ 








IHOMAS ford, Governor 
from 1842 to 1S46, and au- 
thor of a very interesting 
history of lUinois, was born 
at Uniontown, Pa., in the 
year 1 800. His mother, after 
the death of her first hus- 
band (Mr. Forquer), married Rob- 
ert Ford, who was killed in 1802, 
by the Indians in the mountains 
of Pennsylvania. She was conse- 
quently left in indigent circum- 
stances, with a large family, mostly 
girls. With a view to better her 
condition, she, in 1804, removed to 
Missouri, where it had been cus- 
tomary by the Spanish Govern- 
ment to give land to actual settlers; but upon her 
arrival at St. Louis she found the country ceded to 
the United States, and the liberal policy toward set- 
tlers changed by the new ownership. After some 
sickness to herself and family, she finally removed to 
Illinois, and settled some three miles south of Water- 
loo, but the following year moved nearer the Missis- 
sippi bluffs. Here young Ford received his first 

— .._ X ' 



schooling, under the instructions of a Mr. Humphrey, 
for which he had to walk three miles. His mother, 
though lacking a thorough education, was a woman 
of superior mental endowments, joined to energy 
and determination of cliaracter. She inculcated in 
her children those high-toned principles which dis- 
tinguished her sons in public life. She exercised a 
rigid economy to provide her children an education; 
but George Forquer, her oldest son (six years older 
than Thomas Ford), at an early age had to quit 
school to aid by his labor in the support of the family. 
He afterward became an eminent man in Illinois 
affairs, and but for his early death would probably 
have been elected to the United States Senate. 

Young Ford, with somewhat better opportunities, 
received a better education, though limited to the 
curriculum of the common school of those pioneer 
times. His mind gave early promise of superior en- 
dowments, with an inclination for mathematics. His 
proficiency attracted the attention of Hon. Daniel P. 
Cook, who became his efficient patron and friend. 
The latter gentleman was an eminent Illijiois states- 
man who, as a Member of Congress, obtained a grant 
of 300,000 acres of land to aid in completing the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, and after whom the 
county of Cook was named. Through the advice of 



^ 



140 



THOMAS FORD. 



this geiuleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the 
study of law; l)ut Forquer, then merchandising, re- 
garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl- 
vania University, where, however, he remained but 
one term, owing to Forquer's failure in business. On 
his return he aUernaled his law reading with teach- 
ing school for support. 

In 1829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting 
Attorney, and in 1831 he was re-appointed by Gov. 
Reynolds, and after that he was four times elected a 
Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a 
Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Chicago, and as As- 
sociate Judge of the Supreme Court, when, in 1841, 
the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition 
of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to 
the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity 
lie was holding Court in Ogle County he received a 
notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven- 
tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re- 
signed his place and entered upon the canvass. In 
.August, 1842, he was elected, and on the 8th of De- 
cember following he was inaugurated. 

All the offices which he had held were unsolicited 
by him. He received them upon the true Jefferson- 
ian -principle, — Never to ask .md never to refuse 
office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood 
de-icrvedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him 
rather for a writer upon law than a practicing advo- 
cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void 
of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to 
success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were 
sound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In 
praCiice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in- 
sinuating address of the politician, but he saw through 
the arts of demagogues as well as any man. He was 
plain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, that at 
one time after the expiration of his term of office, 
during a session of thij Legislature, he was taken by 
a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door- 
keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid- 
night by a knot of small office-seekers with the view 
of effecting a " combination ! " 

Mr. Ford had not the "brass" of the ordinary 
politician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a 
political leader. He cared little for money, and 
hardly enough for a decent support. In person he 
was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion, 
with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a 
pointed, aquiline nose having a decided twist to one 
side, and a small mouth. 

The three most important events in Gov. Ford's 
administration were the establishment of the high 
financial credit of the State, the '" Mormon War "and 
the Mexican War. 

In the first of these the Governor proved himself 
to be eminently wise. On coming into office he found 
the State badly paralyzed by the ruinous effects of 
the notorious "internal improvement " schemes of 



the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to 
show by w-ay of "improvement." The enterprise , 
that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the | 
rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this 
promised to be the most important thoroughfare, 
feasible to the people, it was well under headway in 1 
its construction. Therefore the State policy was j 
almost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on to ' 
com|)letion. The bonded indebtedness of the State 1 
was growing so large as to frighten the people, and ' 
they were about ready to entertain a proposition for 
repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to 
recommend such measures as would maintain the ' 
public credit, for which every citizen to-day feels 
thankful. 

But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for 
his connection with the Mormon troubles than for 
anything else; for it was during his term of office 
that the " Latter- Day Saints " became so strong at 
Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num- 
bers throughout the country, committed misdemean- 
ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of 
their leader, Jo Smith, by a violent death, were driven 
out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a , 
Judge for so many years previously, Mr. Ford of! 
course was non-committal concerning Mormon affairs, 
and was therefore claimed by both parties and also ^ 
accused by each of sympathizing too greatly with the ]^ 
other side. Moimonism claiming to be a system of' 
religion, the Governor no doubt was "between two ] i 
fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather 1 1 
" gingerly," and doubtless felt greatly relieved when • . 
that pestilential people left the State. Such compli- ( 
cated matters, especially when religion is mixed up 
with them, expose every person participating in 
them to criticism from all parties. 

The Mexican War was begun in the spring of 
1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term 
of Mr. Ford's successor. The Governor's connection 
with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it 
was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc. 

Ford's " History of Illinois " is a very readable and 
entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is 
destined to increase in value with the lapse of time. 
It exhibits a natur.il flow of compact and forcible 
thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In 
tracing with his trenchaiit pen the devious operations 
of the professional politician, in which he is inimit- 
able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection 
that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place- 
seekers, while many of them have since been judged 
by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings 
seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit 
a little splenetic partiality against those of his con- 
temporaries who were prominent during his term of 
office as Governor. 

The death of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, 111., 
Nov. 2, 1850. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



u 



143 



r 





usttm C. Frenek. 



m}^y 



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tiS^^i''^^ 




*^^ ^^7/ ^^ U G U S T U S C. FRENCH, 
Governor of Illinois from 



1846 to 1852, was born in 
the town of Hill, in the 
State of New Hampshire, 
Aug. 2, 1808. He was a 
descendant in the fourth 
generation ot Nathaniel 
French, who emigrated from England 
in 1687 and settled in Say bury, Mass. 
In early life young French lost his 
father, but continued to receive in- 
struction from an exemplary and 
Christian mother until he was 19 years 
old, when she also died, confiding to 
his care and trust four younger broth- 
ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with 
parental devotion. His education in early life was 
such mainly as a common school afforded. For a 
brief period he attended Dartmouth College, but 
from pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers 
and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently 
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1831, and 
shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at 
Albion, Edwards County, where he established him- 
self in the practice of law. The following year he 
removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained 
eminence in his profession, and entered public life 
by representing that county in the Legislature. A 
strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste- 
phen A. Douglas. 

In 1839, Mr. French was appomted Receiver of 
the United States Land Office at Palestine, Craw- 
ford County, at which place he was a resident when 



elevated to the 'gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was 
a Presidential Elector, and as such he voted for 
JaiTies K. Polk, 

The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet- 
ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French 
for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were 
Lyman Trumbull, John Calhoun (subsequently of 
Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scates, 
Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly,— an array of ^ 
very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per- 
haps defeated in the Convention hythe tumor that 
he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant 
Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi- 
dates were Lewis Ross, Wm. McMurlry,. Newton 
Cloud, J. B- Hamilton and W. W. Thompson. The 
resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita- 
tion of the old State Banks. 

The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held 
their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected 
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor, 
and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox, of Schuyler, for 
Lieutenant Governor. 

In the campaign the latter expos(=;d Mr. French's 
record and connection with the passage of the in- 
ternal improvement system, urging it against his 
election; but in the meantime the war with Mexico 
broke out, regarding whicli the Whig record was un- 
popular in this State. The war was the absorbing 
and dominating question of the period, sweeping 
every other political issue in its course. The elec- 
tion in August gave Mr. French 5^,700 votes, and 
Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist 
candidate for the same office, received 5,152 votes. 



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4 



144 



AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 



By the new Constitution of 1848, a new election for 
State officers was ordered in Novembei of that year, 
before Gov. French's term was half out, and he was 
re-elected for the term of four years. He was there- 
fore the incumbent for six consecutive years, the 
only Governor of this State who has ever served in 
that capacity so long at one time. As there was no 
organized opposition to his election, he received 67,- 
453 votes, to 5,639 for Pierre Menard (son of the 
first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V. 
Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and 1,361 for 
James L. D. Morrison. But Wm. McMurtry, of 
Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in 
place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected 
and did not run again. 

Governor French was inaugurated info office dur- 
ing the progress of the Me.xican War, which closed 
during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2, 
. 1848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com- 
mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair 
he was, of course, only an administrative officer. 
During his term of office, Feb. 19, 1847, 'he Legisla- 
ture, by sjjecial perniissioti of Congress, declared that 
all Government lands sold to settlers should be im- 
mediately subject to State taxation; before this they 
were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar- 
rangem.ent the revenue was materially increased. 
About the same time, the distribution of Government 
land vv.irrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty 
threw upon the market a great quantity of good 
lands, and this enhanced the settlement of the State. 
The same Legislature authorized, with the recom- 
mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern 
Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, tlie 
first in the State and now a section of the Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific) It sold for $100,000 in bonds, 
although it iiad cost the State not less tiian a million. 
The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve 
in (rallatin County, granted by the general Govern- 
ment to the State, were also authorized by the 
Governor to he sold, to apply on the State debt. In 
1850, for the first lime since 1839, the accruing State 
revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was 
sufficient to meet the current demands upon the 
treasury^ The aggregate taxable property of the 
State at this time was over $100,000,000, and the 
population 851,470. 



In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or- 
ganization law, which, however, proved defective, 
and was properly amended in 1851. At its session 
in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed 
a law to exempt homesteads from sale on executions. 
This beneficent measure had been repeatedly urged 
upon that body by Gov. French. 

In 1850 some business men in St. Louis com- 
menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of 
their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi 
in its channel near St. Louis, instead of breaking 
away from them as it sometimes threatened to do. 
This they undertook without permission from the 
Legislature or Executive authority of this State ; and 
as many of the inhabitants there complained that 
the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable 
land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re- 
sulting in favor of the St. Louis project ; and since 
then a good site has existed there for a city (East St. 
Louis), and now a score of railroads center there. 

It was in September, 1850, that Congress granted 
to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of 
the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
which constituted the most important ejx)ch in the 
railroad — we might say internal improvement — his- 
tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com- 
pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in- 
terior of the State by a good class of industrious citi- 
zens, and by the charter a good income to the State 
Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road. 

In 185 I the Legislature passed a law autliorizing 
free stock banks, which was the source of much leg- 
islative discussion for a number of years. 

But we have not space further to particularize 
concerning legislation. Gov. Frencli's administra- 
tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised, 
while the country was settling up as never before. 

In stature. Gov. French was of medium height. 
squarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face 
and pleasant countenance. In manners he was 
plain and agreeable. By nature he was somewhat 
diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con- 
victions of duty. In public speech he was not an 
orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In 
business he was accurate and methodical, and in his 
administration he kept up the credit of the State. 

He died in 1865, at his home in Lebanon, St. 
Clair Co., 111. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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H7 








=^-a$^(iB>^s>^ 



''|()EL A. MATTESON, Governor 
' lfe«« 1853-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808, 
in Jeffersoa County, New York, 
to which place his father had re- 
moved from Vermont three years 
before. His father was a farmer 
in fair circumstances, but a com- 
mon English education was all 
thathisonly son received. Young 
Joel first tempted fortune as a 
small tradesman in Prescott, 
Canada, before he was of age. 
He returned from that place to 
his home, entered an academy, 
taught school, visited the prin- 
cipal Eastern cities. Improved a farm his father had 
given him, made a tour in the South, worked there 
in building railroads, experienced a storm on the 
Gulf of Mexico, visited the gold diggings of Northern 
Georgia, and returned via Nashville to St. Louis and 
through Illinois to his father's home, when he mar- 
ried. In 1833, having sold his farm, he removed, 
with his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered 
a claim on Government land near the head of Au 
Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At 
that time there were not more than two neighbors 
within a range of ten miles of his place, and only 
three or four houses between him and Chicago. He 
opened a large farm. His family was boarded 12 



miles away while he erected a house on his claim, 
sleeping, during this time, under a rude pole shed. 
Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by 
a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed. 

In r835 he bought largely at the Government land 
sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which 
broke out in Chicago in 1836 and spread over the State, 
he sold his lands under the inflation of that period 
and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy 
contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon 
the completion of his job in 1841, when hard times 
prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State 
scrip; when all the public works except the canal 
were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons 
of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat- 
teson at a bargain. This he accepted, shipped and 
sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit, 
enough to pay off" all his canal debts and leave him a 
surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise 
next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet, 
in which he prospered, and which, after successive 
enlargements, became an enormous establishment. 

In 1842 he was first elected a State Senator, but, 
by a bungling apportionment, John Pearson, a Senator 
holding over, was found to be in the same district, 
and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat- 
teson's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however. 
with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of 



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148 



/OEZ A. MATTE SON. 



4 



greed for office, unwilling to represent his district 
under the circumstances, immediately resigned his 
unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a 
few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days' 
time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took 
his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity 
as a business man, he was made Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance, a position he held during 
this half and two full succeeding Senatorial terms, 
discharging its im|X)rtant duties with ability and faith- 
fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest, 
when work was resumed on the canal under the new 
loan of $1,600,000 he again became a heavy con- 
tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in 
building railroads. Thus he showed himself a most 
energetic and thorougii business man. 

He was nominated for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic State Convention which met at Springfield 
April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con- 
vention were D. L. Gregg and F. C. Sherman, of 
Cook ; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of 
Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton ; and D. P. Bush, 
of Pike. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom- 
inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices 
the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and Dexter A. 
Knowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at 
the election, while Mr. Webb received 64,408. Mat- 
teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul- 
tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being 
all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took 
rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His 
turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage- 
ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov- 
ernmental principles, as in those more solid and 
enduring operations which cause the physical devel- 
opment and advancement of a State, — of commerce 
and business enterprise, into which he labored with 
success to lead the people. As a politician he was 
just and liberal in his views, and both in official and 
private life he then stood untainted and free from 
blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social 
rirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or 
citizen, he had few su])eriors. His messages present 
a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the 
State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant 
diction. 

The greatest excitement during his term of office 
was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, by Con- 



gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in 
1854, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri- 
tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large jwrtion of 
the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op- 
lX)sition to tlie Democratic party, naturally drifted 
into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what 
was temporarily called the "Anti-Nebraska" party, 
while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne- 
braska or Douglas Democrats." It was during this 
embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham 
Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate for the United States Senatorship, while 
Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- 
inated by the Democrats. But after a few ballotings 
in the legislature (1855), these men were dropped, 
and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson, 
then Governor, by the latter. On the nth ballot 
Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac- 
cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson's 
term expired, the Republicans were fully organized ' 
as a national party, and in r856 put into the field a 
full national and State ticket, carrying the State, but 
not the nation. ° 

The Legislature of 1855 passed two very import- 1 
ant measures, — the present free-school system and a I 
submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote of the 
people. The latter was defeated by a small majority 
of the popular vote. 

During the four years of Gov. Matteson's admin- 
istration the taxable wealth of the State was about 
trebled, from $137,818,079 to $349,95 r, 272 ; the pub- 
lic debt was reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,- 
144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the 
State resumed paying interest on its debt in New 
York as fast as it fell due; railroads were increased 
in their mileage from something less than 400 to 
about 3,000 ; and the ]i()[)ulation of Chicago was 
nearly doubled, and its commerce more than quad- 
rupled. 

Before closing this account, we regret that we have 
to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an 
upright man and a good Governor, was implicated 
in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, amount- 
ing to $224,r82.66. By a suit in the Sangamon Cir- 
cuit Court the State recovered the principal and all 
the interest excepting $27,500. 

He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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[ LLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- 
ernor 1857-60, was born 
April 25, i8u, in the 
State of New York, near 
Painted Post, Yates County. 
His parents were obscure, 
honest. God-fearing people, 
" 1k) reared their children under the daily 
example of industry and frugality, accord- 
ing to the custom of that class of Eastern 
society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta- 
lile but not thorough academical education. 
By assiduous application he acquired a 
knowledge of medicine, and in his early 
manhood came West and located in Mon- 
roe County, this State, where he engaged in the 
practice of that profession. But he was not enam- 
ored of his calling: he was swayed by a broader 
ambition, to such an extent that the mysteries of the 
healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him 
further any charms. In a few years he discovered 
his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when 
he approached the age of 30 he sought to begin 
anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him- 
self, discovered a singular facility and charm of 
speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a 
ready local notoriety. It soon came to be under- 



stood that he desired to abandon his profession and 
take up that of the law. During terms of Court he 
would spend his time at the county seat among the 
members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready 
welcome. 

It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift 
into public life. In 1840 he was elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and 
was an efficient member of that body. On his re- 
turn home he qualified himself for admission to the 
Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo- 
cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a 
pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, 
clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly 
humor, his efforts before a jury told with irresistible 
effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut- 
ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and 
in that position he fully discharged his duty to the 
State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom 
failed to convict the offender of the law. 

In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and 
with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis- 
tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark, 
his head well poised, though not large, his address 
pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplar)' 
in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent. 
He was twice married, the first time to Miss James, 



=ia: 



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WILLIAM H. BISSELL. 



of Monroe County, by whom he had two children, 
both daughters. She died soon after the year 1840, 
and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daugliter 
of Elias K. Kane, previously a United States Senator 
from this State. She survived him but a short time, 
and died without issue. 

When the war with Mexico was declared in 1 846, 
Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his 
regiment, over Hon. Don Morrison, by an almost 
unanimous vote, — 807 to 6. Considering the limited 
opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of 
military talent. On the bloody field of Buena Vista 
he acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished 
ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second 
Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver- 
ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely 
contested battle. 

After his return home, at the close of the war, lie 
was elected to Congress, his opponents being the 
Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served 
two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician. 
During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor 
of the adjustment measures; but in 1854 he opposed 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and 
therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Douglas, and 
thus became identified with the nascent Republican 
party. 

During his first Congressional term, while the 
Southern members were following their old practice 
of intimidating the North by bullying language, 
and claiming most of the credit for victories in the 
Mexican War, and Jefferson Davis claiming for the 
Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena 
Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Norther* 
troops; whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, 
which was accepted. This matter was brought up 
against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor 
and during his term of office, as the Constitution of 
this State forbade any duelist from holding a State 
office. 

In 1856, when the Republican party first put forth 
a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the 
United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell 
for Governor of Illinois, and John Wood, of Quincy, 
for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi- 
nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County, 
for (Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook 
County, for Lieutenant Governor. The result of the 



f 



election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard- 
son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a 
ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal- 
anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor. 
His message to the Legislature was short and rather 
ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup- 
posed obligations of the people to the incorporators 
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re- 
opening the slavery question by allusions to the 
Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion- 
ment bill, based upon the State census of 1855, was 
passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor 
at first signed tiie bill and then vetoed it. A furious 
debate followed, and the question whether the Gov- 
ernor had the authority to recall a signature was 
referred to the Courts, that of last resort deciding in 
favor of the Governor. Two years afterward another 
outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment 
and to gerrymander the State, but the Legislature 
failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor. 

It was during Gov. Bissell's administration that 
the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light, 
implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent 
State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat- 
ing $255,500, was all recovered by the State except- 
ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.) 

In 1859 an attempt was discovered to fraudu- 
lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and 
thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a quarter of a 
million dollars. The State Government was impli- 
cated in this affair, and to this day remains unex- 
plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other 
matters previously mentioned. Gov. Bissell has been 
severely criticised, and he has also been most shame- 
fully libelled and slandered. 

On account of ex[)osure in the army, the remote 
cause of a nervous form of disease gained entrance 
into his system and eventually developed paraplegia, 
affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left 
his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco- 
motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was 
generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste- 
rious disease pursued him, without once relaxing its 
stealthy hold, to t!ie close of his life, Marcli 18, 
i860, over nine months before the expiration of his 
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He 
died in the faith of the Roman C'atholic t'hurch, of 
which he had been a member since 1854. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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:::()HN WOOD, Governor i86o-i,and 
the first settler of Quincy, 111., 
was born in the town of Sempro- 
nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was 
the second child and only son of 
Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother, 
nee Catherine Crause, was of 
German parentage, and died 
while he was an infant. Dr. 
Wood was a learned and skillful 
physician, of classical attain- 
ments and proficient in several 
modern lai.guages, who, after 
serving throughout the Revolu- 
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted 
him by the Government, and resided there a re- 
spected and leading influence in his section until his 
death, at the ripe age of 92 years. 

The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit 
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere, 
left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed the succeed- 
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum- 
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown, 
and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun 
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes, 
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast 
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued 
farming. In 1821 he visited "the Bluffs" (as the 
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited) 
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased 
a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow- 
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin, 

^ - -,-^ • •> ■■ 



18 X 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which 
he then became the first and for some months the 
only occupant. 

About this time he visited his old friends in Pike 
County, chief of wliom was William Ross, the lead- 
ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that j 
county, which was thought then to be the possible 
commencement of a city. One day they and others 
were traveling together over the country between the . 
two points named, making observations on the com- j 
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap- ! 
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place, 
the latter told his companions to follow him and he 
would show them where he was going to build a city. 
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high 
point, from which the view in every direction was 
most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yet 
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept 
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by 
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at 
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross 
replied, " But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to 
anything!" 

Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is a 
city of over 30,000 population. 

In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a newspaper notice, 
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply 
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new 
county. This was done the following winter, result- 
ing in the establishment of the present Adams 
County. During the next summer Quincy was se- 
lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then 
containing but four adult male residents and half 



4- 



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156 



JOHN WOOD. 



\ I 



that number of females. Siiioe that period Mr. 
Wood resided at the place of his early adoption un- 
til his death, and far more than any other man was 
he identified with every measure of its progress and 
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi- 
tions. 

He was one of the early town Trustees, and after 
the place became a city he was often a member of 
the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the 
face of a constant large opposition political majority. 
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856, 
on the organization of the Republican party, he was 
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the 
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the 
death of the latter, March 18, i860, he succeeded to 
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until 
Gov. Yates was inaugurated neariy ten months after- 
ward. 

Nothing very marked characterized the adminis- 
tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam- 
paign of i860, resulting in the election of the honest 
lUinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the 
United States, occurred during the short period 
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and tne excitement 
and issues of that straggle dominated over every 
other consideration, — indeed, supplanted them in a 
great measure. The people of Illinois, during all 
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes 
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming 
issue of preserving tjie whole nation from destruction. 

In 1 86 1 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele- 
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at 
Washingtoii, and in April of the same year, on the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed 



Quartermaster-Xieneral of the State, which position 
he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com- 
mand as Colonel of the 137th 111. Vol. Inf., with 
wliom he served until the period of enlistment ex- 
pired. 

Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi- 
fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few 
men have in personal experience comprehended so 
many surprising and advancing local changes as 
vested in the more than half century recollections of 
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler 
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor 
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away 
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his 
only visitant, he lived to see growing around him, 
and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the 
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second 
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in 
beauty, prosperity and promise ; whose people recog- 
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and 
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened 
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor." 

Gov. Wood was twice married, — -first in January, 
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter, 
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had 
eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in 
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow 
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4, 
1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight 
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of 
Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C, who married Mary J. 
Abernethy; John, Jr., who married Josepliine Skinner, 
.md Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The 
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and 
all the rest are still at Quincy. 




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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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159 














4 



UCHARD YATES, the "War 
Governor," 1861-4, was born 
Jan. 18, 1818, on the banks of 
the Ohio River, at Warsaw, 
Gallatin Co., Ky. His father 
^ moved in 1831 to Illinois, and 
after stopping for a time in 
Springfield, settled at Island 
Grove, Sangamon County. Here, 
after attending school, Richard joined 
the family. Subsequently he entered 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
where, in 1837, he graduated with 
first honors. He chose for his pro- 
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har- 
din being his instructor. After ad- 
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an 
advocate. 

Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon 
appeared in the political hustings, and, being a 
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the 
West, Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to 
the party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great 
ardor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for 
Harrison. Two years later he was elected to the 
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic 
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the 
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora- 
tory that by 1850 his large Congressional District, 
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties 
north to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him 
the Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic 
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop- 
ular man who had won distinction at the battle of 
Cerro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had 
beaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position, 
_. , • -A 



two years before, by a large majority. Yates was 
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over 
John Calhoun. 

It was during Yates' second term in Congress that 
the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re- 
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took 
strong grounds against the repeal, and thus became 
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse- 
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which 
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he 
fell behind Major Harris only zoo votes, after the 
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000 
majority for President. 

The Republican State Convention of i860 met at 
Decatur May 9, and nominated for the office of Gov- 
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B. 
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming- 
ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were 
also candidates before the Convention. Francis A. 
Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated for 
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr. 
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re- 
membered as characterized by the great whirlpool 
which precipitated the bloody War of the Rebellion. 
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen of 
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ross, 
of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The 
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party 
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear- 
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr. 
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr. Allen 159,253. Mr. 
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did 
Mr. Lincoln himself. 

Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the 



V 



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1 60 



RICHARD YATES. 



most critical period of our country's history. In the 
fate of the nation was involved that of each State. 
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance 
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates 
seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself 
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government. 
He had a deep hold upon the affections of the 
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial 
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre- 
possessing api)earance, with a winning address and a 
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele- 
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and 

I captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they 
were transported. He was social and convivial. In 
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far. 

The very creditable military efforts of this State 
during the War of the Rebellion, in patting into the 
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers, 
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel- 
. lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of 
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battleof 
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look 
■ after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were 
promptly responded to by the people. His procla- 
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate 
appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re- 

. quirements of patriotism; and his special message 
in 1863 to the Democratic Legislature of this Stale 
pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded 
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor 
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in 
beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes- 
sages on political and civil affairs were able and com- 
prehensive. During his administration, however, 
there were no civil events of an engrossing character, 
although two years of his time were replete with 
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar- 
rests. Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton 
County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times 
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of 
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting 
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem- 
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that 
the law calling it was no longer binding, and that it 
had supreme jxjwer; that it represented a virtu.-il 
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was 
sovereign in the exercise of all power necessary to 
effect a peaceable revolution of the State Government 



and to the re-establishment of one for the "happiness, 
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only 
by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the 
law calling the Convention required its members to 
take an oath to sup[X)rt the Constitution of the State 
as well as that of the general Government, they 
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as- 
sumed legislative powers and passed several imixjrt- 
ant "laws!" Interfering with the (then) present 
executive duties, Gov. Yates was provoked to tell 
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right 
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance 
of his duty." 

In 1863 tlie Governor astonished the Democrats 
by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after 
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to 
waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and, 
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the 
question of adjourning sine die, the Governor, having 
the authority in such cases, surprised them all by 
adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding the 
first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to great 
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the 
Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided in 
liis favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive 
abuse for weeks and months afterward. 

During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de- 
tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber- 
ation of tlie prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the 
burning of tlie city and the inauguration of rebellion 
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of tlie 
camp at the time, first liad his suspicions of danger 
aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters 
which passed through the Camp postoflSce. A de- 
tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen. 
Marniaduke was in the city, under an assumed 
name, and he, with other rebel officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Chades 
Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted 
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell to be hung. Tlie sentence 
of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison- 
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months' 
imprisonment, were pardoned. 

In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov- 
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 
which office he continued until his decease, at St. 
Louis, Mo., on the 27th of November following. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



163 



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Midiard J. Ogles 







^^ 



-{— 



I 



^xICHARD J. OGLESBY, Gov- 
ernor 1865-8, and re-elected 
in 1872 and 1884, was born 
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co., 
Ky., — the State which might 
be considered the " mother of 
Illinois Governors." Bereft of 
his parents at the tender age 
of eight years, his early education 
was neglected. When 12 years of 
age, and after he had worked a year 
and a half at the carpenter's trade, 
he removed with an uncle, Willis 
Oglesby, into whose care he had 
been committed, to Decatur, this 
State, where he continued his ap- 
prenticeship as a mechanic, working si.\ months for 
Hon. E. O. Smith. 

In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- 
field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him 
one year. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845, and 
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County. 

The next year the war with Mexico was com- 
menced, and in June, 1S46, Mr. Oglesby volunteered, 
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois 
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 

On his return he sought to perfect his law studies 
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but 
on the breaking out of the California "gold fever " in 
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the 
new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com- 



pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader. 

In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and 
was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket 
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe, 
Asia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his 
return home he resumed the practice of law, as a 
member of the firm of Gallagher, Wait &c Oglesby. 
In 1858 he was the Republican noninee for the 
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the 
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In i860 he 
was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the 
evening the returns of this election were coming in, 
Mr. Oglesby had a fisticufif encounter with " Cerro 
Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, 
and which was regarded as " the first fight of the 
Rebellion." The following spring, when the war 
had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature 
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and 
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature 
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, 
the second one in the State raised to suppress the 
great Rebellion. 

He w is shortly entrusted with important com- 
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point 
and Cairo; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen- 
eral ; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van, 
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army 
and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500 
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these 
men were from Macon County. He was engaged in 
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this 
place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball, 
and was carried from the field in expectation of im- 



4^ 



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164 



RICHARD J. OGLESBY. 



mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this 
day. 0\\ his partial recovery he was promoted as 
Major General, for g lUaiitry, his commissioa to rank 
from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he 
was assigned to the command of the i6th Army 
Corps, but, owing to inability from the effects of his 
wound, he relinquished this command in July, that 
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his 
resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow- 
ing, to court-martial and try the Surgeon General of 
the Army at Washington, where he remamed until 
May, 1864, when he returned home. 

The Republican, or Union, State Convention of 

1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr. 
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor, 
while other candidates before the Convention were 
Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga- 
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wm. 
Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant 
Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were 
James C. Robinson, of Clark, for Governor, and S. 
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor. 
The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority 
of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a 
majority in both the Legislature and in the repre- 
sentation in Congress. 

Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865. 
The day before the first time set for his installation 
death visited his home at Decatur, and look from it 
his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of si.\ 
years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This 
caused the inauguration to be post|xined a week. 

The political events of the Legislative session of 

1865 were the election of ex-Gov. Yates to tlie 
United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13th 
amendment to tlie Constitution of the United States, 
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized 
itself by repealing the notorious " black laws," part 
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place 
upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re- 
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a 
State Board of Eciualization, were passed by this Leg- 
islature. But the same body evinced tiiat it was cor- 
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted 
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota- 
bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse 
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now 
sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure 
was promptly passed over his veto by both branches 
of the Legislaturij, he deemed it useless further to 
attempt to check their headlong career. At this 
session no law of a general useful character or public 
interest was perfected, unless we count such the 
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened. 
The session of 1867 was still more productive of 
private and s])ecial acts. Many omnibus i)ills were 
ptoixjsed, and some passed. The contests over the 
location of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 



Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement 
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every 
thing else. 

During the year 1872, it became evident that if 
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the 
office of Governor, they could also elect him to the 
United States Senate, which they desired to do. 
Accordingly they re-nominated him for the Execu- 
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket witli him for 
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook 
County. On the other side the Democrats put into 
the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and John 
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election 
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from 
35,334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being 
caused mainly by their having an old-time Wliig and 
Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on tlie national ticket 
for President. According to the general understand- 
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met 
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate, 
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's term expired March 4, 1879, having 
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of 
statesmanship beyond criticism. 

During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was ' 
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the 
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor 
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both , 
gentlemen '.'stumped " the State, and while the peo- 
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a joint 
liallot, as between the two parties, they gave the 
jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov- ■ 
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The 
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on 
account of its equal division between the two main 
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of each 
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of 
the House. 

Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with 
regular, well detined features and rotund face. In 
stature he is a little above medium height, of a large 
frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical a[)pear- 
ance is striking and prepossessing, while his straight- 
out, not to say blufif, manner and speech are well 
calculated favorably to impress the average masses. 
Ardent in feeling and strongly committed to the ]X)1- 
icies of his party, he intensifies Republicanism 
among Republicans, while at the same lime his jovial 
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite 
party from hating him. 

He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe- 
ment, passionate and scornful tone and gestures, 
tremendous physical power, which in s|)eaking he 
exercises to the utmost ; with frequent descents to 
the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari- 
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest 
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis, 
he dehghts a promiscuous audience beyond measure. 



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,Y. . 

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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*>-«i 




John M. Palmer 






->J-*— o^Mii*-^" — 9— M" 



^|OHN Mc AULEY PALMER, Gov- 



ernor 1869-72, was bom on 
Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Ky., 
Sept. 13, 1817. During his in- 
fancy, his father, who had been 
a soldier in the war of 181 2, re- 
moved to Christian Co., Ky., 
where lands were cheap. Here 
the future Governor of the great 
Prairie State spent his childhood 
and received such meager school- 
ing as the new and sparsely set- 
tled country afforded. To this 
he added materially by diligent 
reading, for which he evinced an 
early aptitude. His father, an ardent Jackson man, 
was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which 
he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831 
he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County. 
Here the labor of improving a farm was pursued for 
about two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's 
mother broke up the family. About this time Alton 
College was opened, on the "manual labor " system, 
and in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his 
elder brother, Elihu, entered this school and remained 
18 months. Next, for over three years, he tried 
variously coopering, peddling and school-teaching. 

During the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- 
quaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his 



first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in 
political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi-' 
dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The 
following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be- 
gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading"' 
of law, and in the spring entered a law office at Car- 
linville, making his home with his elder brother, 
Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con- 
siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On 
the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners. 
He was not immediately successful in his profession, 
and would have located elsewhere than Carlinville 
had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty 
was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes 
the success of his life. 

From 1839 on, while he diligently pursued his 
profession, he participated more or less in local 
politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. In 
1847 he was elected to the State Constitutional Con- 
vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 he 
was elected to the State Senate, and at the special 
session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slavery 
sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op- 
position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; 
and when the Nebraska question became a party 
issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for the 
Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuing 
a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward, 



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i68 



JOHN MC AULEY PALMER. 



however, hesitating to break with his party, he par- 
ticipated in a Congressional Convention which nonii- 
T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which 
unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made 
the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat, and was elected. The following winter 
he put in nomination for the United States Senate 
Mr. Trumbull, and vvas one of the five steadfast men 
who voted for him until all the Whigs came to their 
support and elected their man. 

In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State 
Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in 
1859, but was defeated. In i860 he was Republican 
Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861 
he was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re- 
publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at 
Washington. 

When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his 
services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the 
14th 111. Vol. Inf , and participated in the engagements 
at Island No. 10 ; at Farmington, where he skillfully 
jj extricated his command from a dangerous position ; 
at Stone River, where his division for several hours, 
Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a 
rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major 
General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's 
divisions for two hours maintained their position 
when they were cut off by overpowering numbers. 
Under Gen. Sherman, he was assigned to the 14th 
Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign. 
At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert 
disaster. In February, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as- 
signed to the military administration of Kentucky, 
which was a delicate post. That State was about 
half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter 
element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves. 
He, who liad been bred to the rules of common law, 
trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary 
power over the persons and property of his fellow 
men, with which lie was vested in his capacity as 
military Governor ; and he exhibited great caution in 
the execution of the duties of his post. 

Gen. Palmer wns nominated for Governor of Illi- 
nois by the Republican State Convention whicii met 
at Peoria May 6, 1868, and his nomination would 
probably have been made by acclamation liad he not 
persistently declared that he could not accept a can- 



didature for the office. The result of the ensuing 
election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over 
John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. 

On the meeting of the Legislature in January, 
1869, the first thing to arrest public attention was 
th.it portion of the Governor's message which took 
broad State's rights ground. This and some minor 
points, which were more in keeping with the Demo- 
cratic sentiment, constituted the entering wedge f )r 
the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received 
from the Republican party, and ultiraitely resulted 
in his entire aleniation from the latter element. The 
Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro- 
duction of numerous bills in the interest of private 
parties, which were embarrassing to the Governor. 
Among the public acts passed was that which limited 
railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum 
of three cents per mile ; and it was passed over the 
Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto, 
the "tax-grabbing law" to pay railroad subscriptions, 
the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The new State 
Constitution of 1 87 o, far superior to the old, was a 
peaceful " revolution" which took place during Gov. 
Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the 
great Chicago Fire of October, 1871, was greatly 
alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency. 

Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers 's term, he has 
been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and 
has been talked of by many, especially in the Dem- 
ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a 
United States Senator. His business during life has 
been that of the law. Few excel him in an accurate 
appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles- 
The great number of his able veto messages abun- 
dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to 
point them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner 
and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker, 
though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his 
dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with 
appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot 
and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is 
above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy 
complexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He 
has a large cranial development, is vivacious, social 
in disposition, easy of ajjproach, unostentatious in his 
habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners 
and is a true American in his fundamental principles 
of statesraanihiD. 



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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



171 










A 



OHN LOWRiE BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor 1 87 3-6, was 
born in the town of Green- 
wich, Washington Co., N. Y., 
July 6, 1824. His parents 
were George and Ann Bever- 
idge. His father's parents, An- 
drew and Isabel Beveridge, be- 
fore their marriage emigrated 
from Scotland just before the 
Revolutionary War, settling in 
Washington County. His father 
was the eldest of eight brothers, the 
youngest of whom was 60 years of 
age when the first one of the num- 
ber died. His mother's parents, 
James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated 
from Scotland at the close of the 
Revolutionary War, settling also in 
Washington Co., N. Y., with their 
first-born, whose " native land " was 
the wild ocean. His parents and 
grandparents lived beyond the time 
allotted to man, their average age 
being over 80 years. They belonged to the " Asso- 
ciate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of 



America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid ^ 
was the training of young Beveridge that he never 
heard a sermon from any other minister except that 
of his own denomination until he was in his 19th 
year. Later in life he became a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still 
holds. 

Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed- 
ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood 
only by rigid economy and industry, could not send 
him away to college. He was raised upon a farm, 
and was in his i8th year when the family removed 
to De Kalb County, this State, when that section was 
very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000 
inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a 
farm laborer, teaching school during the winter 
months to supply the means of an education. In the 
fall of 1842 he attended one term at the academy at 
Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several 
terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, 
Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At 
this time, the fall of 1845, his parents and brothers 
were anxious to have him go to college, even though 
he had not money sufficient; but, njt willing to bur- 
den the family, he packed his trunk and with only 
$40 in money started South to seek his fortune. 



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172 



. -Y- . 

JOHI^ L. BEVERIDGE. 



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Poor, alone, without friends and influence, he thus 
entered upon the battle of life. 

First, he taught school in Wilson, Overton and 
Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which experience he under- 
went considerable mental drill, both in book studies 
and in the ways of the world. He read law and was 
admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn 
to love the institution of slavery, although he ad- 
mired many features of Southern character. In De- 
cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 1848, 
he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Clark- 
Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that 
time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring 
of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee, 
where his two children, Alia May and Philo Judson, 
were born. 

In the fall of 1S49, through the mismanagement 
of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu- 
lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to 
earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb 
Co., 111., and entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival 
from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in 
money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself 
and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced 
law, worked in public offices, kcj)! books for some of 
the business men of the town, and some railroad en- 
gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed 
to Evanston, 1 2 miles north of Chicago, a place then 
but recently laid out, under the supervision of the 
Northwestern University, a Methodist institution. 
Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial 
agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge 
prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law 
office in Chicago, where he found the battle some- 
what hard; but he persevered with encouragement 
and increasing success. 

Aug. 12, 1861, his law jiartner. Gen. John F. 
Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of 
cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a 
company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais- 
ing the company, of course enlisting himself along 
with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles, 
111., was mustered in Sept. 18, and on its organiza- 
tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- 
tached, Oct. II, to the Eighth Cavalry and to the 
Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment 
until November, 1863, participating in some 40 bat- 



tles and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days' 
fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
ville and Gettysburg. He commanded the regirnent 
thegreaterpartofthesummerof 1863, andit was while 
lying in camp this year that he originated the policy 
of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac- 
ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system. 
It worked so well that many other officers adopted 
it. In the fall of this year he recruited another com- 
pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was 
commissioned Colonel of the 17 th 111. Cav., and 
skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the 
reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smiths 
army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various 
sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered 
out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and 
a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men 
idolized him. 

He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with 
no library and no clientage, and no political experi- 
ence except to help others into office. In the fall of" 
1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving 
one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced 
law and closed up the unfinished business of his 
office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- 
vember, 187 I, he was elected Congressman at large; 
in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov-' 
ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby; the latter be- 
ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became 
Governor, Jan. 21, 1873. Thus, inside of a few 
weeks, he was Congressman at large. Lieutenant 
Governor and Governor. The principal events oc- 
curring during Gov. Beveridgc's administration were: 
The completion of the revision of the statutes, begun 
in 1869; the partial success of the "farmers' move- 
me"nt;" "Haines' Legislature " and Illinois' exhibit at 
the Centennial. 

Since tlie close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov. 
Beveridge has been a member of the firm of Bever- 
idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers in commercial 
paper at 7 1 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), 
Chicago, and since November, 188 1, he has also been 
Assistant United States Treasurer: office in the 
Government Building. His residence is still at Ev- 
anston. 

He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in 
De Kalb County — James H. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet 
Henry and Mrs. Isabel French. 




A 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



J75 




8relb> y M. Cullom, 






I 



ap HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover- 
nor 1877-83,13 the sixth child 
of the late Richard N. CuUom, 
and was born Nov. 22, 1829,111 
Wayne Co., Ky., where his fa- 
ther then resided, and whence 
both the Illinois and Tennessee 
branches of the family originated. In 
the following year the family emi- 
grated to the vicinity of Washington, 
Tazewell Co., 111., when that section 
was very sparsely settled. They lo- 
cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at 
the time occupied by a party of In- 
dians, attracted there by the superior 
hunting and fishing afforded in that 
vicinity. The following winter was 
known as the " hard winter," the snow 'being very 
deep and lasting and the weather severely cold; and 
the family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or 
hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In 
the course of time Mr. R. N. Culloni became a prom- 
inent citizen and was several times elected to the 
Legislature, both before and after the removal of the 
capital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about 

'873- 

Until about 19 years of age young Culloni grew up 
to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had 
opportunity during the winter. Within this time, 
however, he spent several months teaching school. 



and in the following summer he "broke prairie "with 
an ox team for the neighbors. With the money ob- 
tained by these various ventures, he undertook a 
course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a 
Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County; 
but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu- 
dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken 
home, being considered in a hopeless condition. While 
at Mt. Morris he heard Hon. E. B. Washburne make 
his first speech. 

On recovering health, Mr. Culloni concluded to 
study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln, 
at Springfield, who had by this time attained some 
notoriety as an able lawyer; but the latter, being ab- 
sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr. 
CuUom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
After about a year of study there, however, his health 
failed again, and he was obliged to return once more 
to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs for 
packing, for A. G. Tyng, in I'eoria, and while he re- 
gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in 
a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he 
went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City 
Attorney, on the .\nti-Nebraska ticket. 

In 1856 he ran on tiie Fillmore ticket as a Presi- 
dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as 
such, he was at the same time elected a Representa- 
tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a 
local coalition of the American and Republican par- 
ties. On the organization of the House, he received 
the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing 



i^ 




41 



176 



SHELB Y M. CULLOM. 



4 



law until i860, he was again elected to the Legisla- 
ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo- 
cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow- 
ing he was elected Speaker, probably the youngest 
man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis- 
lature. After the session of 186 1, he was a candidate 
for the State Constitutional Convention called for 
that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped tlie 
disgrace of being connected with that abortive party 
scheme to revolutionize the State Government. In 
1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but 
was defeated. The same year, however, he was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln on a Government 
Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of 
Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the 
New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the 
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at 
Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty. 

In 1S64 he entered upon a larger political field, 
being nominated as the Republican candidate for 
Congress from the Eighth (Springfield) District, in 
opposition to the incumbent, JohnT. Stuart, who had 
been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over 
Leonard Swett, the.n of Bloomington, now of Chicago. 
The result was the election of Mr. CuUom in Novem- 
ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he 
''was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by 
the magnificent majority of 4,103! In 1868 he was 
again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards, 
another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes. 

During his first term in Congress he served on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Expenditures in 
the Treasury Department; in his second term, on 
the Committees on Foreign .Affairs and on Territories ; 
and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of 
Ohio, to the Chairmanship of the latter. He intro- 
duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of 
law in Utah, which caused more consternation among 
the Mormons than any measure had previously, but 
which, tliough it passed the House, failed to pass tlie 
Senate. 

The Republican Convention which met May 25, 
1876, nominated Mr. Cullom for Governor, while the 
other contestant was Gov. Be veridge. For Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor 
of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the 
Democrats, combining with the Anti-Monoix)lists, 
placed in nomination Lewis .Steward, a wealthy 



farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The 
result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom 
obtaining only 6,800 majority. He was inaugurated 
Jan. 8, 1877. 

Great depression prevailed in financial circles at 
this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of 
1873 and afterward, the effect of which had seemed 
to gather force from that time to the end of Gov. 
Cullom's first administration. Tliis unspeculative 
period was not calculated to call forth any new 
issues, but the Governor's energies were at one time 
put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination that 
had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring 
classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East 
St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring 
men for a short time refused to work or allow others 
to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and 
the wheels of industry again set in motion. 

In May, i88o. Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by 
the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by the 
Democrats; and altliough the former party was some- 
what handicapped in the campaign by a zealous 
faction oiiposed to Grant for President and to Grant 
men for office generally, Mr. Cullom was re-elected 
by about 314,565, to 277,532 for the Democratic State 
ticket. The Greenback vote at the same time was 
about 27,000. Both Houses of the Legislature again , 
became Republican, and no representative of the 
Greenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov. 
Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, 1S81. In his mes- 
s.ige he announced that the last dollar of the State 
debt had been provided for. 

March 4, 18S3, the term of David Davis as United 
States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- 
lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor Jolin M. Hamilton to the Gov- 
ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the United 
States Senate will expire March 4, i88g. 

As a practitioner oflaw Mr. C. has been a member 
of the firm of Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at Spring- 
field; and he has also b-'en President of the State 
National Bank. 

He has been married twice, — the firrt time Dec. 
12, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had 
two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863, 
to Julia Fisher. Mrs. (' is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, witli which religious body Mr. 
C. is also in sympathy. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



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4 



OHN MARSHALL HAMIL- 
TON, Governor 1883-5, ^^^ 
born May 28, 1847, in a log 
house upon a farm about two 
miles from Richwood, Union 
County, Ohio. His father was 
Samuel Hamilton, the eldest son 
of Rev. Wm. Hamilton, who, to- 
gether with his brother, the Rev. 
Samuel Hamilton, was among the 
early pioneer Methodist preachers in 
Ohio. The mother of the subject of 
this sketch was, before her marriage, 
Mrs. Nancy McMorris, who was 
born and raised in Fauquier or Lou- 
doun County, Va., and related to the 
two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well 
known in that commonwealth ; and from the latter 
family name was derived the middle name of Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out 
his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., 
and, loading his few household effects and family 
(of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, 
moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being 
2 1 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams 
and innumerable hardships and privations met them 
on their way. Their new home had been previously 
selected by the father. Here, after many long years 
of toil, they succeeded in paying for the land and 
making a comfortable home. John was, of course, 



brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling 
except three or four months in the year at a common 
country school. However, he evmced a capacity 
and taste for a high order of self-education, by 
studying or reading what books he could borrow, as 
the family had but very few in the house. Much of 
his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in 
the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial 
panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing 
their home, to pay debts; but the father and two 
sons, William and John, "buckled to" and perse- 
vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed 
their place from the mortgage. 

When the tremendous excitement of the political 
campaign of i860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- 
erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been 
brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- 
ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special 
efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he 
joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag- 
nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the 
ensuing election it became evident that trouble 
would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake 
company, like many others throughout the country, 
kept up its organization and transformed itself into a 
military company. During the ensuing summer they 
met often for drill and became proficient ; but when 
they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton 
was rejected on account of his youth, he being then 
but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he 
attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County, 






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186 



JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON. 



and in the following May he again enlisted, for the 
fourth time, when he was placed in the 141st 111. 
Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., 
for the 100-day service. He took with him 13 other 
lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the 
service. This regiment operated in Southwestern 
Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine. 

The following winter, 1864-5, Mr. Hamilton taught 
school, and during the two college years 1865-7, he 
went through three years of the curriculum of the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. Tlie 
third year he gr^uated, the fourth in a class of 46, 
in the classical department. In due time he received 
the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the 
Principal of Marshall " College " at Henry, an acad- 
emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By 
this lime he had commenced the study of law, and 
after earning some money as a temporary Professor 
of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at 
Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, 
Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of 
this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. 
Admitted to the Bar in M ly, 1870, Mr. Hamilion 
was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- 
ing been elected Judge. In October following he 
formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time 
Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then 
small, but they increased it to very large proportions, 
practicing in all grades of courts, including even the 
U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued 
unliroken u.itil Feb. 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton 
was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th 
of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- 
gress. 

In July, 187 I. Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen 
M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wm. G Williams, 
Professor of Greek in the Ohio Weilejan UniVv.rsity. 
Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son. 

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- 
publicans for the State Senjte, over other and older 
competitors. He took an active put 'on the stump" 
in tlie campaign, for the success of his party, and was 
elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- 
Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on 
the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- 
lany ; and during the contest for the election of a 
U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re- 



elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on 
every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- 
cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and 
the Democrats and Independents elected Judge 
David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the 
first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of 
which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, against so 
much opiX)sition that the bill was several times 
"laid on the table." Also, this session authorized 
the location and establishment of a southern peni- 
tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session 
of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President //-(?/^wi. 
of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John 
A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who was this time 
elected without any trouble. 

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on 
the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his 
principal competitors before the Convention being 
Hon. Wm. A. Jaines, ex Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash 
County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and 
Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged 
actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected 
by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor^ 
he presided almost continuously over the Senate in 
the 32d General Assembly and during the early days 
of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. 
When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. CuUom 
to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton 
succeeded liim, under the Constitution, taking the 
oath of offiic Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the 
annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon 
taking up anotlier's administration. The principal 
events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as 
the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- 
aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison 
Co inties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the 
State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license 
liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc. 

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the 
National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 

1884. where his first choice for President was John 
A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but 
he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. 
Blaine, true to his party. 

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 

1885, when the great favorite "Dick" Oglesby was 
inaugurated. 



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INTRO DUQT^ORY.fei 



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^^5^HE time has arrived when it 
becomes the duty of the 
people of this county to per- 
petuate the names of their 
pioneers, to furnish a record 
of their early settlement, 
and relate the story of their 
progress. The civilization of our 
day, the enlightenment of the age 
and the duty that men of ilie pres- 
ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
themselves and to their posterity, 
demand that a record of their lives 
and deeds should be made. In bio- 
graphical history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to 
enliven the mental faculties, and 
to waft down the river of time a 
safe vessel in wliich the names and actions of the 
people who contributed to raise this country from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
the great and aged men, who in their jsriine entered 
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
vation of events without delay, before all the early 
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
in spite of their best works and the most earnest 
efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion 
and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- 
tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the 
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 



f 



to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. 
The erection of the great obelisks were for th.e same 
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
great achievements and carry them down the ages. 
It is also evident that the Mound-bu'lders, in piling 
up their great mounds of earth, liad but this idea — 
to leave something to show th.it they liad lived. All 
these works, though many ot them costly in the ex- 
treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and cliarac- 
ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity ; 
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
bling into du>t. 

It was L-ft tn mndiTii ages V) establish an intelli- 
gent, undjcaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
limited in ex'ent and perpetual in its action; and 
this is through the art of printing. 

To the present generation, liowever, we are in- 
debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
of local biography. By this system every man, though 
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
through the coming ages. 

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
by a record of this kind. 

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
engrave their [jortraits, for the same reason we col- 
lect the attainable facts of tlieir history. Nor do we 
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to 
publish to the world the history of those whose lives 
are unworthy of public record. 



t 



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WARREN COUNTY. 







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. John C. Bond, for nearly 
half a century one of llie 
3/ most prominent and 
valued citizens of Warren 
County, was born in Knox 
Co., Tenn , Dec. 25, 1799. 
Here he was reaied and 
educated and, in 1818, was married 
to Miss Polly Grimsley, of the same 
county. To them were born five 
children — Susannah Johnson, widow 
of Walter Johnson, deceased; W. 
G. Bond, ex-Sheriff of this county; 
Jesse W. Bond, a prominent citizen 
of Lenox Township; Ruby L. Cay- 
ton, wife of A. J. Cayton, of S.van 
Township; and Anna Bond, all of whom are living 
except the latter, who died wlien quite young. 
Sketches of the former may be found elsewhere in 
this volume. 

Maj. Bond removed from Tennessee to Alabama, 
and from there to Morgan County this State, in 
1826, in which county his wife died. In May, 
1829, he was married the second time, to Miss Mary 
Singleton, of Morgan County, and by her had three 
children — Fielding, Mary and Eveline, all of whom 
are deceased. Fielding was elected School Com- 
missioner of Warren County in 1861 or 1862, but 
died shortly after liis election. He was a young 
man of brilliant promise ; graduated from Lom- 
bard University with honors in 1857 ; shortly after 




f wa 



was admitted to the Bar, but died April 19, 1862, 



when only 28 years of age. Mrs. Bond died in 
September, 1842, and in January, 1844, Maj. Bond 
was married to Mrs. Nancy Terry, by whom he had 
two children — Canzada S., the wife of Mathew 
Campbell, of Stella, Neb ; and Cordelia, the wife of 
Henry Staat, of Berwick Township. (See sketch.) 
Maj. Bond was the father of ten children, six of 
whom survived him, and all of whom were present 
at his funeral. He lived to behold his fourth gen- 
eration of children. His funeral services were held 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Greenbush, 
Sunday afternoon. May 21, 1882, and were conducted 
by Elder Van Meter, a well known minister of the 
Regular Baptist Church, of McDonough County. It 
was attended by an immense concourse of old set- 
tlers from the south part of the county, who knew 
the venerable and esteemed man so long, so inti- 
mately and so well. He was buried in the grave- 
yard laid out by his father on the old home farm 
many long years ago. 

Maj. Bond played an important part in the early 
history of Warren County. He was one of the Com- 
missioners of the county in 1839, when the affairs of 
the county were conducted by three men, and in 
1853, together with Samuel Hallam and Robert Gil- 
more, was appointed to divide the county into Town- 
ships, which they did as they now exist. After the 
adoption of the township organization system, he 
was the first Supervisor elected from Greenbush, and 
served for 14 successive years, and until he became 
so deaf and bending with age he asked his fellow 
citizens of Greenbush to relieve him of further dis- 
charge of his arduous duties. He served the county 



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-4. 



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190 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



on the Board long and well, and his judgment and 
excellent good sense, as well as public spirit, per- 
vaded the affairs of the county for many years. He 
was the first Justice of the Peace in the south part 
of the county, to which position lie was elected in 
1835, and appointed his own constable to conduct 
his court and serve his papers. His first court was 
held in a smoke-house, and the trial was over a steer 
belonging to some Indianaian. Being his first term 
and the occasion an important one, he ordered his 
sons to clean out the smoke-house, and set the 
" court-room " in order. While carrying out the 
order, they performed some tricks not proper to 
docket, for which the 'squire fined them " for con- 
tempt of court,' and they paid the penalty. 

In 1844, Maj. Bond was candidate for the Legis- 
lature, and was beaten by only three votes. He 
was Assessor for his township for a number of years. 
In 1828, he went to Galena and worked in the lead 
mines. He passed through this county on his way 
and camped for the first time in the edge of the tim- 
ber two miles west of what became liis own home. 
At that time, as he surveyed the broad, open prairie, 
that stretclied out for miles before him, he was en- 
raptured with the high roiling mound where the old 
homestead now stands. He remarked to his com- 
panion that " there was where he would settle." 

He received his title as Major under the old mil- 
itia law of Illinois, and was Major of tlie regiment of 
this section of the country, of which John Butler, 
deceased, of Greenbush, was Colonel. In 1834, 
Maj. Bond settled on the old homestead where he 
died. The land was entercil by his fatiier, and after 
his deatli Maj. Bond purchased from the other heirs 
their interest in the farm. 

As a neighbor and friend, he was a most genial 
and companionable man, and just as true as the 
needle to the pole. His integrity was as unbending 
as the oak, and no man more heartily despised a 
dishonorable action than he. His heart and purse 
were ever open to the needy, unfortunate and op- 
pressed, and no one was ever turned hungry from 
his door. His home and its hospitalities were often 
shared by the early settlers who sought locations in 
this county, and they never forgot the genuine friend- 
shij) they received from John C. Bond, and many are 
the silent tears that will be shed to his memory by 
those who bore the trials and vicissitudes of the 
years long gone by in the settlement of the county. 




Having well and faithfully performed the task set 
before him, and more than filled out the measure of 
his four score years with a firm and abiding faith in 
the mercies of a true and just God, he peacefully 
closed his eyes and rests from the long journey of 
life. Thus, on the 20th day of May, 1882, passed 
away John C. Bond, as good and true a man as ever 
resided in Warren County, leaving to his descend- 
ants a priceless heritage — a spotless name. His 
widow is still living and now resides with her daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Campbell, at Stella, Nebraska. His grand- 
son, J. C. Bond, lives on the old farm in Greenbush. 
We are pleased to present the portrait of Major 
Bond in connection with this sketch. 



II R. Houlton, a member of the well known 
banking and mercantile firm of Chapin, 
Houlton & Co., Kirkwood, was born in i 

Maine, in 1833. His father, Joseph Hpulton,. j 
y-^ was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, | I 

Almira (Ray) Houlton, was born in New I 1 
Hampshire. They came to Illinois in 1852 andset-^^ 
tied on a farm in Ellison Township, Warren County. 
Here the elder Houlton passed his life in the quiet 
pursuit he had selected 31 years before his death. 

In 1850 Mr. F. R. Houlton set out with a few 
otliers to cross the plains to California. For four 
years and a half, he was interested in gold mining on 
the Pacific Coast. Returning to Illinois, we find 
him in 1858, entering Kirkwood. He secured an en- 
gagement as clerk for Knowles, Ray & Chapin, with 
whom he remained one year, when he bought out 
the interest of Mr. Knowles, and became a partner 
in the new firm, and from that date, 1859, until the 
present, he has been connected with the firm and 
there have been but two changes in it. Besides his 
interest in the business carried on by Chapin, Houl- 
ton & Co., our subject owns about 700 acres of land 
in Warren and Henderson Counties, the cultivation 
of wliii h he su|)erintends himself. Politically he is 
identified with the Republican party. 

Mr. Houlton was married Jan. 22, 1862, to Miss 
L. J. Calkins, who was a native of Maine. She was 
born June 18, 1836. To this union two children 
have been born, Blanche L. and Fred. N. ; Fred. N. 
died in infancy. Blanche L. was born Sept. 7, 1863. 
Mrs. Houlton died April i, 1885. 



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; illiam Harrison Frantz, one of Warren 
County's most prominent and highly re- 
spected citizens, who has met with success 
in his chosen vocation of Hfe, resides on 
section 27, Monmouth Township. He is a 
Director in the Monmouth National Bank and 
one of the leading general farmers and stock- 
raisers of this section of Illinois. He is a native of 
Maryland, and was born in Alleghany County, 
that State, April 10, 1829. His father, Solomon 
Frantz, was born in the same county. His par- 
ents were John and Catherine Frantz. They 
were early settlers in the State and their grand- 
parents were the first who settled in the United 
States by that name, having located in Bedford 
Co., Pa., at an early day. A few years previous to 
their demise the grandparents removed to Alleghany 
County, where they resided until their death, and 
where, previous to that event, they followed the 
vocation of farming. The father of Mr. Frantz, of 
this biographical notice, was married in Alleghany 
County to Jane McElroy, a lady of Scotch-Irish ex- 
traction and American parentage. After their mar- 
riage they resided in Alleghany County until 1849, 
when they moved to Perry Co., Ohio, and there be- 
came large land-owners and successful farmers, 
carrying on agricultural pursuits until about 187 1. 
During that year they came to this State and settled 
on a part of the farm belonging to William H., in this 
county. Here the father died in March, 1882, aged 
79 years. He was a strong temperance man and was 
one of the first to sign the total abstinence pledge 
in the State of Maryland, vi^hich he scrupulously 
kept the remainder of his life. In fact, the family 
were noted for their strong temperance views and 
their lives were passed in strict accordance with 
their opinions. The mother yet survives and re- 
sides with her son, H. M. Frantz, and although 
at the venerable age of 8 1 years, is enjoying the 
best of health. She and her hfusband were active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
were respected and honored citizens of the com- 
munity in which they resided. Their children were 



nine in number, two of whom have passed to the 
land of the hereafter. The following is a record of 
their family : Lucinda, who married Alfred Thayer, 
and resides at Tuscola, Douglas County, this State. 
Mr. Thayer is a stock dealer and farmer, but has re- 
tired from the active labors of life, enjoying the 
accumulations of the past. Andrew J. who married 
Virginia Johnson, and resides in the city of Bran- 
don, Mississippi, is editor of the Brandon Re- 
publican ; William H. was the next in order of 
birth; Isabella was united in marriage with O. P. 
Wilson, who follows the occupation of a farmer in 
Monmouth Township, this county ; Elizabeth mar- 
ried Thomas Bushfield. She died in Ohio, in Octo- 
ber, 1855; John H. (see sketch) married Anna 
Porter and resides on a farm in Spring Grove Town- 
ship; Catherine became the wife of J. W. Free, who 
is a resident of New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio, 
where he is following the profession of the law. He 
was also Major of a regiment of Ohio Volunteers dur- 
ing the late Rebellion; Mrs. Free died in 1864;' 
Nannie E. was married twice, her first husband be- 
ing J. D. Mackey, after whose demise she became 
the wife of S. K. Cramer, who is a resident of Wap-= 
ello Co., Iowa; H. M. formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Flora Murphy, and is a farmer and stock ship- 
per, residing in Monmouth Township (see sketch). 

Our subject received all the advantages in the way 
of an education afforded by the common schools of 
his native county, and when disengaged, assisted his 
father in the duties of the farm until he attained his 
19th year, when his parents removed to New Lexing- 
ton, Perry Co., Ohio. Remaining at the latter place 
three years, his next move was in the year 1853, 
when he came to Warren County and located in 
Monmouth Township. Here our subject rented 
land for about four years. He then purchased a 
tract of 80 acres, all of which was improved, but 
soon sold this and bought 180 acres, a portion of 
which is included in his present homestead. 

April 2, 1857, Mr. Frantz was united in the holy 
bonds of matrimony at the residence of the bride's 
parents at Monmouth, to Miss Mary A. Lucas, 
daughter of Marsham and Elizabeth (Deweese) 
Lucas, natives of Kentucky. Her mother was first 
married in her native State to William Davidson, by 
whom she had four children, only one of whom sur- 
vives. Her marriage to Mr. Lucas was celebrated 
in Monmouth Township, this county, and to them 



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-e4^ 



196 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



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have been born six children, of whom four survive. 
Mrs. F., our subject's wife, is the eldest. Next in 
order of birth was John T., his death occurring 
when a young man of 20 years ; William B., tlie third, 
formed a matrinionial alliance with Melissa John- 
son, and follows the vocation of farming near Ash- 
land, Neb. ; Charles is also married, his wife's maiden 
name being Lidia 'I'aylor. He is a conductor on 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, and re- 
sides at Galesburg ; Benedict N. is a resident of Ore- 
gon, and is engaged in farming; Cassias died in early 
life. The parents of Mrs. Frantz are yet living and 
reside at Abingdon, Knox County, this State, where 
they are living in retirement. Her father was one 
of the first settlers in this county, coming here as 
early as 1830. He helped to locate the county 
road and lay out the city of Monmouth, and exten- 
sively operated here for nearly half a century. He 
was here when the Indians were numerous and en- 
dured all the privations incident to the settlement of 
a new country. At that early date Chicago was 
their trading post, and thither they were compelled 
to go to do all their marketing. He is now in his 
85th year, and his wife, the mother of Mrs. Frantz, 
in her 7Sth year, and both are enjoying extremely 
good health for that age in life, and are among the 
best known and most highly respected pioneers of 
this part of Illinois. 

Mrs. Frantz enjoyed only such cducaiiunal advan- 
tages as the common schools — such as they were 
in an early day — afforded. She is, however, re- 
garded t>) her many friends as a lady of rare cul- 
ture and refinement. She is one of the leading 
spirits in every circle in which she moves. The 
most excellent judgment which she possesses, and 
the qualities of both mind and heart with which she 
is giftt-d, eminently fit her for a wider sphere than 
the home circle. However, in this divinely endowed 
sphere, that of the home, she is a wife and mother of 
the most admirable type. She continued to reside 
with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Frantz. 
Of their union seven children have been born, 
namely : Delavan C, who chose for his life partner, 
Mary E. I'aine, and is engaged in farming in Mon- 
mouth Township. They have had one child, — 
Harrison Paine; Kate married Charles Sickmon, 
who is also a farmer of Monmouth Township; Sina 
became the wife of Philo Kettering, a farmer by occu- 
pation, and she also lives near her old home; Pearl, 



Ella J. and Mary L. reside at home. The demise of 
Georgie V. occurred in infancy. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Frantz, they 
located on the homestead which Mr. F. had previ- 
ously purchased, and where he was for a few years 
engaged in farming, afterwards going extensively into 
the stock business, ( buying, breeding and ship- 
ping stock ) in which business he is still engaged 
at the present time. Mr. F. is one of the heaviest 
land-owners in this county, owning nearly r,ooo 
acres, all joining, and having three good residences 
and eight houses on his land. His land is all under 
an advanced state of cultivation and he is one of the 
most successfvil fiirmers of Warren County. His ac- 
cumulations of this world's goods is indicative of that 
energy, perseverance and good judgment which he 
possesses. 

During the last four years he has been engaged in 
the breeding of fine stock. In July of 1882, he 
visited England, Scotland and France, where he 
made purchases of some of the purest-blooded stock I 
to be found in those countries. Among the animals ; 
he bought were King Cole, Knight of Athloe, Prin- 1 
cess of Wales, Princess Beatrice and Maggie Wilson. ' 
These are the names by which these splendid 
animals were known in the herd books of Great 
Britain and America. They were pure-blooded' 
Clydesdales, and rank among the best horses ever 
brought to Illinois. Princess of Wales has taken the 
first ijremiums at the Chicago State Fair, State Fairs 
at Peoria, at Cedar Ka|)ids, Iowa, and at the great 
fair at St. Louis. These magnificent specimens of 
this excellent breed of horses were bought by 
Mr. Frantz for the purpose of improving the char- 
acter of the horses throughout his section of the 
county. The results have been most gratifying, and 
he should be commended for his enterprise and 
receive the gratitude of farmers and those interested 
in raising this noble animal in Warren County. 

Not only has Mr. Frantz exhibited rare enter- 
prise in his desire to develop the horse in this sec- 
tion of the State, but has carried the same spirit 
into his plans to better the grade of cattle. This is 
shown by his purchase of several head of pure Gal- 
loway cattle from some of the famous herds of 
Scotland, which he added to his already extensive 
herd on his fine stock farm, near Monmouth. Among 
those secured from Scotland were North Star, Rock 
ford, Bonnie Lass and Bonnie Perle. 



4. 




■4^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



197 



The publishers of this Album are not only pleased 
to be able to present Mr. Frantz's property as show- 
ing one of the most beautiful country residences and 
splendid set of farm buildings in the Military Tract, 
but to show some of the magnificent specimens of 
both horses and cattle above mentioned. 

Mrs. Frantz and some of her children are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. Politically, Mr. F. is 
a believer in and a supporter of the principles of 
the Republican party. He has held the posiiion 
of Road Commissioner, School Trustee and Director 
in his township, and is a gentleman whose word in a 
financial point of view is considered equal to his 
bond. His portrait, as one of the truly representa- 
tive men of this county, is given in connection with 
this sketch. 







j.yrus J. Wood, associate editor of the V<rt- 

/y Evening Gazette, of Monmouth, a son 

of Cyrus A. and Mary A. (Roe) Wood, 

»[5) was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1858. 

W His father was by occupation a farmer, and 

' died when the subject of our sketch was l)ut 

four years of age. 

At the common schools of his neighborhood, sup- 
plemented by a thorough preparatory training at 
Cortland, N. Y., Normal Academy, Cyrus J. Wood 
fitted himself for Rochester, N. Y., University, from 
which institution he graduated with honors in the 
class of 1883. The following fall found him at Mon- 
mouth, where he at once began the study of law, ac- 
cepting in the meantime the position of reporter on 
the Gazette. It may be well to remember, that for 
several years (and the question may not even yet be 
definitely settled) he was not quite sure as to 
whether the third or the fourth estate, as recognized 
by men of letters, should become the field of his per- 
manent operations. While at college he held the 
position of telegraph editor of the Rochester Sunday 
Morning Herald, and after graduating, and before 
coming West, he was police reporter of the daily is- 
sue of the same paper. Since coming to the city of 
Monmouth, though he has in nowise neglected the 
study of law, the press has claimed him fully as one 
of its members. From reporter he was first promoted 



to the position of city editor of the Gazette, and was 
soon afterward advanced to the position he has since 
so ably filled to the entire satisfaction of the Gazette 
and its readers. 

He was admitted to the Bar in October, 1885, and 
as a member of the legal profession he may yet 
nchieve the highest aims of his ambition and a rec- 
ord that will favorably compare with that made t>y 
any of tlie disciples of Blackstone. 



-f3- 



-^^ 



-e*- 




eorge Abbey, engaged in the livery busi- 
ness at Kirkwood, is a native of New York, 
having been born in Steuben County, in 
1844. He is a son of Newman and Harriet 
(Van Wagoner) Abbey, natives of Ulster Co., 
N. Y. The father came to this State in 1857, 
and at first located on section 3, Tompkins Town- 
ship, where, on rented land, he was engaged in 
farming for one year. He then moved into the vil- 
lage of Kirkwood and embarked in the drug business 
with Mr. L. Howard, the original firm continuing to 
exist for three years. .\t the e.xpiration of that time 
he took into the business his son, Horatio, and the 
partnership continued until the death of the father, 
Sept. r, 1885. 

The gentleman whose name we place at the head 
of this notice was an inmate of his father's household 
until he reached the age of 17 years, receiving at his 
hands and in the common schools of the county a 
good English education. At that young age in life, 
George Abbey enlisted in the war for the Union, 
joining Company A, 83d III. Vol. Inf., as a private, 
and served in defense of his country's flag for two 
years and eleven months. He participated in the 
second battle of Fort Donelson, and engaged in many 
skirmishes with the guerrillas and was in between 20 
and 30 engagements with them. At the expiration 
of his term of enlistment he received an honorable 
discharge, came home and once more entered upon 
the peaceful pursuits of life. He rented land and 
for two years was engaged in farming. In 1867 he 
embarked in the livery business, with which he com- 
bined that of a feed and sale stable at Kirkwood and 
has since continued in the same, meeting with that 



y^ 



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. . Y . . "^ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



success which almost universally comes to a man 
possessed of that push and energy which has char- 
acterized Mr. Abbey's career in life. In addition to 
his extensive stables, located contiguous to the tracks 
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, Mr. 
Abbey has a fine residence and two lots in the vil- 
lage. He is also the owner of 80 acres of land in 
Kansas, which he is rapidly bringing under a high 
state of cultivation. 

The marriage of Mr. Abbey was solemnized in 
187 1, at which time Miss Helen Barnum, a native of 
this State, became liis wife. Mr. Abbey votes the 
Republican ticket, and socially is a member of the 
G. A. R. He is eminently worthy to be classed as 
one of the representative business men of the thriv- 
ing little village of Kirkwood. 



^^ 




4 



■ saac B. Kirby, engaged as a general farmer 
on section 34, Ellison Township, was liorn 
in Greene Co., Pa., June 25, 1825, his father 
being Joseph H Kirby, a farmer by occupation, 
;it present residing in Berwick Township, this 
county. Of a family of four sons and three 
daughters, our subject was the eldest. 

Isaac B. lived at home until he attained the age 
of 25 years, when he was married, on the 7th of July, 
1850, in Greene County, to Miss Eliza A. Bailey, a 
native of the same county. She was the daughter 
of a Pennsylvania farmer, and lived at home until 
her marriage. Her parents died some time ago in 
the Keystone State. Mrs. Kirby was the youngest 
child of a family of nine children, and of her union 
with Isaac B. Kirby, she has become the mother of 
eight children, all of whom are now living. Three 
sons and one daughter, of the above mentioned eight 
children, are married. 

In the fall after marriage, Mr. Kirby came to 
Illinois, and rented land for two years in Peoria 
County, after which time he removed to Warren 
County and in the latter county purchased an 80- 
acre tract of land where he now resides. He has 
improved his farm and added to his original purchase 
until he is now the possessor of 200 acres in this 
township, and 240 acres in Iowa, where two of his 




sons now reside. Mr. Kirby has been a very suc- 
cessful agriculturist, which is attributable to his in- 
domitable energy, economy and perseverance, with 
the assistance of his good helpmeet. 

Religiously, Mr. Kirby and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. K. has filled 
the position of Township Trustee and has also held 
several of the minor township offices, creditably dis- 
charging the duties of each. Politically, he is iden- 
tified with the Democratic party. 



o^^^ajfr-^'o 



ames F. Arthurs is a pioneer of Warren 
County of 1836 and resides on section 18. 
Kelly Township. He was born in the 
southern section of the United States, and was 
reared there. The death of his father when 
he was three years old left a heavy burden on 
the mother, as there were eight children of whom 
she was sole guardian. In 1831, a removal of the 
family to Putnam Co., Ind., was effected, and in 
1836 another change brought the widow and her 
children to Illinois. 

Mr. Arthurs was born Dec. 29, 1807, and is the 
son of Joseph and Catherine (Wingfield) Arthurs. 
Mr. Arthurs was 19 when he came to this county, 
where he has since been identified with its develop- 
ment and general well-being. The journey was 
made hither in the manner common in those days, 
with horses and oxen, and the domestic affairs were 
managed while the party were en route as nearly as 
possible as in the home they had left. Mr. Arthurs 
lived with his brother-in-law for a few months after 
reaching Illinois, and meanwhile bought the land in- 
cluded in the farm which he now owns. He erected 
a log house and split clapboards for the roof and 
puncheons for the floor. The place now presents a 
modernized appearance, as the cabin of that early 
period has given place to farm-structures that are in 
every way suitable to the change in the circum- 
stances of the proprietor and to the times. 

The union in marriage of Mr. .\rthurs and Miss 
Elizabeth A. Carmichael, took place in 1835. She 
was born in the District of Newbury, South Carolina, 
July 5, 1817. Five of their children are now living. 
Two sons enlisted in Co. C, 36th 111. Vol. Inf Will- 



*i 



■ •V- . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



199 



iam T. was killed in the action at Stone River, Tenn. 
Abraham Y. died a few weeks after liis return to his 
home. 

Mr. Arthurs is a member of the United Brethren 
Church. He is a man whom his fellow citizens re- 
spect and esteem. 



#^ 




1 ' Di 



ohn P. Campbell is the present Township 
^ Clerk of Spring Grove. He was born in 
Huntingdon Co., Pa., Aug. 6, 1853. He 
is a member of the fourth generation from his 
earliest known ancestor in this country, being 
of Scotch-Irish extraction. John A. Camp- 
bell, his father, was born in 1807, in the same coun- 
ty in Pennsylvania where the son was born. He was 
'bred a farmer, that having been the calling of his 
race for many generations. He was married in the 
Keystone State to Mary J. Wray, who was also born 
in Huntingdon County, Oct. 16, 18 17. After his 
marriage the senior Campbell bought a farm in Bra- 
dy Township, seven miles from the county-seat, 
which remained the home of the family until 1865, 
when the property was sold and a removal to Illi- 
nois effected. A farm was rented in Suez Township, 
in Mercer County, where they resided one year, dur- 
ing which time the father was engaged in prospect- 
ing for a suitable location for a permanent homestead. 
In company with his eldest son, he bought a farm on 
section 9, in the township of Spring Grove, which, in 
the spring of 1866, he took possession of and made 
it the family residence until the death of the father, 
which took place in 1873. His widow now resides 
in Norwood, Mercer County. They were the parents 
of II children, of whom eight are still living. 

Mr. Campbell is the fourth child. He was 12 
years old when his father's family removed to Illi- 
nois. He had obtained a fair education before com- 
ing to this State, but after removal hither he contin- 
ued his studies in the common schools of Spring 
Grove Township. In the interims of school he en- 
gaged in the duties of farming. He obtained a ])rac- 
tical education, and in 1874 he commenced teaching. 
He made his first engagement as a pedagogue in 
District No. 5, of the same township in which he now 

-^ ■ -x 



lives. In July, 1877, he bought an interest in the 
dry-goods establishment of G. B. Hardy, at Alexis, 
and carried on a commercial business for 14 months. 
He sold out at the end of that time and resumed 
teaching, to which profession he has since devoted 
himself exclusively, having been engaged for nearly 
eight years in the schools of Alexis. 

Politically, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat. He has 
officiated as Collector in his township and is serving 
a second term in his present official position. 

He formed a matrimonial alliance with Ida Mc- 
Bride, Oct. 11, 1877. She was born in Monmouth, 
and is the daughter of Abisha and Parmelia (Alley) 
McBride. Their children are Freddie H. and Stan- 
ley Vergne. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members 
of the Presbyterian Church and he is one of the El- 
ders of his congregation. 



— «»• 




oseph S. Gowdy, engaged as an agricultur- 
ist on section 24, Hale Township, was 
born in Clarke Co., Ohio, June 29, 1831. 
He lived at the place of his nativity until he 
was about 20 years of age, when he decided to 
come Westward, deeming the facilities better 
there for acquiring a competency than in the East. 
He has, since 185 1, made his residence in Warren 
County, with the exception of two years spent in 
Henderson County. He purchased 70 acres of land, 
which, by his careful judgment and energy, has been 
put in an advanced state of cultivation, and is second 
to none in the township in its appearance to-day. 

Mr. Gowdy was united in marriage in Hale Town- 
ship, Oct. 24, i860, with Eliza Hess, who was born 
in Clarke Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1840. Of their union, 
four children have been born, their names being as 
follows : Lunetta B., Henry C, Meda A. and Nan- 
nie L. Mr. Gowdy has been School Director, and 
himself and wife are members of the United Presby- 
terian Church. Politically, Mr. Gowdy is a Repub- 
lican. 

The parents, John and Ann (Steele) Gowdy, were 
natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. They 
came to Warren County before the days of railroads, 
locating in Hale Township as early as 185 i. Here 



T^ 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



they lived for over a iiuarter of a century, becoming 
well known and highly respected people of that com- 
munity. The elder Gowdy died Oct. iz, 1864, his 
wife dying March S, 1880. The parents of Mrs. 
Gowdy were Christian and Nancy (Sellburger) Hess. 
They were both born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hess 
came to Warren County the year before the elder 
Gowdy, being in the spring of 1850. His wife died 
ill Ohio, in May, 1845. He lives at Kirkwood, 111. 




saac Jenkins, a retired farmer residing in 
I t Berwick village, was born in Clermont Co., 
MffT Ohio, Aug. 20, 1 81 4, and is a son of Zeph- 
~jr^ aniah Jenkins, who was born Aug. 9, 1789, in 
New Jersey, and who moved with his parents 
to Ohio in 1805, where he remained until his 
death, which took place Dec. i, 1854. Zephaniah 
Jenkins was married Jan. 16, 181 2, to Miss South, 
who was born in New Jersey, in 1789, and died in 
Ohio, in 1844. Their children were four in num- 
ber, — John S., Isaac, Frances M. and Elijah. 

Isaac Jenkins, the subject of this biographical 
notice, worked on his father's farm and attended the 
common school, developing into manhood. He also 
passed a portion of his time in clerking in his native 
State before coming to this county. He came here 
March 25, 1853, and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, which he continued until the time he removed 
to Berwick village. 

Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Caroline Kellum, 
March 4, 1841, in Ohio, Rev. Fife, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, officiating. She was born Sept. 
19, 1 8 17, in New Jersey, her parents moving to Ohio 
when she was but one year old. Her father, James 
Kellum, was born May i, 1792, and died May 30, 
1878, in Berwick. He was married to Ann Albert- 
son, in 1816, who died Oct. 20, 1880. The issue of 
their union was nine children, — Caroline, wife of the 
subject of this sketch ; Elizabeth, born April 30, 
1819; Maria, July, 26, 1821; Rebecca, Dec. 13, 
1823; James, Sept. 20, 1826; Josiah, Aug. 13, 1829; 
John M., March 20, 1832; Edward M., Nov. 30, 
1834; Sanford VV., March 21, 1837. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had born to them 



five children, three of whom are deceased. The 
record is as follows: Annie, born Dec. 3, 1841 ; 
John, April i, 1844, died May 19, 1866; Amanda, 
born Nov. 23, 1847, "^'sd Nov. 19, 1848; Dean F., 
born Oct. ii, 1850, died the same year; Belle, born 
March 15, 1857. 

Mr. Jenkins has 76J4 acres of good farm land on 
section 8, Berwick Township, and also 2}^ acres 
inside the corporate limits of Berwick village, on 
which he has a good residence and there resides re- 
tired from the active labors of life. Socially, he is a 
member of the Order of Good Templars and also of 
the I. O. O. F., to which latter organization he has 
belonged for 36 years. He at present is a member 
of Lodge No. 84, Abingdon. Religiously, he and 
his wife are members of the Baptist Church located 
at Berwick, and politically, he votes with the Re- 
publican party. 

The grandfather of Mrs. Jenkins, James Kellum, 
was born Jan. 18, 1758, and died April 26, 1817, and 
his wife, Elizabeth Kellum, was born Feb. n, 1759, ■ 
and died in 1819. Their children were, Gilbert, 
born April 8, 1780, died May 19, 1844; Ziba, born 
Feb. 18, 1782, died May 12, 1832; John, born April ■ 
23. 1785; Lovisa, born Aug. 12, 1787; Rebecca, 
Dec. 23, 1789; James, May i, 1792; Elizabeth, 
Jan. 17, 1795; William, birth unknown ; Aaron, born . 
June 6, 1800. 



-«-5- 




31 ark S. Douglas, manager of the Star Livery, 
_ Sale and Feed Stables, of Monmouth, is a 
'*** native of that city, having been born Sept. 
13, 1847. He is the son of Samuel Douglas, 
whose biography will be found elsewhere in the 
pages of this work. Hark S. was educated at 
the Monmouth schools and studied law some time 
with Mr. Almon Kidder, but the " turf" was always 
more attractive to him than were the pages of Coke 
or Blackstone, so we find him in 1880 engaged in 
the livery business, to the management of which he 
has since devoted himself with an assiduity that fully 
betokens his eminent fitness for that particular sphere 
in life. And, in [xjint of fact, aside from a horse 
show or a horse race, his present business affords him 



IT" 



4> 



WARREN COUNTY. 



20I 



more real pleasure than anything else that he could 
possibly engage in. 

He was too young for a soldier and too honest for 
a politician, so the name of Hark Douglas will prob- 
ably continue for some time to be found among the 
plain, every-day people, though it is not likely that 
as a rule the class named will have quite as much 
fun as he will. In politics, the Republicans claim 
him, but as he boasts of being a " Mugwump," it is 
evident that his great love for the old land-marks of 
that party did not include a certain " plumed knight." 

Mr. D. was married at Abingdon, 111., Feb. 15, 
1872, to Miss Lidie Reynolds, a native of Warren 
County, 111. They have two children, a girl and 
boy, bearing the names of Leota and S. Leonard. 





illis Pruit is an old settler of Warren 
County and is a farmer on section 25, 
Kelly Township. He was born Aug. 3, 
> 1 810, in Henderson Co., Ky., and is the son 
of Doakes and Milly (Hanks) Pruit. His 
parents were natives of North Carolina, and 
were among the earliest pioneers of the county in 
Kentucky where their son was born. They both 
died there. 

Mr. Pruit received the bringing up and education 
of a farmer's son, and in 1829 he went to Brecken- 
ridge County, in his native State, where he liyed four 
years. While there, in 1832, he was married to Jane 
Moredock. She was a native of the county where 
she was married, and was born Dec. 24, 1823. Mr. 
and Mrs. Pruit left that county in the year in which 
they were married and returned thither in 1834. Mr. 
Pruit engaged in farming until the struggle between 
Texas and Mexico gave opportunity to see the world, 
and he enlisted in the service of the Mexican govern- 
ment. He was in service there three years and was 
in the action at San Jacinto under Santa Anna. He 
remained a year in Henderson County after his re- 
turn to Kentucky, and went thence to New Madrid 
Co., Mo., where he operated as a farmer two years. 
In 1845, he came to Warren County. He ob- 
tained the ownership of the farm on which he has 
resided for forty years and on which there had been 

__* ^=:r_A. 



a few acres of prairie broken. He erected a log 
cabin, and when the structure burned three years 
later he erected the frame house in which his family 
have since lived. Mrs. Pruit died in 1879. They 
had five children. William is a resident of Furness 
Co., Neb. ; Lucy is Mrs. S. G. Heflin, of Shelby Co., 
Iowa; Abby is married to Mr. E. Guernsey, of Pot- 
tawatomie Co., Iowa ; Alfred G. lives in York Co., 
Neb. ; Jennie is the wife of Homer Guernsey, and 
they are the managers of the Pruit homestead. 




••o4o*' 



eorge W. Robinson, the owner of 250 
acres of good farm land located on sec- 
"*■ tions 5, 6 and 17, Berwick Township, and 
which he is actively engaged in cultivating, 
was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1842. He is a son of William Robinson, also 
a native of York State, born there in 18 12, and who 
died in his native State in 1876. The father mar- 
ried a Miss Ruah Newman in 1834. She was born 
in 1815, in New Jersey, and died in 1878. They 
were the parents of four children, born in the follow- 
ing order: Lydia M., Oct. 28, 1836 ; Cordelia, Nov. 
7, 1838; William W., Nov. 28, 1840; George W., 
Dec. 5, 1842. 

George W. Robinson formed a matrimonial alli- 
ance Oct. 24, 1867, with Miss Anna Jenkins, who 
was born in the Buckeye State, Dec. 3, 1841. Her 
father, Isaac Jenkins, was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, 
in 1815. He married Miss Caroline Kellum (born 
Sept. 19, 1 818,) March 4, 1841, and came to Illinois in 
1853. They are the parents of five children and are 
both yet living, passing the sunset of their lives in 
peace and quiet in the village of Berwick. Their chil- 
dren are Anna, wife of the subject of this notice; 
John, born April i, 1844; Amanda died in infancy; 
Dean, who also died in infancy ; and Belle, born in 

1857- 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson of 
this notice are John W., born May 4, 1869; Edith, 
Dec. 9, 1873; Claude, June 7, 1875; Zaida Belle, 
May 6, 1879 ; and Arthur Garfield, Oct. 8, 1881. 

Mr. Robinson enlisted in the War for the Union, 
joining Co. C, 83d 111. Vol. Inf , Aug. 9, 1862, and 
was mustered into the service at Monmouth, 111, 



=t* 




i: 



WARREN COUNTY. 



_i T > 



He accompanied his regiment to Cairo, 111., where 
it remained some two weeks. He was first in active 
service at Forts Henry and Hindman ; was then 
ordered to Fort nonelson, and participated in the 
battle of Feb. 3, 1863 ; then went to Clarksville, 
Tenn., at which point he remained until he was 
mustered out, July 5, 1865. He was once wounded 
(in the back of the neck), but it was not sufficiently 
serious to prevent him from participating in every 
battle in which his company was engaged up to the 
time of being mustered out of service. 

On receiving his discharge, he returned to this 
county and again engaged in the peaceful pursuits 
of life. On his fine farm of 250 acres he has a good 
residence and barn, and is meeting with that success 
in life which is duly merited by a man of his energy 
and perseverance. Socially, he is a member of the 
G. A. R., Post, No. 239, at Monmouth, and, in his 
politics, votes as he shot, with the Republican party. 



®5 *^^ V7>®^^ ^ 



i- 



^1 




lonzo Sperry, formerly an agriculturist of 
gj^t this county, but who at present is passing 
'^ the sunset of his life in quiet retirement, 



residing on section 10, Hale Township, was 
born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1822. 
He continued to reside in his native State un- 
til about 1849, when he went to Jefferson Co., Wis., 
and there lived until i860. During that year he 
came to this county and became a citizen of Mon- 
mouth Township, from whence he moved to Lenox 
Township, and then, in 1874, made another removal, 
locating in Hale Township, where for tlie past 1 1 
years he has continued to reside. He has disposed 
of his real estate and now lives a retired life in Hale 
Township. 

The marriage of Alonzo Sperry to Miss Julia 
Heath, occurred Nov. 15, 1844, in Ashtabula Co., 
Ohio. She was born in the county in which she was 
married, Aug. 2, 1826, and has borne her husband 
three children, — Aura E., George VV. and Plin R. 
Aura was married to George Lynch Jan. 31, 1863, 
l)Ut is now residing with her brother in Hale Town- 
ship; George W. is a mechanic living at Monmouth; 
and Plin R. is engaged in farnung, living in Hale 
Township„where he is the owner of 90 acres of land, 
the major iwrtion of which is tillable. 



In politics, Mr. Sperry endorses the principles ad- 
vocated by the Democratic party. 



evi B. Cowick, farmer and stock-raiser, ra- 
ti \^^M. siding in Larchland, and owning 240 acres 
piv^T of improved and well equipped farm land, 
66^ in Lenox Township, is the second child in or- 
X der of birth of his parent's family. He was born 
Sept. 2, 1846, in Cumberland Co., Pa. John 
and Hannah (Bixler) Cowick, his parents, were na- 
tives of the Keystone State, coming to Warren Co., 
111., in 1854, \vhen they settled in Monmouth. They 
now reside in Lenox Township. Their children were 
Mary, Levi B. and Samuel R. Mary and Samuel R. 
reside in Kansas. 

Levi B. Cowick, the gentleman whose name heads 
this biographical notice, was but a child of eight . 
years when his parents removed to Warren County, 
and of which he has since been a resident. Mr. 
Cowick was among the many who with brave hearts , 
and strong arms successfully defended the Union 
flag in the struggle against treason. He enlisted in 
May, 1864, in the 138th 111. Vol. Inf., and served , 
until the October following, when he returned to 
this county and engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
becoming also quite an extensive stock dealer. He 
has endeavored hard and earnestly to put his land 
under the best cultivation possible and has succeed- 
ed, for at present his farm of 240 acres, entirely 
fenced and improved with all necessary farm build- 
ings, farming implements, machinery, etc., is second 
to none in the township. 

The marriage of Satah O. Jones and Levi B. Cow- 
ick occurred in Tompkins Township, this county, on 
Feb. 22, 1872, she being a daughter of Calvin and 
Rebecca (McQuown) Jones, who were natives of 
Virginia. They came to Warren County about the 
year 1854, and settled in Tompkins Township, mak- 
ing it their permanent home. Of their union were 
born four children, — John, Furney, Parker and Sa- 
rah O., our subject's wife, who was born Oct. 10, 
1850, in the State of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Cow- 
ick have had two children, — Arthur G. and Frank 
B. Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace for ten years, 
and in politics is identified with the Republican party. 








W- 












^ 



1 



■f- 




4-- 



•Fv^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 




<xy> 



4 



0.55~ 



'|j|Wf| hilip J. Karns, a farmer residing on sec- 
flisi ''°" 3^' Berwick Township, was born in 
i||l^5^ the Province of Baden, Germany, Oct. 22, 
ijwj iS'5' ^"'^ came to the United States in 1828, 
jli^ with his uncle, Jacob Sackman. He landed 
" at New York city after a voyage of 52 days on 
a sailing vessel, and was one of three persons out of 
360 that was not affected by what is known as sea- 
sickness. 

Soon after landing he accompanied his uncle 
to Lancaster, Ohio, where he remained until 1842, 
when he removed to Morgan Co., Ind. In that 
county he remained some five years, engaged in 
fanning, when he came to Greenbush Township, this 
county, and there followed his chosen vocation, that 
of agriculture, until 1870, when he moved one-half 
mile north into Berwick Township, where, on section 
32, he had purchased 467 acres of land, and which 
he has increased by subsequent purchases to 700 
acres. He has a fine residence on his place, cover- 
ing 166 feet of ground, two stories in height, with a 
cellar under tlie entire bnildirg. and it is said to be 
one of the most splendid farm dwellings in Warren 
County. It was erected at a cost of $7,000. Not 
alone to agriculture does Mr. Karns attribute his 
financial success. He is and has been engaged to a 
considerable extent in the breeding of Norman horses, 
and also lias a fine lot of mules. He has one span 
of roadsters on the farm which are " beauties," and is 
also e.xtensively engaged in raising Poland-China 
hogs and Short-horn cattle. His herd of cattle are 
seven-eighths full blood. 

Mr. Karns formed a matrimonial alliance Aug. 20, 
1837, in Ohio, with Miss Anna EUinger, the cere- 
mony being performed by George W. Sanders, Justice 
of the Peace. She was born Nov. 15, 1817, in Fair- 
field Co., Ohio, and has borne her husband II chil- 
dren, six of whoiii are deceased. The living are : 
Catherine, born July 3, 1838; Margaret A., Oct. 27, 
1842; Jacob, Aug.'20, 1854 ; William H., Nov. 24, 
1858; Joseph L., Jan. 5, 1S63. Catherine married 
Riley Adams, and now resides in Hardin Co., Iowa, 
and is tlie mother of eight ^children. Margarette is 
fhe wife of George Emerick ; tliey live in Bourbon 



Co., Kan., and are the parents of nine children. 
Jacob married Amanda Johnson, and they live upon 
the home farm, and are the parents of three children. 
Samuel L married Edwina Bond; he died Nov. i, 
1873, and left two children, Nora and Hulda May. 
His widow married Dr. William Randall. John 
Henry married Clara Nier. He died when about 30 
years of age, leaving two children, nowdeceased. His 
widow married Charles Thomas. Thefatherof Mrs. 
Karns, Joseph EUinger, was born Dec. 30, 1785, in 
Pennsylvania. He married Miss Nancy Bowman, 
Feb. r4, 1815, who was born Dec. 10. 1787, and died 
March 30, 1862, her husband having preceded her. 
to the land of the hereafter Oct. 6, 1853. Their 
children were seven in number, and named as fol- 
lows : Catherine, born April 4, 1816; Ann, Nov. 15, 
1819: Samuel L., Jan. 17, 1820; Mary, June 20, 
1823; Elizabeth, July 30, 1826; John E., twin 
brother to Elizabeth; and Barbara, Nov. 30, 1828. 
Catherine and Ann still survive, at the venerable ages 
of 79 and 76 respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Karns have 
22 grandciiildren, and are passing the sunset of their 
lives in peace and quiet on their homestead, enjoy- 
ing their accumulations of the past. On the cele- 
bration of Mr. Karns' 70th birth-day, his children 
and grandchildren, friends and relatives to the num- 
ber of 90 assembled to do honor to tlie old gen- 
tleman. 

Mr. Karns is a member of the Lutlieran Church 
and his wife of the Baptist Church. In 1836 he cast 
his first vote, which was for Harrison. In 1856, upon 
the formation of tiie Republican party, he joined it, 
and from tliat time to the present has remained a 
firm, staunch and liberal supporter of the principles 
of that party. 



->^^ 



I 




— 4- 



illiam H. Brooks, one of the representa- 
tive men and respected citizens of Warren 
County, is engaged in farming and stock- 
;> raising on sections 9 and 10, Roseville Town- 
ship, where he ha's always resided. The 
date of his birth is Jan. i, 1846, and he is the 
son of Thompson and Harriet E. (Ray) Brooks, who 
are natives of Kentucky and who came to Illinois 
with their parents before their marriage and were 
among the early settlers of the State. Their mar- 



rnAj 



4^ 



4 



i* 



206 



WARREN COUNTY. 



riage occurred May i8, 1840. They had three sons, 
of whom W. H. is the only survivor. After coming 
to Illinois, they purchased 80 acres of land in Rose- 
ville Township, and afterward added to ihcir landed 
interests 520 acres. Heie they lived until their 
deaths, the father's occurring April 23, i87[, and 
the mother's March 22, 1878. 

William H., whose name heads this biographical 
notice, remained on the homestead with his parents 
until their death. Since these sad events he has 
had possession of the estate, and has added to the 
original homestead until at present he is the pos- 
sessor of 700 acres, which is well slocked with cattle, 
horses and swine. VVe are jileased to give a full- 
page view of his residence and farm buildings, which 
may be seen on the preceding page. 

Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Amanda E. Fort, 
March 4, 1866. Like her husband, Mrs. Brooks is 
also a native of Illinois. She is a daughter of Wash- 
ington Fort, of Henderson Co., 111. Her parents 
were natives of Kentucky and prominent settlers of 
Henderson County. Mrs. Brooks has borne to her 
husband five children, namely : Effa, George T., 
^ John F., Jessie and Harriet. 

Mr. Brooks has held the office of Road Commis- 
sioner of his township, and both he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Brooks is one of 
the solid and substantial men of Warren County. 
Politically, he is identified with the Democratic 
party. 



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-e*- 




'^^^fflii arren B. Jenks, tlie owner and manager 
fliS^liil? of 100 acres of excellent improved land 
)yj^" and 16 acres of timber, residing on section 
26 of Lenox Township, is the son of Eras- 
T"" lus and Polly F". (Wilber) Jenks, natives of 
the Empire State. They were married and set- 
tled in Warren County, where, in Lenox Township, 
they have since made their home. Their fainly con- 
sists of five children, — Alice P., Warien H., .'\nn H., 
Genie and Flora G. Gertie is deceased. 

Warren B. Jenks, of whom we write, was horn in 
Lenox Township on the tgth day of September, 1846, 
and received a fair English education and has al- 
ways made this his place of residence. When a 



young man he had accumulated sufficient of his earn- 
ings to procure a good farm of 100 acres, which op- 
portunity he took advantage of, and now is the 
proprietor of as nice a farm as there is in his town- 
ship. The appearance of the s.ime presents that 
thrift and hard labor characteristic of our subject, 
and his farm is now cultivated to a high degree, with 
a fine residence and all the necessary and suitable 
farm buildings erected thereon. 

Mr. Jenks was married on the 7th of February, 
1875, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Asa Capps (see 
sketch of F. L Capps). 'i'he ceremony was per- 
formed in Lenox Township. Mrs. Jenks was born 
there, Oct. 15, 1855. Of this union were born 
four children, — Mabel L., Wilber B., Edna F. and 
Chester G. Mr. Jenks has served his township as I 
School Director, besides having held other minor 
offices, and with his wile is a member of the Baptist 
Church. In political opinion he is identified with the 
Republican party. 



^^^cM. 




lorance K. Morris, M. D., practicing 
illp physician residing at Berwick, was born in 



< 



Greene Co., Pa., April 18, 1849, and is the 
son of James B. Morris, a native of Mt. Mor- 
^K,, lis. Pa., where he was born in 1827. The 
father was a miller by trade, and soon after the 
breaking out of the late Civil War, enlisted in the 
cause for the Union, joining a regiment of infantry, 
and was selected as Captain of Co. F, and served in 
that position for two years. At the expiration of that 
time, he was commissioned Major in the 7th W. Va. 
Inf. and served until his discharge in 1864. He 
participated in several hotly contested engagements 
while in the service. The father was married in 
1848 to Miss Kezia Way, a native of West Virginia, 
where she was born in 1825. They are both living, 
and have been blessed by the birth of seven children : 
Florance, the subject of this notice ; Sturgis W. was 
born Aug. 8, 1850; Josephine S., April 8, 1852; 
Mar\ J., September, 1854; Arabella, April 28, 1856; 
Emma L., Dec. 15, 1858; George T., October, i860. 
Dr. Florance K. Morris was united in marriage to 
Miss Emma L. Kelley, June 22, 1876, in West Vir- 
ginia. She was born in that State in 1851, and has 
borne her husband three children, namely: Lena 



> 



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. . ¥ . . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



«o7 (► 



^ 



May, born April 9, 1877 ; Mary M., March 28, 1879; 
and Emma B., Oct. 11, 1882. Dr. Morris com- 
menced the study of medicine at Mt. Morris, his na- 
tive State; there lie read one year under the instruc- 
tion of Dr. Spencer Morris and two years under Dr. 
Leander McMillan. He then attended Jefferson 
Medical College, a: Philadelphia, followed the cuiric- 
ulum of that institution two years and graduated 
thereat with honors March 11, 1876, receiving his 
diploma. In April of the same year, he engaged in 
the practice of his profession in his native State, and 
then, in April, 1884, came to Berwick village, and 
has since followed his practice at that place. By 
carefully diagnosing his cases and bringing his e.x- 
perience and study directly to bear upon tiiem, to- 
gether with his close api^licalion to each and every 
case he has in hand, the doctor has built up a fine 
practice, both in medicine and surgery. That he 
might be sure of pure drugs, which to use with his 
practice and which are so essential in the treat., ent 
of cases, he engaged in the drug business at Berwick, 
which he is at present conducting in connection 
with his practice. In politics he is a Republican. 



JOOOfe 




!.oseph M. White, a well-to-do and suc- 
j^ cessful farmer and stock-raiser, residing 
on section 27, Monmouth Township, is a 
native of Pennsylvania, having been born in 
It Honey Brook, Chester County, that State, April 
12, 18.33. The father of Mr. White, of this 
notice, Thomas White, was a native of the same 
State as his son, his father also having been born in 
that State. Thomas was of Irish descent and in 
early life learned the trade of blacksmith, which, in 
the sunset of his years, he abandoned to follow the 
vocation of a farmer. The parents of Thomas 
White always resided in their native State until 
their death. Thomas was the third child in order of 
birth of a family of five sons and one daughter. He 
was married in Cliester Co., Pa., to Catherine Mar- 
pie, who was a native of the same county and State 
in which she-was married, and was the only daugh- 
ter in a family of four children by her father's first 
marriage, the issue of his second marriage being 
two children. 

The gentleman whose name heads this biographi- 



cal notice was the oldest and only son of his father's 
family, the remaining child being a daughter, Mary 
J., who attained the age of majority and became the 
wife of George Brown, a merchant in Fayette Co., 
Pa. The early education of Mr. White was ac- 
quired in the common schools, after which he at- 
tended college at Meadville, Crawford County, his 
native Slate. He continued 10 reside on the old 
family homestead until he attained the age of man- 
hood, in the meantime engaged in teaching. On at- 
taining his majority he set forth upon the road of 
adversity to fight the battles of life single-handed 
and alone, and engaged in farming. His marriage 
occurred in Fayette Co., Pa., where his parents had 
removed when he was two years old, March 18, 
1858, when Miss Sarah J. Rankin, the daughter of 
James and' Rachel (Hill) Rankin, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, became his wife. Her father and mother 
were both children of Pennsylvania farmers and 
were of Irish extraction and American parentage. 
Her father's family consisted of seven children, of , 
whom Mrs. White was next to the oldest. She was 
born in Fayette County, Nov. 20, 1834. Her father 
died in Pennsylvania about 1875, aged 67 years, and 
her mother is yet living and resides on the old 
homestead in that State. Mrs. White was educated 
in the common schools at the college at Waynes- 
burg. Greene County, her native State. She lives at 
home, and for a pjrtion of her time prior to her mar- 
riage was engaged in the occupation of a teacher. 
Mr. and Mrs. White have become the parents of 
three children, one of whom is deceased. Thomas 
is a resident of Lenox Township; Lncian resides at 
home, and Roclanea is deceased. 

After Mr. and Mrs. White were united in marriage 
they continued to reside in Pennsylvania for a short 
time, when in the fall of 1858 they came West and 
located on a farm of lor acres, which was partly im- 
proved. Mr. White has since devoted his time to 
that pursuit in life. In 1869, in company with A. 
M. Black, Mr. White leased r,4oo acres of land in 
Monmouth Township, which embraced the present 
site of the Monmouth Mming Manufacturing Com- 
pany. This company was first organized by Joseph 
M. White and A. M. Black. They bored for coal 
at an expense of about $[,ooo, and found a coal vein 
of two feet; but the most important discovery was 
fire-clay. The first vein of fire-clay is about three 



-ZJ'-. 



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208 



r 



4 



— .¥•:=: — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



JU 



feet thick. Going still farther down, they found su- | 
perior quality, a vein of fire-clay, eight to ten feet | 
thick. As the coal could not be economically worked, I 
and the fire-clay being found of great value, they | 
turned their attention to the full development of that 1 
discovery. In order to do that successfully, a stock 
company was organized by Messrs. White & Black 
for the purpose of manufacturing sewer-pipe, fire- 
brick, etc. The stock was $50,000. The capital 
stock was subsequently raised to $100,000. Mr. 
White was a director in the first board, and a 
stockholder until the fall of 1884. The establish- 
ment now is among tlie largest of its kind in the 
State; and much credit is due to Mr. White for 
his energy in aiding to establish this great en- 
terprise. He has done his full share in building 
up the city of Monmouth. Mr. White' continued 
his connection with it until recently. At present he 
is the owner, in Monmouth Township, of 182 J^ acres, 
and 40 acres in Lenox Township. He has a fine, 
we might say magnificent, residence on his place, 
and is meeting with that success in life which his 
energy, perseverance and good judgment have 
brought him. He and his wife are active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
denomination Mr. W. is at present Trustee. In poli- 
tics Mr. White is classified as a " true blue " Repub- 
lican. 



^iTIS'pfixa'jrs. Mary C. Klingingsmith is the widow 
.'itkl^'iaf, of Philip Klingingsmith, one of the pio- 

fJi^ " neers of Roseville Township, and for 
"* \ many years a prominent and influential 
■V" business man of ihc village. He was born in 
I 1820, in Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 
1855, selecting a quarter of a section of land in 
Roseville Township. Here for over 20 years, until 
1877, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Dur- 
ing that year he moved into the village of Roseville 
and purchased the Roseville Flouring-Mill. This 
he continued to run until his death, which occurred 
Nov. 27, 1884. Besides his mill he owned six dwell- 
ing-houses, and 160 acres of land lying three miles 
northeast of Roseville, all of which he managed him- 
self. He was an enterprising man and a valuable 



citizen to any village, and in his death Roseville lost 
one of her most esteemed citizens. 

Mr. Klingingsmith was married to Mrs. Mary C. 
Rogers, widow of John Rogers, Sept. 25, 1875. She 
was a native of Virginia and the daughter of James 
and Elizabeth Jane (Robinson) Clemmer. Her par- 
ents were natives of Fayette Co., Pa., came to Illinois 
in 1862 and settled upon a farm in Berwick Town- 
ship, this county, where they lived until 1879, when 
they removed to Iowa, and in 1884 removed to Ne- 
braska. Mrs. Klingingsmith, who was born in 1847, 
resides in Roseville and has one daughter living with 
her, Emily U. Rogers, who was a child by her former 
husband. 

Mr. Rogers was a native of Missouri and a resi- 
dent of Berwick Township at the time of his mar- 
riage to Miss Mary C. Clemmer. He died in 1868, 
in Quincy. Mrs. Klingingsmith was raised in Dod- 
dridge Co., Va., and remained there until she was 
14 years of age, when her parents caine to Illinois 
and to Berwick Township. He also owns the flour-- 
ing-mill. 




'osephus Kirby, a successful farmer and 
respected citizen of Warren County, resid- 
ing on section 7, Berwick Township, was 
born in Greene Co., Pa., Dec. 26, 1834, and is 
a son of Joseph H. Kirby, who was born in 
the same county and State, Feb. 21, r8o2. 
Joseph H. Kirby was married Oct. 26, 1824. 

Mr. Kirby of this sketch traces his ancestry in 
this country back to Richard and Anna Kirby, who 
had a son, Joseph, who was born Oct. 18, 1731. 
Joseph Kirby was married and had a son, Isaac, 
who was born Sept. 23, 1756 Isaac was married 
and had a son, Joseph H. Kitby, the father of the 
subject of this notice. Joseph H. Kirby came to 
this State in 1853, and located in Berwick Township, 
this county, where he purchased 270 acres of land, 
on which he located with his family and engaged 
vigorously upon the task of its impravement. Of 
their union nine children were born, whose names 
are Isaac B., born June 25, 1825; Emily, Jan. 23, 
1827; John M., Dec. 24, 1830; Margaret, Feb. 5, 
1833; Josephus, subject of this sketch, Dec. 26 



¥ 




7\r. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



209 




1834; Phebe A., July 22, 1S37; Sarah J., Sept. 11, 
1839; Mary E., Oct. 26, 1842; and George \V., 
April 24, 1847. Of the nine children, three only 
are now living, — John M., Isaac B. and Josephus. 
Joseph H. made his trip to this county overland 
with wagons and teams, and was occupied 27 days 
in the journey. Since coming here he has devoted 
his time exclusively to agricultural pursuits, and yet 
survives, at the venerable age of 84 years. In pol- 
itics, he is an adherent of the Democratic party, and 
he and his wife are members of the Methodist Prot- 
estant Church. 

Josephus Kirby, subject of this biographical notice, 
has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He 
received such edacation as was to be acquired in 
the common schools and worked on his father's farm 
in Pennsylvania until his parents emigrated to this 
county, when he emigrated with them, and has here 
continued to follow the vocation which he had 
learned in early life. He was united in marriage to 
Fannie E. Townsend in 1862, Rev. P. P. Sirley 
officiating. Miss Townsend was born April 19, 1843, 
in New York and has borne her husband si.x chil- 
dren, — Jennie S., born June 29, 1863; Nellie A., Jan. 
24, 1865; Leeny F., Aug. 26, 1869; Harry T., Aug. 
29, 1871; Ross J., Aug. 13, 1874; and Ralph, June 
■ 3, 1880. 

Mr. ICirby, in addition to the cultivation of- his 
land, is devoting considerable attention to the 
raising of fine stock, in which he is meeting with 
success. He belongs to_the Order of Good Tem- 
plars, and religiously, he and his wife are members of 
the Baptist Church. 



"otaaer®-^* 



'^^%(um». 



\Yf%W\V^i^va. P. Speakman, raiser of su^ar cane 
i^^^Jj and manufacturer of sorghum, and also a 
Jj^^f^ general farmer, residing on section 31, 
■M^\ Monmouth Township, was born in New Lin, 
Cliester Co., Pa., June 29, 1836. Jacob 
Speakman, father of the gentleman whose name 
heads this notice, was a native of the same county 
and State as his son, and was of English descent and 
.American parentage. He was married in Chester 
Co., Pa., 10 Miss Hannah Mitchner, a native of the 
county and State where she was married. After their 
» . . - ■ X 



marriage they continued to reside in Pennsylvania, 
where Jacob Speakman was engaged in farming and 
operating a grist-rnill until 1854. During that year 
they came West and settled in Tompkins Township, 
this county, where they purchased and improved a 
tract of uncultivated land, on which they resided 
until 1864. Jacob then moved to Monmouth Town- 
ship, where, near the city limits of Monmouth, he 
purchased 36 acres of improved land. On this land 
he and his family moved and there resided until the 
death of the mother, which occurred in 1879, in her 
69thyear. Jacob is now in his 8rst year. In his 
politics he is a strong adherent to the principles of 
the Republican party, and has always taken an act- 
ive part in local politics. 

After the parents of William P. had moved to this 
county, the subject of this notice continued to reside 
with them until the breaking out of the Civil War, 
when he and his brother, Henry C, enlisted in the 
83d 111. Vol Inf , Co. A, the date of their enlistment 
being Aug. 2, 1862. His regiment was assigned to' 
the Army of the Cumberland and was under com- 
mand of Gen. Thomas. It participated in the bat-j 
tie of Fort Donelson in February, 1863, in that of" 
Pulaski in 1864; also the battle of Athens, Tenn.,1 
and many skirmishes. The two brothers were in all i 
the engagements in which the regiment participated,^ 
and both received an honorable discharge in Chicago, 
in 1865. After his discharge Mr. Speakman returned 
to his home, and two weeks later was married, on the 
2ist of July, 1865, to Miss Parnee L. Harroun. She 
was born near Meadville, Crawford Co , Pa,, June 
It, 1839. Her father, J. E. Harroun, was Captain 
of a militia company and engaged in the various 
Indian troubles on the Pennsylvania frontier, near 
Erie. His life occupation was varied, and he died 
when Mrs. Speakman was but seven years old. She 
then went to Wisconsin with her motVer, Lucinda 
(Hastings) Harroun, and there resided for seven 
years, when her mother died After the death of her 
mother, Mrs. Speakman resided with relatives until 
her marriage. Of lier union with Mr. S. six children 
have been born, three of whom are deceased. Hur- 
bert G., Rutherna and Fannie are living, and El- 
wood, Mary and Ruth are deceased. After their 
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. S. located on the farm and 
followed that vocation in life for a while, when Mr. 
Speakman purchased eight acres, on which he is at 
present residing and engaged in his present occupa- 



t 



aio 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



tion of manufacturing sorghum. He has a mill on 
his place with a capacity of 25,000 gallons for the 
season, and he is at present making about 20,000 
gallons annually. The mill is owned by himself and 
brothers, who raise sugar cane for their own manu- 
facture and also manufacture sorghum for the neigh- 
borhood. In politics Mr. Speakman is a believer in 
and a supporter of the principles of the Republican 
party. 



udolph A. Beck, a member of the mercan- 
\, tile firm of Beck & Lewis, at Berwick, was 

'^Jt^'" born in Ehingen, Wuitemburg, Germany, 
y\V? Aug. 18, 1834, his parents being Henry and 
Anna Beck. He received his education in 
the public schools of his native country, at- 
tending them until he was nine years of age, when 
he entered college and there remained until he was 
14. The father of our subject, Henry Beck, died 
Dec. 21, 1S48, aged 42 years. Rudolph, after this 
sad event, was sent by his mother to a friend of his 
'>' father's, at Morger, to learn the confe<;tioner's trade. 
He lived in that beautiful country for some six 
months, and on returning home he stopped at Berne 
and fell in with Sigel's German insurgents, with 
whom he remained for awhile and'-then returned to 
Germany. After his return he was sent to Hoch- 
ingen to finish his apprenticeship, and there remained 
for two and a half years. He then again went to 
France, from there to Switzerland and then back to 
his native land, Germany, .\fter staying at home 
six weeks, in 1853, he emigrated to the United States 
via Liverpool, Eng. After a voyage of 30 days, he 
landed in New York, where he remained for about 
one and a half years, and then went to Lancaster, 
Pa., on foot, and from there to Wheeling, W. Va., 
and then to Sabina, Ohio. In the latter place he 
worked some six months, at the enormous salary of 
$5 per month ! 

Leaving Ohio, 1855, Mr. Beck came to Illinois, 
where he found work on a farm near Berwick village. 
During the spring of 1861 the war for the Union be- 
gan, and Mr. Beck enlisted in October following in 
Co. E, 13th III. Cav., under Capt. Rolland. After 
participating in several skirmishes in Arkansas and 
Missouri, he was sent to JeflTerson Barracks Hospital, 
Missouri, where he was discharged. He was mus- 



tered into the service at Chicago, and from there his 
company went to Pilot Knob, Mo., and from there to 
Arkansas, on the White River, where they were en- 
gaged in the battle of Cotton Plant, after which they 
went to Helena, Ark., where Mr. Beck remained for 
some three days, and from which place, as stated, 
he was sent to the hospital, the occasion of which 
being the falling of his horse upon him in the last 
battle in which he participated, and from which he 
has never fully recovered. He received his discharge 
at Jefferson Barracks, Oct. 9, 1862. Returning 
home, Mr. Beck remained in the vicinity of Berwick, 
endeavoring to regain his health, until the 22d day 
of May, 1863, when he started for his native home. 
On arriving in that country and after remaining 
there some three or four months, he was united in 
marriage with Miss .Anna Mederle, Sept. 21, 1863, 
the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Fulgey. 
She was born July 24, 1846. He started back to 
the United States with his bride in October of the 
same year of their marriage, and arrived here in No- 
vember following. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beck are the parents of four chil- 
dren, — Ida T., born July 8, 1866; Cora A., Oct. 17, ' 
1868; (irace A., Jan. \i, 1873; Irma K., July 30, 
1875. Mr. Beck ha-s a fine residence in the village 
of Berwick, 36 x 36 feet in dimensions, and two • 
stories in height. In politics, he is a Republican. 
Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge 
No. 619, at Cameron, and, religiously, he and his 
wife are members of the Baptist Church. 

The present firm of Beck & Lewis, at Berwick vil- 
lage, carry an average stock of $3,000. They handle 
a general stock of dry goods, hardware, groceries, 
and in fact everything that pertains to tlieir business, 
and by f.iir and honest dealings with their patrons 
have built up a good and constantly increasing trade. 

Mr. Beck has held the office of Postmaster at Ber- 
wick for the last 25 years, and still acts in that ca- 
pa<:ity. 

'" '*' '" S. Henderson. One of the progressive 
and energetic farmers of Warren County 
is Mr. S. S. Henderson. He was born in 
Fayette Co., Pa., on the 27th of May, 1848, 
and is a son ol Harvey and Eliza (Harris) 
Henderson, who were natives of Pennsylvania 
and had a family consisting of 13 children, five of 




*% 



r 



WARREN COUNTY. 



(T 



whom are living. Mrs. Henderson died in Pennsyl- 
vania, March 12, 187c. The father is still a resi- 
dent of Fayelte Co., Pa. 

The subject of tliis notice remained at home until 
he attained his majority, and while there assisted in 
the farm duties and also attended the district schools. 
He afterwards took charge of his father's farm, on 
shares, for six years, which proved very successful, 
and our subject managed to accumulate sufficient to 
enable him to emigrate West, arriving in Larchland, 
this county, in the spring of 1875, and in the fall 
made a purchase of 160 acres, where lie now resides, 
and owns 240 acres all together. On this land he is 
engaged extensively in general farming. About the 
year 1881 he was very unfortunate, having his house 
and other buildings burnt, but since has replaced 
them by an elegant residence costing $2,000, and 
good, substantial outbuildings. 

The most ini] ortant event in the life of Mr. Hen- 
derson occurred on the 5th of November, 1868, when 
* he was married to Miss E. J. M'oodward, a native of 
j Pennsylvania and a daughter of Davis and Mary 
I (Boyd) Woodward. They were farmers and the 
parents of 13 children, all of whom are living (except 
one who died in infancy) and had married and raised 
families of children before the father's death, vi'hich 
, • occurred in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the 
' parents of seven children, — Mary, Harvey, Davis, 
Amanda, Joseph O., Iran I. and Elizabeth. 

Mr. Henderson belongs to the Order of Masons, 
Monmouth Lodge, No. 37, and Odd Fellows, Warren 
Lodge, No. 160, at Monmouth. He has held the 
offices of School Director and Constable of his town- 
ship, and is considered one of the substantial men of 
Warren County. Politically, Mr. H. is identified 
with the Republican party. 



u^iM^s 



-^^w-^ 



***Q 




ij^ 



1 ' I * 



.._.,„, J Jim iron G. Parker, the junior member of 
' ^MW i the mercantile firm of Foster & Parker, ;it 
, ^° " Gerlaw, is a native of the county in which 
^^j}ja he is a business man, having been born in the 
township of Cold Brook, ISlarch 28, 1849. He 
is the oldest son of Barton S. and Margaret 
(Rowe) Parker, who were pioneers of that part of 
Warren County. The father was a farmer and the 
son was brought up oh the family homestead, He 



obtained only education in the common schools, and 
all he needed, as he possesses the intelligence neces- 
sary to the management of such business projects as 
he sejs fit to engage in ; and contact with the world 
at large is, to a man of his proclivities, equivalent to 
the advantages afforded by extended intimacy with 
the schools; and it is an open question if the more 
practical course does not the better subserve the idea 
of education. Li the spring of 1875 he made his 
first acquaintance with the com.-nercial world, and 
engaged in the capacity of merchant at Cameron, 
where he operated as such until 188 1. Li that year 
he formed his present business relation at th-; point 
where he is at present located. He has pursued 
the varied avenues of its connection without inter- 
mission ever since. 

His union in marriage to Hulda Jewel took place 
in February, 1870. Mrs. Parker was born in Logan 
Co., Ohio, and in their family five children have 
been born, and Harry, Bertha, Arnold, Alva and 
Charles are their names. The father and mother ■ 
are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Parker 
is a Democrat in political persuasion. 

^ -^^- ^ 




V^avid W. Rhinehart, proprietor of a quar- 
ter-section of land located on section 34, 
Hale Township, where he resides and 
where he is engaged in the active labors of 
an agriculturist, is a nat've of New York 
State, having been born in Ulster County, 
Oct. 14, 1824. The parents of Mr. Rhinehart were 
William and Maria (Jansen) Rhinehart, they both 
being natives of Ulster Co., N. Y. The father died 
in October, 1S83. The mother still survives and 
lives in New York. They were of the old Huguenot 
stock, coming to this country at an early day. Mr. 
Rhinehart continued to reside in his native county 
until he attained the age of 29 years, receiving the 
education afforded by the common schools and pass- 
ing the major portion of his time until that age on 
the farm. 

hi 1853, David VV. Rhinehart emigrated from New 
York to this county, and for two years was engaged 
in farming on rented land. He then purchased a 
quarter-section of land on section 34, Hale Town- 
ship, and at once entered actively and vigorously 



, 



*t* 



4 



212 



IVA^REN COUNTY. 



:?~5-3- 



^ 



upon its improvement and cultivation. He erected 
a good residence, barn and outbuildings and to-day 
has the entire quarter-section in an advanced state 
of cultivation, and the place is indicative of that 
ability which he possesses in the vocation which he 
has chosen for a life-time pursuit. 

Miss Maria Bruyn, sister of Mrs. Jeremiah Hoorn- 
beck, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume, 
on the 17th of November, 1853, in the busy and en- 
terprising little city of Monmouth, became the wife 
of the subject of this notice. She was born in Ulster 
Co., N. Y., March 18, 1832, and during their 32 
years of married life eight children have been born to 
ihem, whose names are: William, Nathaniel B., 
Lefever, Headley, John, Cornelia, Laura E. and 
Charles J. William resides in Missouri; Nathaniel 
lives in Iowa, and the remaining children live at 
home. 

Mr. Rhinehart, although a gentleman who has no 
craving for public office, preferring to attend strictly 
to the business of his farm life, has held the office 
of Overseer of Highways. He and his wife are 
strict Presbyterians, and in politics Mr. R. votes 
with and indorses the platform of the Democratic 
parly. 




—Hi 



jfrthur G. Seymour, owning 160 acres of 
ff good farm land, under an advanced system 
of cultivation, on section 2, Ellison Town- 
'■jilfiP ship, was born in Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 23, 1S33. Rodney Seymour, father of 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, 
was also born in Oswego Co., N. Y., and was the 
first white male born in that county. His father 
and two other families moved to that county before 
the hand of civilization had improved an acre of 
ground, and when the same was one dense wilder- 
ness. Rodney was reared at home in Oswego County, 
and the necessity which compelled him to assist in 
the maintenance of the family, and the absence of 
common schools in the community in which he re- 
sided, deterred him from receiving an education 
other than that given by parental instruction. He 
assisted his father in " tree-cutting " and clearing 
his land, and e.xperienced all the trials and privations 
incident to the settlement of a new country. He 



was married to .Amy K. Peabody, a native of Oswego 
County, where she had resided with her parents until 
her marriage. They were also early settlers of that 
county, and continued to reside there until her 
death, which occurred some years ago. 

The parents of Arthur G. had three children, of 
whom the subject of this notice was the eldest. He 
continued to reside on the parental homestead until 
he was 20 years of age, when, in March, i860, in 
company with his two sisters. Celesta and Emeline, 
he came to tliis State, and located in the southeast 
corner of Berwick Township, this county. He rented 
land there and for two years was occupied in its 
cultivation, when he removed to Tompkins Town- 
shij), and was there similarly engaged in the culti- 
vation of rented land for another two years. He 
afterward rented land in Ellison Township and oc- 
cupied his time one year in raising a crop thereon. 
During his residence in that township, Mr. Seymour 
was united in marriage with Mary M. Abdill, daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Mary M. (Bissett) Abdill, natives of 
Delaware and New Jersey respectively, the date of 
their union being Dec. 30, 1864. Her parents were 
married in New Jersey and came West in 1858, and 
located at Keithsburg, 111., having lived in Kentucky 
for some years after their marriage, from which 
State they came here. Her f ither was a molder and 
millwright, and died at the residence of his daughter, 
Mrs. Seymour, in Ellison Township, March 6, 1875, 
and his wife, mother of Mrs. Seymour, died at Mon- 
mouth, Jan. 20, 1875. Mrs. Seymour was born in 
Cadiz, Ohio, in 1836. She acquired her education 
in the district schools and resided with her parents 
until her marriage. 

In 1865, Mr. Seymour purchased 160 acres of 
land in this county, the same being his farm upon 
which he at present resides. At the time at which 
he purchased it, it was an unbroken tract of prairie 
land. He located upon it, and by laborious toil has 
succeeded in placing it under the advanced state of 
cultivation in which it is at present. He has a good 
residence on his farm, built some years ago, and the 
place is well supplied with a good barn and neces- 
sary outbuildings. Ten children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, one of whom is deceased, — 
Florence, who became the wife of William Galbrith, 
who is a farmer residing in Ellison Township ; Jes- 
sie M., Willard L,, Neljie M., Arlena A., Mamie G., 



4* 



1;^ 




<H- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



"S 



Evelina, Fannie, Roscoe and Minnie G., deceased. 
Mrs S. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

When Mr. .Seymoar first came to this State, he 
had the enormous capital of 45 cents in his pocket, 
and, in addition to his own support, had the care of 
two sisters. Still, having faith in the future devel- 
opment of the country and a firm determination to 
succeed, backed up by energy, perseverance and 
industry, he "stuck to it," endured the privations 
which a settler in a new country necessarily encoun- 
ters, and was successful. In addition to his home- 
stead in this county, he is the owner of 400 acres of 
good farm land, all fenced and partly improved, in 
Taylor Co., Iowa. 

In politics, Mr. Seymour was formerly a Republi- 
can, but, since the Prohibition party sprang into 
existence, affiliates with that party. 




a^>— ^ 



Joshua W. Barber, a resident on section 
11^ 30, Lenox Township, engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits, is a son of Aaron W. and 
Ann C. (Hill) Barber, natives of New Jersey 
iT and Ohio respectively. They had a family 
consisting of six children, of whom J. VV. Bar- 
ber was the second-in order of birth. He was born 
in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 183 1, and lived at 
home with his parents until 1846, when he came to 
Knox County, this State, and there resided until 
1857. We next find him in Warren County, where 
he located in Lenox Township, and has been a 
resident of this place ever since. 

In October, 1S64, he enlisted in the 30th 111. Vol. 
Inf., and served for about nine months, and, on re- 
ceiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his 
liome in this county and again engaged in the peace- 
ful pursuits of life. His farm comprises 85 acres of 
giod tillable land, which, by his industry and econ- 
omy has been all improved. 

Joshua W. was married in Knox County, this 
State, on the r5th of November, 1855, the lady 
chosen to be h's companion in life being Mary A. 
Woodmansee, who was a native of Ohio. Albert F., 
who is a conductor on the Rock Island & St. Louis 



:r/._ 




Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road ; and Edith V., the wife of Wm. K. Kittering, a 
resident of Monmouth Township, are the two chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua W. Barber. 

Mr. B. has served his township as Clerk and School 
Director, and politically he is a Republican, and a 
St. John man in temperance. Mr. and Mrs. B. are 
members of tlie Methodist Protestant Church. 



-f3= 



athaniel A. Rankin, general farmer and 
iK; fruit-grower, on section 31, Monmouth 
"^ Township, was born in Henderson Co., 
Ky., Feb. i, 1S09. His father, Adam, was a 
doctor by profession and a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and of Scotch descent. He was married 
in Kentucky, near Danville, to a Miss Speed, who 
afterward died, leaving five children. Before the 
death of his wife he had moved to Henderson 
County, in another part of the State, and there foimed "^ 
his second mntrimonial alliance, the lady being Miss 
Susan Roan Anderson, who was born in Virginia, and 
was a daughter of a farmer and came to Kentucky"' 
when quite )oung. Of the latter union five children 
were born, of whom our subject, Nathaniel A., is the 
eldest and the only survivor. His brother, James 
E , was shot by a band of marauders while in his 
store in Henderson County, because he was a Union 
sympathizer. He was a prominent merchant and 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Nathaniel .\. Rankin, of whom we write, resided 
with his parents until the death of his father, liv- 
ing with his mother afterward until his marriage. 
He has been twice married, — the first time to Miss 
Ann Louisa Holloway, third child of George Hollo- 
way, of Bourbon Co., Ky. The acquaintance which 
led to this union was formed while she was on a 
visit to her relatives in Henderson Co., Ky., and was 
celebrated at that place March 29, 1831. She lived 
only a little over two years after her marriage, her 
demise occurring Dec. 18, 1833. His second mar- 
riage was celebrated near Paris, Bourbon Count)-, 
Ky., on Christmas day, in the year 1834, the lady 
chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and 



"v 



-64-^ 



■^^^^ 



2l6 



WARREN COUNTY. 



reverses, being Miss Martha Holloway, a daugliter 
of George Holloway and sister of Hon. Robert 
Holloway (see sketch). Sbe was born in Bourbon 
County, Dec. 7, 1816, and was reared in her native 
county, remaining at home with her parents until her 
marriage. They were farmers, and father died in 
Bourbon County. The mother's demise occurred at 
the home of one of her sisters, the wife of Gen. 
VV. F. Thornton, of Shelbyville, 111. Mrs. Rankin 
was the fourth chikl of her fatlier's family of seven 
children, and she has become the mother of ten 
children, seven of whom are living; William H. is 
married and engaged as a furniture dealer in Mon- 
mouth, where he resides; Adam is also married and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Johnson Co., 
Kan.; Anna is the wife of D. E. Thompson, a stock 
speculator, and resides in I-os Angeles, Cal. ; Mary 
married William H. Irwin, who is engaged in the real- 
estate business in Dawson Co., Neb. ; George C. is 
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Warren County ; Belle 
and Robert reside at home, the latter operating the 
homestead. Three of Mr. Rankin's children died in 
infancy. 

Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rankin 
came to Illinois, locating at Springfield, where Mr. 
R. had established himself about 12 months prior to 
his marriage in the mercantile business. After mar- 
riage he lived there for about nine years, doing a 
successful business in his line. He went thence to 
Shelbyville, III., and embarked in the same business 
and remained for about three years. In 1845, '^^ 
caine to Warren County, and settled in Monmouth, 
where he carried on an extensive business in pro- 
duce and general merchandise. He was thus occu- 
pied until 1 86 1, when he came to his present farm, 
which consists of 80 acres of land, and which is 
under an excellent state of cultivaiion. As a fruit- 
grower he has done exceedingly well, and at the 
annual fairs he represents his products, which always 
take away a share of the laurels. Gra[)es and straw- 
berries are his specialty. 

Mr. Rankin has ever taken an active and prcmiin- 
ent part in every enterprise having for its object the 
advancement of the public interest. He has always 
been found associated with the best and most prom- 
inent people in the county in laboring for the i)ublic 
good. He has been called upon to fill many public 
positions, which he always did with a high degree of 



satisfaction to all concerned. He was one of the 
first Aldermen of Monmouth, and during the years 
1859-60 was Mayor of the city. He was United 
States Internal Revenue Assessor of his district for 
six years — from 1862 to 1868. He served as Super- 
visor for two years and Justice of the Peace for 
eight years. In 1864 the Warren County Agricul- 
tural Society elected him President, and re-elected 
him the following year. In 1868, when the War- 
ren County Reading Room was first organized, he 
was chosen President of the Board of Directors, and 
was a member of the Board of Directors of the War- 
ren County Library from 1870 to 1879, the lat- 
ter institution growing out of the Reading Room. 
Thus it will be seen, as above stated, that he has 
been both an active and a leading spirit in the affairs 
of Monmouth and Warren County for years. He 
never has pushed himself into ])osilion, but being 
recognized as the man best fitted for the work in 
hand was selected without opposition. 

Politically, Mr. R. is a Republican, and takes a 
prominent part in politics. Mr. Rankin, wife and 
daughter Belle are active members of the Chris- 
tian Church, and he has been Elder of his con- 
gregation for nearly 40 years, which position he is 
filling at the present time. 

We are pleased to present to our patrons the por- 
trait of Mr. Rankin, which we do in connection with 
this sketch. It will be gladly received by iiis many 
friends all over the county wlio have so long and 
favorably known him. 



; fS-ff, W. Meacham, spending tiie sunset of liis 



1 






-s 



life in ease and comfort at Roseville, was 
horn in Kentucky, July 26, 1830, and is a 
son of Andrew and Elizabetli (Jones) Meacham^ 
■^f^v natives respectively of North Carolina and Ken- 
i tucky. They came to Illinois in 1838 and lo- 
cated in Sangamon County, where they purchased 
120 acres of land and remained for two years; the 
elder Meacham then sold out tiiere and came to 
Warren County and made a purchase of a farm 
where the village of Ellison now stands. Here he 
remained for four years. He next located three 
miles west of Roseville, on a tract of 80 acres of 
land. He subsequently went to New Lancaster, 
where he was engaged in the dry-goods and grocery 



i 



WARREN COUNTY. 



217 



f 



business for a number of years. After selliiig his 
interest in the latter enterprise he purchased 80 
acres in the southeast part of ElUson Township, 
upon which he resided until his death, in 1878, the 
death of his wife occurring a year later. Their 
family consisted of nine children, five of whom are 
living, — Miles G., Lavina, Frances W., Etna and 
Achilles. 

F. W. Meacham, the gentleman whose name 
heads this personal narrative, remained the compan- 
ion of his parents until he reached the age of 20 
years, in the meantime receiving a good common- 
school education. After leaving home, he rented a 
farm for the first year, and in 185 1 made a purchase 
of 80 acres, located on section 34, Ellison Township, 
and upon this he resided for 20 years, entering act- 
ively and energetically upon the task of its im- 
provement and cultivation, adding by subsequent 
purchases 269 acres. He, in the year 1870, pur- 
chased a house and five acres of land at Roseville, 
where he resides. This he has since increased by a 
ten-acre tract. 

Mr. F. W. Meacham was married in 1851 to Miss 
Harriet Herring, a native of Pennsylvania. She 
has borne him seven children, as follows: Edward, 
Nora, George, Casa, Luther, Oscar (deceased) and 
Flora, who died when 12 years old. Edward mar- 
ried Miss Mary Bragg, and they have a family 
consisting of four children, — Frederick, William, 
Clara and Angle. Nora married William Buckley, 
and George is in partnership with the last named 
gentleman in the hardware business at Roseville. 

Mr. Meacham is a Republican and with his wife 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



#-#- 




CO I 

< i diti 



^osiah C. Lucas, one of the largest land- 
owners in Warren County and also one of 
her most successful farmers and respected 
citizens, resides on section 18, Cold Brook 
Township. He has been a resident of this 
county during his entire life, having been born 
in Monmouth Township, July 30, 1S32, and has 
consequently witnessed the development of the 
county to the present magnificent agricultural con- 
dition wliich it presents to-day. 



The father of Mr. Lucas of this sketch, Marsham 
Lucas, was a native of Hart Co., Ky., and a farmer 
by occupation. He was married in his native county 
to Miss Cynthia .'^nn \\'hitman, likewise a native of 
that county and State. They emigrated to this State 
in 1829, locating in Morgan County, and after a resi- 
dence there of some time, came to this county, in 
1 83 1, where Marsham Lucas purchased land from 
the Government, located on section 31, Monmouth 
Township, and where the parents continued to re- 
side until the death of the mother, which occurred in 
October, 1837. Marsham Lucas, by his first mar- 
riage, had five sons and two daughters. In order of 
birth they were, Thomas H., now a resident of Ore- 
gon ; Christopher W., wlio died in 1880; Albert W., 
also a resident of Oregon ; Sarah E. became the wife 
of Elijah D. Butler : they moved to Oregon, where 
they both died ; Josiah C. was next in order of birth ; 
Emily J. became the wife of James M. Ellis, and 
they live in Palmyra, Mo. ; and Samuel C, a resi- 
dent of Lidiana. 

The gentleman whose name heads this article was 
a child of five years at the date of his mother's death. 
He was the youngest but two of his parents' children, ' 
and afier the death of his mother, his father was a ' 
second time married, when Mrs. Elizabeth Davidson, 
nee Deweese, became his wife, with whom Mr. 
Lucas of this sketch continued to reside until four 
years after attaining his majority. Li 1865 his father 
and step-mother moved to Abingdon, where they 
are at present living, retired from the active labors 
of life and enjoying tlieir accumulations of the past. 

Josiah C. Lucas resided with his parents until he 
was 24 years old, at which time he was married in 
the township of his nativity to Hannah J. Townsend: 
She was a native of Putnam Co., N. Y., born March 
22, 1833, and came to Illinois with her parents 
when a young lady. She resided at home, acquiring 
an education in the common schools and assisting 
her mother in the household labors, until her mar- 
riage to Mr. Lucas. Her parents are both de- 
ceased. They were James and Polly (Baldwin) 
Townsend. They became residents of this county 
in 1855 and were farmers and members of the Bap- 
tist Church, and Mr. Townsend, in politics, was a 
Democrat. 

Our subject and wife have had born to them eight 
children, namely : Berry, who married Katie B, Jam- 



M 



4r 



WARREN COUNTY. 



ison : they live near Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill , where 
he is engaged in farming and tlie breeding of Polled 
Angus cattle; Guy is deceased; Ola A. is now a 
student of law at ihe Chicago Union College of 
Law : he is a graduate of Knox College ; James 
L., Jessie E., Rosa J., Harry C"., and a daughter 
who died in infancy, are the names i,'f the other 
members of tlie fannly. 

After Mr. and Mrs. Lucas were united in marriage, 
Mr. Lucas made his fust purchase of land in Cold 
Brook Town5lii|), consisting of So acres, on which he 
located and engaged actively and energetically in its 
improvement. He has subsequently, by his energy, 
good judgment and perseverance, added to his orig- 
inal purchase of land in this county at different 
times until he is at present the proprietor of i, 800 
acres of good farm land, the same being located in 
Cold Brook, Floyd and Monmouth Townships, and 
some in Knox County. The landed interests of Mr. 
Lucas have been acquired through that indomitable 
energy and perseverance of which he is character- 
istic. He is a gentleman possessed of far more than 
ordinary ability as a business man, and is regarded 
as one of the successful farmers of Warren County. 
He is also engaged in breeding thorougbred Polled 
Angus cattle. A view of his home is shown on 
' another page of this Album. 

Mr. Lucas and his wife are members of the 
Christian Church, and in politics Mr Lucas is a 
believer in and a supporter of the principles of the 
Democratic party. 




imothy Thomas, an energetic and success- 
ful agriculturist of Lenox Township, War- 
ren County, is a son of Reuben and Lucy 
(Sprague) Thomas, and a native of Ohio, hav- 
ing been born in Clermont County in August, 
i8j{o. His parents were natives of New Jer- 
sey and New HamiJ^hire respectively, and of their 
union four children were born, — Zuba, Alonzo, Tim- 
othy and Alice. Zuba is deceased. 

Timothy Thomas, the suiiject of this biographical 
sketch, remained at home, working on the farm and 
attending school when opportunity presented itself. 



until he attained the age of majority, at which age he 
came to Warren County and worked out by the 
month for two years. At the expiration of that time 
he rented land and improved and cultivated it for 
three years, when he engaged in working with his 
father. After thus being Inisily engaged for several 
years, he accumulated sufficient to enable him to 
purchase a tract of 120 acres of land, of which he 
is now tlie possessor. Having entered actively and 
energetically upon its improvement, he has it now 
under an advanced stale of cultivation, with a good 
residence and other necessary buildings upon it. 

July 7, 1870, in Knox County, this State, occurred 
one of the most important events in the life of Mr. 
Thomas, it being his marriage to Miss Leannah 
Neff, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Shoemaker) 
NeflT, natives of Virginia Jonathan, Jackson, Sally, 
Catherine, Rebecca, Melvina, Leannah, Susan, Jo- 
seph, Mary and Elias are the names of the 1 1 chil- 
dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff. Leannali, now the 
wife of Timothy Thomas, our subject, was born in 
Virginia, March 28, 1840, and with her husband has 
become the parent of four children, — Mary V., Asa, 
Charles and Lucy B., all residing at home with their l^ 
parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Baptist 
Church, and politically Mr. T. casts his vote with 
the Republican party. 



> 




'¥ 



raper Babcock, the leading dry-goods 
\^MS\. merchant of Monmouth, was born in 

(For a his- 



j|fr(^ ^' Wales, Mass., Dec. i, 1827 

tory of the parents, see sketch of E. C. Bab 



/^ cock in this volume.) Draper accompanied liis 
parents to Monmouth in 1842, and has here 
since been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He be- 
came a partner with his fatlier in 1852, and assumed 
full control of the business in 1864. 

From 1859 to 1865, Mr. Babcock of this notice 
held the office of County Treasurer, and during the 
late Civil War was Deputy United States Revenue 
Collector under Grimshaw. In 1873, the Temper- 
ance element elected him Mayor of the city, and he 
has represented his ward in the City Council for 
many years. For sev<;r.il years he was connected 



LAJ 



"T^ 




Residence of J. C.Lucas, Sec, 18, Cold Brook Township 



A 



WARREN COUNTY. 



rf 



with Monmoutli College as Trustee, and he has filled 
a similar capacity on the Public Library Board since 
its organization. He was one of the organizers of 
the unfortunate First National Bank, and was one of 
it; Directors up to the time of its collapse. 

Leaving the old Whig party, Mr. Babcock united 
with the Republicans, and while no politician, he 
has served his party in various ways effectively. In 
popularity as a business man and citizen, it is stating 
mildly a truth that has passed into a proverb, to say 
that he is the peer of any man in Warren County. 
He is not rich in worldly possessions, perhaps, but is 
opulent in good name. 

Mr. Babcock was niairicd at Monmouth, Dec. 22, 
1852, to Miss Mary E. Elliott, daughter of the late 
Rev, Joseph Elliott, of the Baptist Church, and of 
his three sons and one daughter we have the follow- 
ing brief memoranda : Edward C, brought up to 
mercantile pursuits, was quite successfully engaged 
in business at Leadville, Col., for some years: he is 
■ now (October, 1885,) in Butte City, Montana; How- 
ard resides at Galesburg, 111. ; and Lucius A. makes 
his home with his parents. Probably the most pop- 
ular young lady in Monmouth was Miss Jennie O. 
Babcock. She is now the wife of A. B. Seaman, a 
prominent young attorney of Denver, Col. 

Like his father, Mr. Babcock is a consistent mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, to which he devotes much 
of his time and money. 



c=t;=i 



^- 



%^^' 



^S- and died at Monmouth, 11 
i Feb 






■^i»lija'li Coddington Babcock, deceased, 

®™'-' was born in Wales, Hampden Co., Mass., 

Jan. 16, 1803, where he lived until 1841, 

from paralysis, 
13, 1885. He was a son of James and 
J Phila Babcock, who were descendants of that 
Puritan stock of which Americans are so proud. In 
early boyhood he manifested a taste for the mercan- 
tile business and entered a store at the age of 14 
years. His thrift and enterprise enabled him to ac- 
cumulate the means with which he purchased an in- 
terest in the establishment, which he afterwards 
bought entire. 

On Dec. 17, 1823, Mr. Babcock was married to 
Miss Cynthia Weld, of Brimfield, Mass. The result 
of the union was two sons and three daughters, viz.: 



Mrs. Persis W. Stapp, now deceased; John Babcock, 
of Denver, Col.; Draper, of Monmouth (see sketch) ; 
Mrs. Mary Patterson, also of Monmouth, and Mrs. 
A. H. Holt, of Washington, D. C. 

In the early part of 1842 Mr. Babcock decided to 
come West, and some time in April of that year, in 
company with his brother George, reached St. Louis. 
Being informed by merchants of that city that there 
was a splendid prospect for the mercantile business 
in the locality of Oquawka on the upper Mississippi, 
they came up the river, but on reaching Oquawka 
were not pleased with the prospect. They started 
for Monmouth, riding as far as Olmstead's Mill with 
Uncle William Hopper and walking the rest of the 
way. The next day the fortune-seekers rented a 
room in the building which stood where the Mon- 
mouth National Bank building now stands, which be- 
longed to Daniel McNiel, Geo'ge Babcock being a 
silent partner. It was not long until they were doing 
an extensive business, having a stock of general mer- 
chandise, comprising everything that satisfied the 
demand of early settlers. In 185 i George Babcock 
retired and the deceased gave his two sons, John 
and Draper, interests in the establishment. Mr. 
Babcock 's strict honesty and correct business prin- 
ciples won for the establishment a reputation for 
fairness and upright dealing that extended for many 
miles around Monmouth. He was noted for the 
correctness of his accounts, but his great trouble was 
selling on credit. At the time of the great fire on 
May 9, 1871, his business house was entirely de- 
stroyed and he sustained heavy losses. He did not 
again re-open business, but was engaged in the store 
of his son. Draper. 

In the year 1841 the Baptist Church was organized 
in Monmouth, to which the deceased largely contrib- 
uted. Mrs. Babcock joined the organization by let- 
ter in 1843, and Mr. Babcock became a member by 
baptism during the pastorate of Rev. Miner in 1846. 
His membership in the Church abounds with 
liberal contributions and unrelenting interest in its 
behalf. He often bore half of the expenses of the 
Church and was the head and shoulders of the con- 
gregation. He was elected to the ofifice of Deacon 
years ago, the duties of which he performed until the 
time of his death. 

Mr. and Mrs. Babcock celebrated the 50th anni- 
versary of their marriage on Dec. 17, 1873. Mrs. 



JVJ 



v 



4 



i* 



222 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 

t 



Babcock died Sept. 29, 1878. After a long life of 
Christian usefulness she sank gently to her rest, 
bowed under the weight of years. She was a faith- 
ful and constant member of the Baptist Church for 
over 40 years. Her last days were soothed by the 
loving ministrations of her children and friends. 

The Rev. Mr. Watson, in his funeral sermon, paid 
the deceased the following tribute: We have been 
called together to-day to pay a last grateful tribute 
to the memory of one long known and felt in your 
community. Coming to tliis city in 1842, the de- 
ceased has l)een identified with the progress and 
prosperity of Monmouth during a very important 
period of its history. Felt in all the enterprises of 
our growth, he has given his special energies toward 
the establishing of the Baptist Church of this place. 
Uniting with the Church in 1846, he ever after took 
a deep interest in all her struggles. It was owing 
very largely to his untiring efforts and large-hearted 
liberality, that this building was ever erected. The 
regularity of the enterprise manifested in his busi- 
ness relations was but the exponent of his habits in 
reference to spiritual matters. Seldom heard in 
meetings of any kind, he was always seen in his 
place no matter how fierce the storm ; and his 
beaming eye and hearty grasp of hand, spoke louder 
than words of his devotion and interest. The 
encouragement wliich he gave to the Pastor in his 
labor by his devoted attendance and earnest co-oper- 
ation, was worth more than the most eloquent words 
of some. To show liow his heart yearned for the 
prosperity of Zion during his late suffering, whenever 
one entered the room hi enquired about the meetings 
and longed to be there. 

Such as he, when they are called hence, leave a 
vacancy which we can not fill. We shall miss him 
sadly from our midst, but his influence shall abide; 
and may it prove a lasting incentive to us all, to 
quicken us and prompt us to greater diligence in 
every good work, while it is day. 

His sufferings, which were so severe, are already 
passed away forever; and he has joined the in- 
numerable throng of redeemed ones around the 
throne. One more added to the treasures in heaven, 
who shall await your coming with the King. The 
Savior, who has called him from his labors into rest, 
stands by your side and whispers, " Let not your 
heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, believe also in 



me." "Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give 
unto you," and remember that " The Lord will not 
cast off His people, neither will he forsake his in- 
heritance." I'ut your confidence and trust in Him. 

James ISabcock, the first known ancestor of our 
subject, came from England in 1663, and settled in 
Rhode Island. His youngest son, Jeremiah, was 
born at Westerly, R. I., in t679, and became quite 
renowned as a soldier. In Monmoutli, the Babcocks 
erected and conducted the first grain elevator. They 
were also the first pork-packers in this part of the 
country. 

E. C. Babcock led a life which, though quiet, was 
full of kindness and good words. Poverty and sick- 
ness found in him a friend. He was a good friend, 
a good citizen and a good Christian, always openly 
avowing his convictions yet careful of the feelings of 
others. His demise was deeply felt throughout the 
county. 



«»• 



?;l''Mif eorge W. Palmer, anotlier of Warren 
•"l lsJll County's farmers, who by his energy and 

tjp" "^ economy has succeeded in obtaining a 
^ good title to t35 acres of good tillable land, 
T located on sectio.i 7, Hale Township, where 
f lie is actively engaged in the labors of an 
agriculturist, is a son of Wilkinson and Nancy 
(Hurd) Palmer, natives of Brighton, Canada West. 
The parents came from the latter province to White- 
side County, in 1844, from whence they removed to 
Hancock County, and soon after became residents of 
this county, having settled in Monmouth. They 
lived in the latter city for one year, when they lo- 
cated in what is now Hale Township, where they 
lived until their death. The mother died in 1863, 
and the father in 1878. Their children were ti in 
number. 

George W. Palmer was the eighth child in order 
of birth of his parents' family. He was born in 
Canada, Aug. 15, 1838, and was about six years old 
when his parents came to this State, and is conse- 
quently a pioneer settler here. He came with his 
parents to this county and engaged in the active la- 
bors on the farm, and has continued to reside here 
until the present time, having, during the meantime, 
become the proprietor of 135 acres of good, tillable 



trA: 



V 



^€■4=^ 



. ■ Y ^. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



223 



land, on whicli he resides and is there engaged in 
the vocation which he has followed the major portion 
of his life, — agriculture. 

In Henderson County, this State, Oct. 25, 1859, 
the ceremony was performed which united for life 
the subject of this notice with Miss Sarah Haines, 
the accomplished daughter of Amos and Catherine 
(Miller) Haines, natives of Ohio. The parents of 
Mrs. Palmer had si.\ children, of whom she was the 
second in order of birth. She was born near Colum- 
bus, Ohio, March, iS, 1842, and has borne her hus- 
band seven children, — Flora E., James C, Ida M., 
Emma J., Laura P., Maud A. and Nettie C. James 
C. died in infancy. 

In politics, Mr. Palmer is a believer in and a sup- 
porter of the principles advocated by the Republican 
party. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Christian 
Church. 



-^-S- 




n^,olby Matteson. Among the leading ag- 
K riculturists of Lenox Township and War- 
ier?" ""^ ren County is the subject of this sketch. 



4 



He is a son of Norman and Emeline (Matte- 
son) Matteson, who were natives of Vermont 
and New York respectively. Norman Mat- 
teson was a son of the Rev. Isaiah Matteson, and 
was born at Shaftsbury, Vt., June 15, 1806. At the 
age of 17 he was converted, and baptized by his 
father, and was, up to the time of his death, an act- 
ive member of the Baptist Church. When 21 years 
years old, he went to Western, New York, where, iii 
1829, he was married to Mahala Beckwiih. One 
child, a girl, was born to them, but mother and child 
died in 1833. In 1835 he was married to Emeline 
Matteson, wlio died in 1856, the mother of six chil- 
dren. Their names were Colby, Adelbert, Abner, 
Caroline, Avery and Florence. Abner, Caroline and 
Avery are deceased ; Florence became the wife of 
George Best, now residing in Floyd Township; Adel- 
bert is single and lives in Portland, Oregon. He 
served in the Union army during the late Rebellion, 
as a member of the 83d Regt. 111. Vol., and partici- 
pated in several of the important battles of the war, 
in one of which^Fort Donelson — he was wounded 



in the arm. This being serious, he was honorably 
discharged. 

After his marriage in 1835, Norman Matteson and 
wife settled in Avon, N. Y., where tliey lived for a 
time, then removed to Western, and subsequently to 
Floyd, N. Y„ and from there to Berwick, 111., in 
1838. The elder Matteson was therefore one of the 
pioneers of this section of the country. From Ber- 
wick they removed to Roseville Township, but af- 
terward removed to Floyd Township, where they 
remained for several years. They tlien moved to 
Lenox Township, and in r865 he made another re- 
moval, this time locating in the village of Betwick, 
where he continued to reside, retired from the active 
labors of life, until his death. His second wife died 
in Lenox Township, Dec. 25, 1856. In r857 he 
married Miss Elizabeth Schuessler, at Berwick. She 
is a native of Hamburg, Germany, is a woman of 
many excellent qualities, and proved to be a devoted 
wife and a good mother to his children. His death 
occurred Oct. 17, 1881. His widow still survives, 
and now lives in Floyd Township, and is highly es- 
teemed by her neighbors and friends. 

Colby Matteson was born in Avon, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., June 27, 1837, and came to this county 
with his parents, and has continued to reside here 
ever since. He acquired a good education in the 
common schools of this county, and during the sev- 
eral years which have elapsed, he has been a careful 
observer and reader of the current literature of the 
day, and at this writing we find him to be a man of 
practical views on the many important questions of 
the times. His vocation is that of a farmer, agri- 
ricultural pursuits and stock-raising having not only 
afforded him a pleasing but a profitable occupation. 
His farm now comprises 240 acres, on section 36, 
Lenox Township, and is one of the handsomest and 
best improved farms in the township. His carefully 
kept lawn, well appointed house, within and without, 
neat and substantial barn and outbuildings, and well 
ordered fences and hedges, all combine to show 
where thrift, enterprise and energy dwell. We in- 
vite the reader's attention to another page of this 
work, on which is shown an elegant view of the resi- 
dence and farm property of Mr. Matteson. In his 
chosen vocation of life Mr. Matteson is meeting with 
that success which his energetic disposition, push 
and tact are sure to bring. 

He was married in Roseville Township, this 



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224 



WARREN COUNTY. 



county, Jan. 24, 1865, to Miss Harriet A. Dillon. 
She was the daughter of William and Lavina Dillon, 
and was born Sept. 8, 1845, in Kentucky. Of the 
union of Mr. and Mrs. Matteson, four children, — 
Harvey N., Flora E., Alfred and Ida, — have been 
born to them and are now residing at home. Mrs. 
Matteson died at her home in Lenox Township, May 
1 2, 1883. She was a member of the Baptist Church, 
as is likewise Mr. Matteson. 

During the late Rebellion he was a staunch Union 
man. In politics, he is a supporter of the prir.ciples 
of the Republican party. 




illiam W. Wilson, a general farmer and 
1, stock-raiser, residing on section 16, Mon- 
mouth Township, was born in Perry Co., 
Ohio, on the 19th of August, 1837. His 
father, James J., was a farmer and a native 
of Pennsylvania and of Scotch descent. He was 
a young man when he accompanied his jjarents to 
Perry County, the Buckeye State, and while there 
married a Miss Elizabeth Williams, who was a na- 
tive of Washington Co , Pa. She was a daughter of 
a Pennsylvania farmer named William Williams, 
who came to Perry Co., Ohio, when that county and 
even all that portion (.f the State was but little set- 
tled. Tliey located in the woods of Perry County, 
where her father engaged actively and energetically 
in tlie severe task of clearing and improving a farm. 
James J. Wilson, the father of the subject of our 
sketch, aliO resided with his family in Perry County, 
and it was there that his children were born. His 
family comprised nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, of whom William W. is the seventh child. 
Six of the children are still living, three sons and 
three daughters. All are married and have reared 
families, and all but one live in Illinois; four reside 
in Warren County. James J. Wilson also rei)re- 
sented his county in the Ohio Legislature for two 
terms. In politics he was a Democrat and took an 
active interest in public aflfairs. He and his wife 
were both members of the United Presbyterian 
Church. He died in December, 1856, and his widow 
survived him till Apiil, 1863. 

Mr. Wilson, of this notice, was about 18 years of 



age when his father died, and afterwards lived with, 
and was the princijial support of, his mother until 
her death, which look place when he was 27 years 
old. He afterwards began to learn the trade of tin- 
ner and purchased a hardware and tin-sliop, which 
he CO -.ducted for some eight years in New Lexing- 
ton, his native county. 

He was united in marriage, Dec. 4, 1869, in New 
Lexington, to Miss Sarah Kelley, who was born in 
Perry Co., Ohio, March 5, 1831, and was the daugh- 
ter of Riley and Jane (Jones) Kelley. Her parents 
were married in Perry County, where her father was 
for some time engaged in the hotel business and later 
in life followed the occupation of farmer, and where 
he died in 1861. Her mother is yet living, in Lex- 
ington, Perry Co., Ohio, and is about 75 years of 
age. Mrs. Wilson is the eldest in order of birth of a 
family of nine childr-en, and of her union with Mr. 
W. two children have been born, one of whom is de- 
ceased. Jessie M. is the surviving child and Victor ' 
is deceased. 

After Mr. and Mrs. \Vilson were united in marri- 
age, they continued to reside in New Lexington,; 
Perry Co., Ohio, for one year. At the expiration of"^ 
that time they came to McDonough County, this' 
State, where Mr. Wilson followed his trade one year. 
They then came to Warren County in 1871, and' 
three years later, in 1874, located on a farm of 95 
acres of improved land, which belonged to his brother, 
O. P. Wilson, and on which Mr. Wilson, of this 
sketcli, has since resided. Politically, Mr. W. is a 
strong adherent to the principles of the Democratic 
part). 




fhomas L. Capps, owning 170 acres of 
goad, tillable land in Lenox Township, and 
residing on section 24, is a son of .\sa and 
Mary (Brooks) Capps, natives of Kentucky. 
The parents were married and settled in this 
county, where the father was an agriculturist 
until his death, which occurred Dec. 6, 1878. His 
widow still survives The issue of their union was 
nine children, named Thomas L., Nancy E., John 
L., Sarah J , Lewis M , Lucy C, Orville and Edwin 
R. Mary E. died when she was about ten years 
old. 



The genilcman whose life's sketch we write, is a 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



:^H^ 



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native of this county, having been born in Rose- 
ville Township, June 6, 1843. From childhood his 
inclination was to become a successful and inde- 
pendent farmer, and his younger days were passed 
principally on the farm, alternating his labors thereon 
with attendance at the common schools, and sup- 
plementing his education gained here by a five 
months' course of study at Abingdon College. He 
is at present the proprietor of a fine and well im- 
proved farm, and a gentleman possessed of sound, 
practical knowledge of the vocation of an agricultur- 
ist, in the following of which occupation he is meet- 
ing with success. 

The lady whom Mr. Capps wooed and won and 
who, on Sept. 16, 1866, became his wife, Miss Mary 
Jewell, is a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth 
(Johnson) Jewell, natives of New York State and 
Virginia, respectively. Mrs. Capps was born in this 
county, March 5, 1844, and was the second in order 
of birth of a family of 1 1 children. Her parents, on 
coming to this county, settled in Berwick Township, 
where they resided until their deaths. 

Mr. and Mrs. Capps have become the parents of 
four children, — Minnie J., Nettie B , Ada C. and 
Orton A. The head of the houseliold has held the 
office of Supervisor of Lenox Township two years and 
also the offices of School Director, Trustee and 
Tax Collector. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., and in religious matters he and his wife both 
believe in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, to 
which denomination they belong. In politics Mr. 
Capps votes with the Democratic (larty. 



^~ 



^^ 




4 



"enjamin F. rorwood is one of the well- 
known and prominent pioneers of Warren 
County. He settled in the township of 
Spring Grove as early as 1839. He was 
born in Hartford Co., Md., Dec. 18, 18 16. 
His father, William W. Forwood, was a na- 
tive of Lycoming Co., Pa., and was a descendant of 
Irish ancestry. The father of the Mr. Forwood last 
named was also a native of the State where his son 
was born, and was a member of the Society of 
Friends, or Quakers. All the early generations of 
the family belonged to the same fraternity. The 
grandfather removed with his family to Maryland 



and there bought a farm, upon which Williain was 
reared and attained to the estate of manhood, and 
served his country in the War of i8t2. Here he was 
married to Sarah T. Gilbert. She was a native of 
Maryland and was of English descent. In 1822 he 
bought a farm in Hartford County, upon which there 
were all the facilities for the manufacture of lum- 
ber. They consisted of a saw-mill and an excellent 
water-power. He built a small factory on the stream 
which furnished the motive power for the saw-mill 
already in order of business. He managed his 
varied business projects, including a good-sized farm, 
until 1837, when he sold the place and in the year 
succeeding set out for the West. He came by the 
water route from Maryland to St. Louis, where the 
family passed the winter. 

In the spring, the father, mother and seven chil- 
dren once iriore took passage on the river and landed 
at Oquawka. In company with a man named Joseph 
Plum, Mr. Forwood entered 640 acres of land on sec- 
tions 15 and 22, in what is now the township of 
Spring Grove There was a vacant log house on 
section 23 and, although not owning the land, the 
family took possession and it was their abode until 
the father could erect a stone house, better suited 
to tlieir needs, which he located on the northwest 
quarter of section 22. 

He was assisted in the improvement of the farm 
by his sons, and was the occup.mt and owner of the 
place until 1850, when he went to ("alifornia, ac- 
companied by his sons, Philip G. and Shadrach R. 
They operated for a time as miners and afterwards 
built a saw-mill at a point known as Yankee Jim's, 
in Placer County. They carried on a profitable 
lumber business until the death of the father, which 
occurred July 9, 1853. His wife died in April, 1859, 
at the residence of her son, the subject of this i)er- 
sonal narration, in S|)ring (irove Township. The 
latter is the"oldest child of his parents. The family 
record reads as follows : Hannah R. is the wife of 
L A. Cunningham, of Oquawka; Cordelia Ann is 
the widow of R. P. Tinkham and resides in Kirk- 
wood, Warren County; Philip is a resident of Wash- 
ington Territory ; Shadrach lives in Nevada ; Sarah 
J. married L. H. Gilmore, of this township: Harriet 
married R. P. Barnes, of Spring Grove Township, 
and is his survivor. 

Mr. Forwood resided with his parents until the 



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328 



, . \ . . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



year in which his father went to California. He 
then took possession of the farm and assumed the 
entire charge. In the year 1840 he bought the 
southeast quarter of section 23, which was then un- 
improved, and it is now his place of abode and field 
of operations. The usual improvements have been 
made and the place, which consists of 168 acres of 
fine land, is in excellent order for successful cultiva- 
tion. His other property, however, increases his 
entire acreage to 369 acres. The proprietor is en- 
gaged in mixed farming. The buildings on the farm 
are of the necessary type on a farm of advanced im- 
provement. A view of them is given in this vol- 
ume. 

In political connection, Mr. Forwood is independ- 
ent. He commonly finds the best man to receive 
his vote in the Democratic party, but is untram- 
meled in opinion. He has held the position of 
Township Treasurer of Schools since 1846. He 
was the second Clerk in the township and has also 
served as Supervisor. He is a member of Mon- 
mouth Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., Warren 
Chapter No. 30, and Council No. 14, of the same 
order. Mr. Forwood's |X)rtrait appears on another 
page of this work. It is given as that of one of the 
representative men of the county. As a pioneer he 
was known here nearly half a century ago, and is 
also regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of 
his township. 




4 



^enry Teare, a farmer, owning 80 acres of 
good land on section 22, Lenox Township, 
where he has resided since 1858, is a son of 
Charles and Ann (Cane) Teare, natives of the 
T Isle of Man, where they resided until their 
I death. The parents' children were six in num- 
ber, named Charles, John, Robert, Thomas, Eliza- 
beth and Henry. The latter is the youngest of the 
family, and was born on the Isle of Man, Feb. 17, 
1839. He lived on his native isle until 18 years of 
his life was passed, when, hearing of the glowing ac- 
counts of a country across the waters called the 
United States, and hoping to better his financial con- 
dition in life, he immediately set sail for that land of 
promise. Soon after landing at an Eastern seaport, 



he came to Peoria County, this State, where he re- 
sided for one year. In 1858, he came to this 
county and located in Lenox Township, and since 
that time has been engaged in agticultural pursuits. 
His farm is well cultivated and improved, and re- 
flects credit upon its owner. 

Mr. Teare was married in Lenox Township, Jan. 
I, 1868, to Elvira A., daughter of Chambers and 
Catherine (Foster) Wick, natives of Pennsylvania. 
They came to Warren County in 1858 and first set- 
tled in Lenox Township. Here Mr. Wick died. His 
widow, the mother of Mrs. Teare, still survives and 
resides in Stark County. They had a family of eight 
children, — Theo. F., Elvira A., Nancy E., Thos. J., 
James M., William R., Belle, Curtis R. Elvira A., 
wife of our subject, was born in Armstrong Co., Pa., 
April 23, 1847. and her home circle was blessed with 
the birth of two children, Cora E. and Flora B. The 
former died Jan. 14, 1884, at the age of 16 years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Teare are members of the Methodist 
Church, and, socially, he belongs to the Order of Odd 
Fellows. In politics, he affiliates with the Republi- 
can party. 



--H 



ft%^— 




TB. Jemima Sawtell, residing at Rose- 
ville, is the widow of the late Joiin Saw- 
tell, who was born in Ihe State of Maine 
in 1807, and came to Illinois in 1842, set- 
tling in La Harpe, Hancock County, wliere he 
remained three years. He then went to Mc- 
Donough County, where, after a stay of seven 
years, he came into Warren County and located in 
Ellison Township, on a tract of 80 acres of land 
which he had purchased. He increased his landed 
possessions by a subsequent purchase of 30 acres 
and lived on the same until 1871, when he came to 
Roseville village and there bought a lot on Main 
Street. He erected a fine substantial residence on 
the same and lived a retired life until his death, 
which occurred March 23, 1882, during his 7sth 
year. He was also a carpenter and joiner. 

Mr. John Sawtell and Mrs. Jemima Johnson, 
widow of Norman Johnson, were married in 1842. 
She was a native of Tompkins Co., N. Y., and her 
first marriage was celebrated in Michigan in 1835, 



%- 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



119 



her husband, Mr. Johnson, having been born in 1810. 
His parents were Nathaniel and Lucy (Smith) John- 
son, natives of Vermont. Norman Johnson had a 
farm of 80 acres in Wayne Co., Mich., which he sold 
and came to Illinois in 1841, settling in La Harpe, 
Hancock County. At the latter place he remained 
until his death, in 184 1. Of this union were born 
two daughters, — Elvira E. and Electa L. Elvira E. 
married John Talbot in 1856, and they have become 
the parents of one child, who is living, — Ida A., wife 
of Charles Pyington, who is book-keeper for Phillips 
& Co., of Burlington; Mr. Talbot died in February, 
1883; and Electa L. married Hiram Muring in 1855, 
his demise occurring in 1875. 

Mrs. Sawtell was born July 10, 1818, and still lives 
in the village of Roseville. Her parents were Isaac 
and Electa (Allen) Goodell, natives of Northampton, 
Mass., and were married in 181 2. They came to 
Wayne Co., Mich., in 1830, and there purchased 
1 ,600 acres of land, remaining there until their death, 
the father in 1842, and the mother in 1862. 

Mr. Sawtell was a member of the Christian Church 
at the time of his death. Politically, he was a Demo- 
crat. 



^ B^zra Cable, one of Warren County's success- 
1^ 5 ful agriculturists and a gentleman whose 
1^^°^ success as such is attributable to no leg- 
5C acy, but to his own indomitable perseverance, 
is a resident on section 19, Floyd Township, 
with postoffice at Berwick. His father was 
named Henry Cable, was of German extraction, 
born in New York in 1795, and died in Monmouth, 
March 8, 1878. His mother, Olive (Kingsley) Cable, 
was of Scotch extraction, born in 1792, and died at 
Monmouth, Feb. 23, 1876. Ezra Cable, of whom we 
write, was born at Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 11, 
1821. Leaving his native county and Stale, in the 
fall of 1835, he came with his father's family to this 
county, where the senior Cable purchased 200 acres 
of land, on which he located with his family and 
where Ezra, the subject of this notice, lived and 
labored until 1855, in the meantime supplement- 
ing his education which he had received in the com- 
mon schools of his native county by an attendance 



at the district schools for a period of about three 
months. 

In 1853, Mr. Cable purchased a farm of 80 acres, 
on which he moved two years later, and has there 
resided until the present time, engaged in its culti- 
vation and improvement in which he has met with 
no small degree of success. By economy and perse- 
verance he has succeeded in increasing his landed 
interests until his place at present comprises 200 
acres of as good farm land as can be found in 
the county, and to the passer-by it presents an ap- 
pearance indicative of that push and good judg- 
ment possessed by its proprietor. Mr. Cable has 
been School Trustee for many years and in his polit- 
ical views is strictly a Republican. 

Mr. Cable formed a matrimonial alliance, April j6, 
1854, with Miss Martha J. Latimer, the ceremony 
being performed in Knox County, this Slate, by the 
Rev. J. M. B. Roach. Of their union six children 
have been born ; the record is as follows : Addie M., . 
born March 9, 1855; Clara L., Oct. 15, 1856; Effie • 
M., Nov. 13, 1858; Carl D., June 29, i860; Grace 
v., June 5, 1869; Roy E., Oct. 18, 1870. Addie, on ■ 
the isth day of January, 1879, became the wife of = 
Alfred A. Phelps. Sept. 13, 1881, Clara married A. 
T. Brooks. Dec. 27, 1883, Effie united her future 
life with that of Myron D. Matteson. 

Mrs. Ezra Cable was born in Knox Co., 111., Oct. 
13, 1833, and was the accomplished daughter of 
George G. and Rebecca (Drennan) Latimer. Her 
father was born in Sumner Co., Tenn., Feb. 28, 1810, 
and was a prominent and leading citizen of that 
county, and after his removal to Illinois, became a 
Colonel in the Black Hawk War, and was one of the 
leading men of Knox County. The mother of Mrs. 
Cable was born in Kentucky, Feb. 26, 1814, and was 
of Scotch-Irish extraction, her husband being of Eng- 
lish descent. 



..o^*. 




ames W. Robertson, who is engaged as a 
farmer on section 32, Lenox Township, was 
born in Washington Co., N. Y., on the 4th 
of March, 1822. His parents were John and 
Margaret Robertson, natives respectively of 
Scotland and New York State. They first 
settled in the latter state and then removed to Ash- 
tabula Co., Ohio, where they resided until their 



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' "'.'• ' ■ v. , . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



— ^ 



deaths. Of this union were born i i children, the 
eighth in order of birth being James \\., of whom we 
write. 

He remained al iiome until lie attained his ma- 
jority, in the meantime attending the common 
schools and assisting in the labors of the farm. At 
the age of 21 lie ( ame to Warren County, and re- 
sided at Monmouth for something over tiiree years, 
being engaged in different occupations. He was a 
soldier in the Mexican War, belonging to a company 
known as Capt. Stapp's Cavalry. He remained in 
the army for about a year, wlien he returned home 
and has since been a resident of this county. Mr. 
Robertson is the owner of 158 acres of fine tillable 
land, upon which he has erected a substantial set of 
farm buildings. 

In Monmouth, on tiie 4tli of January, 1849, the 
wedding of Mr. James W. Robertson .md Miss Eme- 
line Morgan was celebrated. Mrs. R. is a na- 
tive of the Empire State and James and Penelope 
Morgan were her parents. They had a family of 
four children, tlie following being the names: Mar- 
garet J., Ralph J., Harlow C. and Nellie A. Mrs. 
*J Robertson died in Lenox Township, April 17, r868, 
and Mr. J. W. Robertson was again married on the 
8th of September, 1880, at Monmoutli, to Mrs. Jen- 
nie (Wilcox) Clark, daughter of Arom and Mary Ann 
Wilcox and widow of David Clark. .She was born in 
Rockford, this State, Oct. i, (838. Mr. Robertson 
has held the office of Supervisor one term and also 
other minor offices in his township. He is a member 
of the Order of Odd Fellows and politically is identi- 
fied with the Republican party. 




aniel Bird, engaged in the manufacture of 
tile and brick at Roseville, was born in 
Shropshire, England in 1832, and is a son 
j^.» of an English potter. Daniel Bird, the sub- 
l^ ject of this sketch, remained at home until lie 
attained the age of 20 years, in the meantime 
learning the ix)ttery trade of his father, having com- 
menced to turn the potter's wheel at the age of eight 
years. After leaving home he engaged in the manu- 
facture of tile and brick and was thus occupied until 
the fall of 1856, when he emigrated to the United 



States, reaching New York in October. He stopped 
but a short time in that city, when, learning of the 
fertility and rapid growth of the \\ est, he pushed 
forward, coming to Illinois and settling in Swan 
Townshijj, this county, and here engaging at his 
trade, which occupation he continued for ten years. 
He subsequently came to Roseville village and en- 
gaged in his present business, at which he has met 
with excellent success and is doing a constantly in- 
creasing business. He employs about 13 men. He 
has erected fine large buildings, suitable to his oc- 
cupation, costing him over $10,000. His sons are 
interested with him in his manufacturing business. 

Mr. Bird and Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Joseph 
and Jane Barker, were united in marriage in Eng- 
land, in the year 1856, she being a native of that 
country. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have become the par- 
ents of three children, — George, John and William. 
George is married to Miss Sarah McCammon and 
they have four children, — Delia, Mary, Charles and 
Roy. John married Miss Minda McCammon. 

Mr. Bird's political affiliations are with the Repub- 
lican party, and he is considered one of the solid and 
substantial men of Warren. 




eorge W. Morey. As early as 1841, 
C'hailes Morey with his family came into 
Warren County and located in what is 
>^' now Floyd Township. .\ccompanying him 
was his son, George W., the subject of this 
personal sketch. The elder Morey had mar- 
ried, in his native State, Miss Polly Blair. He died 
at his home in the winter of 1872, but his wife 
still survives him. They had a family of 12 chil- 
dren, of whom George W. was the third. He was 
born Jan. 18, 1824, in Erie Co., Pa. His early life 
was passed at home, and when a lad of 17 he ac- 
companied his parents to this county, which at the 
time was newly settled, without railroads, and in fact 
almost a wilderness. Here he has lived for 44 
years, and has witnessed a wonderful transformation 
in the face of the country. .Vbout 22 years ago he 
moved into Lenox Townshi[), where he has been 
living since. He now owns an e.xcellent farm of 160 
acres there on section 14, ^e has^ Ijeen prominent 



*t^ 



^€-?=?! 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^7,1 



"> 



in the affairs of his township, and has served in var- 
ious official positions for many years. He has been 
Road Commissioner for 1 2 years and much of the 
present good condition of the highways is due to his 
management. Politically, he is a Republican. He 
voted twice for Abraham Lincoln, and during the 
war was a staunch Union man. 

While living in Floyd Township, he was married 
to Emily Bonnell, their wedding occurring Sept. 20, 
1851. His wife was born in Erie Co., Pa., and is 
the daughter of William and Elizabeth Bonnell. 
Mr. and Mrs. Morey have a family of three children : 
Mary V., who is the wife of T. W. Russell, and re- 
sides in Nebraska; William F. married Emma F. 
Patterson and they live in Monmouth; and Charles 
H., who lives at home. Besides these, two died in 
infancy. Mrs. M. is a member of the Methodist 
Church. 

When Mr. M. began life he had nothing but his 
strong hands to aid him, but with that tenacity of 
purpose characteristic of the pioneers, he has suc- 
ceeded in gathering together a comfortable compe- 
tency for his old age. 



^ineus B. Crane. Prominent among the 
extensive farmers and stock-raisers of War- 

iK"^ ren County, may be classed Mr. S. B. 
V, Crane, who is residing on section 12, Ellison 
Township. He was born in Morris Co. N. J., 
June 3, 1831, and his father, Benjamin Crane, 
also a farmer, was a native of New Jersey and of 
English descent. His grandfather, whose name was 
Norris, was born in New Jersey, and married Jennie 
Dunham. They both lived, after marriage, in Mor- 
ris County, where they died. The former was born 
near Elizabeth, Union Co., N. J., and the latter in 
Essex County, same State. The father, Benjamin 
Crane, was married in Morris County to Julia A. 
Bebout, who was born in the same county, the date 
of her birth being March r6, 1802, and who died 
Sept. 7, 1880. She was of New England parentage 
of Holland Dutch and Scotch descent, and a most 
estimable lady. Mr. Benjamin Crane had been 
fairly successful in life and was appointed Lieuten- 
ant of militia in his native State. The dale of his 
birth was April 16, 1802, and that of his death April 



^ 



8, 1873, when he was aged 71 years. He and his 
wife were Methodists in the latter years of life. 

Sineus B., the gentleman whose name heads this 
biographical notice, was the second in order of birth 
of a family of three children born to his parents, one 
of whom was a daughter named Sarah J. She was 
born Sept 18, 1834, and is the wife of Oscar Linds- 
ley, a resident at Green Village, N. J., e.x-State Rep- 
resentative and quite a prominent man in public life. 
He is a farmer by vocation. The other member of 
the family, John O., was born May 23, 1826, and 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary Searing, who 
is now deceased. The husband resides in Morns 
Co., N. J., and is a farmer. 

Sineus B. lived at home with his father on the 
farm until his marriage, which occurred when he was 
36 years of age, at the residence of the bride's par- 
ents in Morris Township, Morris Co , N. J., Dec. 9, 
1856, to Miss Caroline M. Mills, daughter of Alfred 
and Sally (Kinnan) Mills, who was born in Morris 
Co., N. J., and of English and Scotch extraction. 
The father was a successful farmer, visiting his chil- 
dren in Illinois twice since their removal West, and 
died at his home in Morris Co., N. J., April 28, 1880, 
at the venerable age of 80 years. The mother still 
survives and is living with her children in New Jer- 
sey, aged 82 years. Mrs. C. of this notice was born 
in Morris Co., N. J., Oct. 6, 1835. She was reared 
and educated at her father's home, and is the mother 
of 1 1 children, one of whom is deceased, namely : 
Augusta M., born June i, 1858, resides at home- 
Joseph H., born Aug. 25, 1859, married Miss Electa 
Nutt, resides on a farm in Nodaway Co., Mo., and 
has a family of two children, — Elizabeth and Mary 
E. ; Alfred B., born Jan. 27, 1862, living with his 
brother in Missouri, is unmarried; Frank L., single, 
born March 4, 1863, died Dec. 11, 1885; Eliphalet 
C, born Nov. 17, 1865, resides at home; Llewella 
C, born July 3, 1869, also resides at home; Julia, 
born Oct. 17, 1871, lives at home; Henry M., born 
Dec. 27, 1873; Sarah, born March 28, 1876; Sineus 
B., born Sept. 25, 1878; and Anna L, born May 18, 
1881. All that have passed school age have re- 
ceived a good common -school education. 

After marriage Mr. Crane engaged in farming in 
Morris Co., N. J., for a short time, but soon began 
to feel like coming West. This move was made in 
October, 1859, when he came to Warren County and 
settled on a rented farm in Berwick Township. His 



*+ 



¥ 



f«' 



^^^-^ 



'34 



WARREN COUNTY. 



first purchase of land was of 60 acres, all improved, 
which was bought in the spring of 1861. This 
he owned until April, 1865, when he sold it and 
bought 160 acres, his present site in Ellison Town- 
ship, which was then only slightly improved. He 
has since made all the necessary improvements, has 
a splendid farm, fully equipped and all fenced. He 
owns, in Roseville Township, 1 16 acres of improved 
land, and 360 acres of land in Nodaway Co., Mo., 
all of which is under excellent cultivation. In ad- 
dition to farming, Mr. C. is engaged in stock-raising. 
Among his herd is a thoroughbred Short-horn cow, 
only four years old and yet is the mother of four 
calves. He also feeds and fattens stock for the 
market. Of the many splendid farm scenes shown 
in the view department of this Album, those of Mr. 
Crane's farm, given in connection with this sketch, 
are among the most inviting. His comfortable resi- 
dence, the excellent facilities for caring for his stock 
and storing grain, the beautifully undulating fields, 
the splendid specimens of the horses and cattle 
of the farm, are all shown, which form a pleasing 
picture. 

Mr. C. has been Supervisor of Ellison Township 
for two terms, and once for Berwick Township. He 
has also held many of the minor offices of his town- 
ship. Politically, he is a Democrat. 



■«ia27©-^-'— {§1 



-,.^k%(!nnn>- 




jlfriram M. Frantz, one of the influential citi- 
zens as well as progressive and successful 
farmers and stock-raisers of this county, re. 
siding on section 25, Monmouth Township, is a 
native of Maryland, having been burn in that 
State, March 7, 1844. The father of Mr. 
Frantz of this notice, was Solomon Frantz. (See 
sketch of William H. Frantz in another part of this 
work.) Hiram M lived in iiis native State only 
three years, when his parents removed to Perry Co., 
Ohio, in which State he continued to reside, liv- 
ing in the parental household until 16 years of age. 
At this age in life the country was imperiled by the 
secession of the Southern States and shot and shell 
from Rebel guns had been thundered against the 
walls of Sumter. The President had called for brave 
hearts and strong arms to put down the Rebellion, 



and Hiram Frantz, then but 16 years of age, re- 
sponded to the call by enlisting in Co. D, 17th Ohio 
Vol. Inf., under Capt. L. J. Jackson and Col. J. M. 
Connell, for 90 days, the date of his enlistment be- 
ing April 16, 1861. After serving his time of enlist- 
ment, he re-enlisted in the 31st Ohio Vol. Inf. under 
Capt. \V. H. Free and Col. N. B. Walker, and 
his company was assigned to the Third Division, 
14th Army Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland. 
Mr. Frantz, of this notice, participated in the battles 
of Mill Springs, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Dallon, 
Kenesaw Mountain, and was also in the Atlanta 
campaign. Previous to the Atlanta campaign he 
was in the battle of Chickamauga, and it was in that 
battle that his regiment and company sustained their 
heaviest loss during the war. Although Mr. Frantz 
did his part in each and every battle in which his 
company was engaged, he was fortunate, never re- 
ceiving even a wound nor losing a day from duty. He 
was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 
27, 1865. 

After the war was over and the cause for which 
he fought was victorious, Mr. Frantz went to Perry 
Co., Ohio, where he resided for two years. In 1868, 
he came West and two years later, March 30, 1870, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Flora L., the 
daughter of Benjamin and Melinda (Claycomb) Mur- 
phy. Her mother was a second time married, her 
second husband being Benjamin H. Kittering. (See 
sketch.) Mrs. Frantz, wife of the gentleman whose 
name heads this notice, was born in Monmouth 
Township, this county, May to, 1848. She lived 
with her parents, who were early settlers in this county, 
until her marriage. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Frantz, two children have been born, Talma J. and 
Ruth B. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Frantz, in the 
fall of 1870, he purchased 159 acres of land on sec- 
tion 25, Monmouth Township, where he is at pres- 
ent residing, and subsequently, by purchase, has 
increased his landed interests in that township to 
289 acres. His home farm presents that appear- 
ance which is indicative of the push and energy pos- 
sessed by its proprietor. Mr. Frantz has been a 
more than ordinarily successful man in his vocation 
of farming and stock-raising. In the latter depart- 
ment of his vocation, he has indeed traded to a very 
large extent, having shipped more than $200,000 of 
stock and an average of about $12,000 annually. 



LAr 



t* 



WARREN COUNTY. 



235 



Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Frantz are members of 
the Christian Church. In politics Mr. F. votes with 
the Republican party, and has held the minor offices 
within the gift of the people of his township. 



ton. Daniel D. Parry, dealer in real estate 
jiia^as and insurance agent at Monmouth, was 
^S^^ born at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, May 28, 
i^ 1839, and was the fifth child of Walter and Ann 
( (Dean) Parry, natives of South Wales and of 
Bath Co., Ky., respectively. The parents were 
married in Greene Co., Ohio, where their two sons 
and six daughters were born. The family came to 
Warren County in 1862, and here the mother and 
father spent the remainder of their lives, the old lady 
dying in 1876, aged 71 years, and Mr. Parry four 
years later, at the age of 76 years. Walter Parry, the 
father of our subject, came with his widowed mother 
to America when he was about 14 years of age and 
Uived in Ohio up to 1862. The Deans came to Ohio 
in 1813, and occupied a large tract of land in Greene 
County, where quite a number of that name yet re- 
side, and annually meet at what they term the" Dean 
. Picnic." 

The Xenia, Ohio, schools afforded the subject of 
our sketch such opportunities for an education as 
was practicable before he was 17 years of age, and 
after clerking in a grocery house, at that place, he 
developed at once into a coal oil prospector. April 
19, 1861, at Hamilton, Ohio, he enrolled as a private 
soldier in Co. F, 3d Ohio Vol. Inf. (three-months 
men), and June 3, following, was mustered into the 
three-years service in the same company and regiment. 
His final discharge was dated at Camp Dennison, 
Marcli I, 1863, While in the service he spent his 
first six months in West Virginia, went South with 
the Army of the Ohio, and returned with Buell. At 
Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, a minie ball penetrated 
his left knee, which led to the amputation of the limb 
25 hours later. He landed at Monmouth March 23, 
1863, and the next day was given a position as 
Deputy County Clerk. He held this place about three 
years, and in November, 1867, was elected County 
Treasurer, an office he held four terms in succes- 
sion. In 1870 he was selected as a member of the 
State Board of Equalization, and for four years dis- 



charged the duties of the two offices, and in*'i88o 
represented Warren County in the Illinois Legisla- 
ture. His last political venture was his candidacy 
for the nomination for State Treasurer in 1882, which, 
however, he failed to get. 

Mr. Parry has always been a Republican of the 
most pronounced type, and his official life has always 
reflected credit upon that party. He is an active 
business man ; a man of unswerving integrity ; pure 
in his private life, unblemished in his public career 
and fitted intellectually to fill any position to which 
the people of his district may assign him. 

March 24, 1864, he was married at Monmouth, 
to Miss Mary A. Reed, daugliter of Samuel Reed of 
Huntingdon Co., Pa. Their three children are 
named Nettie A.. Walter D. and Jessie M. 




ohn A. Nesbit, an energetic and prosperous 
resident of Lenox Township, residing on 
section 11, where he is engaged quite ex- 
tensively in agricultural pursuits, is a son of 
jL Fisher and Jeniza (Adams) Nesbit, natives of 
Pennsylvania, where, in Perry County, they 
were married and settled. About the year 1836, 
they removed to Franklin County, their native State, 
but finally returned to Perry County, there residing 
until death called them to their eternal home. Their 
family consisted of six children, three of whom are 
now living. 

John A., whose name is prominent in the affairs of 
his township, was the eldest of his parents' family 
and was born in Perry County, the Keystone State, 
May 16, 1825. His school privileges were quite 
limited and he was engaged in farming in the State 
of his nativity until the year 1869, when, in October 
of that year, he determined to travel Westward, 
thinking the facilities were much greater for acquir- 
ing a competency there than in his native State. He 
soon found a desirable location in Lenox Township. 
His success was remarkable in his last move and he 
has since made this his permanent abode. After 
laboring quite a while in the State of Pennsylvania, 
he had accumulated something of this world's goods 
before his emigration West, which enabled him to 
purchase a tract of 120 acres of good land. Of 



4^ 



^ 



*^^ 



«36 



WARREN COUNTY. 



course this was unimproved, except having been 
fenced "and, broken, but Mr. Nesbit entered actively 
and energetically upon its improvement; and the re- 
sults of his efforts have been rewarded, for his farm 
is now under an advanced state of cultivation, a fine 
residence has been erected thereon, as well as all 
other suitable outbuildings. 

Mr. N. formed a matrimonial alliance on the i8th 
of September, 1848, in Cumberland Co., Pa., with 
Miss Hetty A. Hemp, daughter of Adam and Eliza- 
beth (Bowlar) Hemp, both natives of the State of 
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Nesbit was the eldest of a 
family of four children, and >vas born in Cumberland 
Co., Pa., Dec. 14, 1825. Their home circle has been 
blessed by the birth of one child, — Addison H., who 
married Harriet G. Weakley and resides in Lenox 
Township, this county. 

Mr. Nesbit has held the position of School Di- 
rector, besides other minor offices within the gift of 
the people of his township, and he and his wife are 
|- members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, 
Mr. N. casts his vote with the Republican party. 




f rville Capps, who is engaged in agricultural 
pursuits on section 25, Lenox Township, 
where he was born Oct. 23, 1857, is a sion 
of Asa and Mary A. (Brooks) Capps. (See 
sketch of T. L. Capps elsewhere in this vol- 
ume.) Orville remained at home, attending 
the district schools and assisting in the home duties, 
until he became the owner of 160 acres of land, 
which he then engaged in cultivating and improving, 
and which, as the result of his hard labor and en- 
ergy, now presents the appearance of thrift and suc- 
cess. It is all good, tillable land and under an 
advanced state of cultivation. Besides this, he owns 
six acres of timber land. 

Mr. Orville Capps and Miss Minerva J. Ray were 
married Jan. 11, i88r, in Roseville Township, she 
being a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Landis) 
Ray. Of their eight children, Mrs. Capps was the 
eldest, and was born in Berwick Township, Sept. 1, 
1858. Mr. and Mrs. Capps had one child, Roy, 
who died when six weeks old. 

Mr. C. has been School Director in his township. 




and politically, affiliates with the Democratic party. 
Mr. and Mrs. Capps are members of the Baptist 
Church. 



"1^ I. Wickersham, engaged as a general 
^^ merchant at Roseville, was born in Hen- 
,^^SJ derson Co., 111., in 1845. His parents, 

iC Sellers and Adelia (Brown) Wickersham, were 
I natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respect- 
j ively. They were married in 1844, in Illinois, 
and the subject of this sketch was their only child. 
He remained at home with his parents until of age, 
in the meantime receiving a fair English education. 
After leaving home he engaged to clerk for his uncle, 
John Edwards, at Oquawka, Henderson County, 
this State, and remained in his store for about a year 
and a half He then formed a partnership, which 
existed two years, when he bought out the Interest of 
his uncle. He conducted the business himself for a 
year, when William Stockton was taken in as a part- • 
ner and the firm name became Wickersham & Stock- . 
ton. This continued for only a year, when Mr. 
Wickersham, being desirous of making a change, , 
sold out to his partner and went to Galesburg. At 
the latter place he engaged in the occupation of a 
clerk in the firm of Willard, Hurd & Butler. He 
remained a year with this firm, and in 187 1 came to 
Roseville and connected himself with a Mr. Janes, 
under the firm name of Janes & Wickersham, in 
the merchant-tailoring business, located on the cor- 
ner where now stands the Roseville Bank. They 
continued in partnership for two years, when Mr. 
Wickersham bought out his partner's interest and ran 
the business one year himself He then took Ben- 
jamin Morford as a partner, and the firm name be- 
came Wickersham & Morford. These relations 
continued for only two years, when Mr. Wickersham 
again sold out to his partner, removing to Villisca, 
Iowa, and engaged in the store of C. C. Lundy, as 
clerk, remaining there for the short space of six 
months. He again returned to Roseville, and clerked 
for E. F. Emans for a year. His first purchase was 
the lot on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 
Market Street, where he erected a store building and 
engaged in business, where he has since remained. 



*t 





eiypt-t^-^ 




WARREN COUNTY. 





*r 



In his chosen vocation, that of general merchant, he 
has been very successful. 

Mr. Wickersham was married in October, 1873, to 
Miss Louisa Pratt, daughter of Abijah and Mary 
Pratt, natives of Massachusetts, who came to 
Illinois at an early day and settled m Roseville, this 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Wickersham have had their 
home circle blessed and brightened by the birth of 
five children, — Ellis B., Mary L., Cora A., Clarence 
E. and Ella. 

- - >t # — i>-«iMiiiM«>o — » ; <■ — . 

^^a|,enry Staat, one of Warren County's most 
yi successful farmers and large'land-owners, 
residing on section 30, Berwick Township, 
was born in this county, Aug. 7, 1842. He is a 
son of Francis Staat, a native of Alsace, Ger- 
many, where he was born May 17, 1813. 
The father emigrated to America, landing at New 
York in May, 1832, and there worked at his trade 
for some years. In T837 he left the metropolis and 
I, journeyed westward. Finding a desirable location 
in this county, he made a settlement here, and wjs 
consequently one of tlie earliest pioneers of the 
county. He was an edge-tool maker, and made the 
first scouring plows used in the county. He settled 
on Crooked Creek, where he followed his trade of 
blacksmithing and edge-tool making for one year, 
when he came a few miles east and located near 
Greenbush, where he remained until 1849. During 
the great gold e.\citement of that period he was 
one of the thousands who left their homes to seek 
their fortunes in the far western mountains. He left 
this county in 1850, reached California after the 
usual tedious journey common to that day, but re- 
mained there only ten months, when he realized that 
the fleeting goddess of fortune was no nearer than 
when the merry song of toil and labor rang out from 
the anvil in his rude cabin sliop in Warren County. 
County. Besides, being a man of domestic habits 
and having strong family ties, the glittering nuggets 
were too few and too small to compensate for being 
deprived of the pleasures of the home circle. He 
accordingly returned to this county, and we, shortly 
afterwards find him engaged in land speculation. In 
1856 he moved to the place where his son Henry 
n9^v lives, which at the time was somewhat improved. 



Here lie made his home until the spring of 1870, 
when he retired from the active labors of life and 
moved to Monmouth, where he was pleasantly lo- 
cated and lived in the enjoyment of the fruits of an 
active and well spent life, until robbed of his com- 
panion by the hand of death, Nov. 19, 1880. He 
then returned to the old farm liomestead, and lived 
with his son until August i of the following year, 
when he was called to join the companion of his 
earthly life. He was married (March 19, 1855) to 
Miss Margaret Ehrhardt, who was born in Germany 
in 1810. Their children were seven in number, 
namely: Frederick, Francis, Sallie, Elizabeth, Henry, 
George and Emma. Four died in infancy. Eliza- 
beth was the wife of Samuel Huston : she died Aug. 
19, 1869, leaving no children. Emma is the wife of 
John Wesley Malcolm. She and Henry are the only 
iiurvivors of this large family of children. 

The elder Staat was not only one of the early pio- 
neers of Warren County, but one of its most active 
and enterprising citizens. He was an energetic, 
stirring fellow, and was a leading spirit in the affairs 
of his community. We are pleased to be able to - 
present his portrait in this Album of the portraits of >< 
so many of the leading men of the county. As a 
fitting companion picture to his we present that of 
the lady who was so long his companion in life. 
The hardships of pioneer life, tlie labor and strug- 
gles of tlieir early years, were alike shared by her. 
Few of the present day realize what are the hard- 
ships of those who push ahead into a new and un- 
settled country, subdue and prepare it for a home for 
their children and posterity. There were, of course, 
pleasures, pure, simple, but genuine, which softened 
the hard experiences and were a shield from the 
thorny and rocky paths over which they traveled. 

Henry Staat formed a matrimonial alliance with 
Miss Cordelia C. Bond, Aug. 12, 1869, at Burhng- 
ton, Iowa. She was born June 2, 1850, in this 
county, and was the daughter of John C. Bond, a 
native of Tennessee, where he was born in 1779. 
Her father came to this county in 1832, and died 
May 20, 1882. For a further biography, we refer 
the reader to liis sketch in another part of his vol- 
ume. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Staat, eight 
children were born, seven of whom are living, 
namely: Ora A., born Oct. 30, 1870; John F., 
Nov. 24, 1872; Nellie M., Sept. 30, 1874; Lena, 
May 4, 1876; George, Sept. 21, 187^ ; Eddie J., Sept, 



'J^ 



V 



I 



J42 



. ^Vt:=:; 

warren county. 



-rrd^ 



r, 1881 ; Norris H., Jan. 18, 1885. A twin brother to 
George died in infancy. 

Mr. Staat is the proprietor of 2,027 acres of land 
in this county, and on his home farm he has a fine 
residence, together with a good barn and other 
necessary outbuildings. His land lies in Berwick, 
Roseville and Swan Townsliips. He is probably 
the largest stock-raiser in Warren County, and 
ships large quantities direct to the great markets. 
He is also engaged in raising fine horses and mules, 
and at the present writing has over 100 head. He 
is a gentleman noted for his business judgment, 
strict integrity, and fair and honest dealing with his 
fellow men, and his success in life is attributable to 
the energy and good judgment which he always 
brings to bear in business transactions. In politics, 
he is a believer in and a supporter of the principles 
advocated by the Democratic party. 




i?^|j^l|^ohn Caldwell, an influential citizen and 
successful farmer of Hale Township, resid- 
ing on section 1 1, where he owns 200 acres 
of good farm land, is a native of Cadiz, Ohio, 
having been born there Dec. 31, 1813. When 
Mr. Caldwell was eight years of age his father 
died, and he went to live with an uncle, with whom 
he remained until he attained his majority. At that 
time he engaged to learn the carpenter's trade, which 
he mastered and followed until he was about 35 years 
of age. He came to this State in 1853, and settled 
in Sumner Township, this county, where he resided 
for about one year, when he made a transfer to Hale 
Township. In the latter township, upon his excel- 
lent farm, he has erected fine buildings, and by in- 
cessant labor has placed his land under an .idvanced 
state of cultivation, until his farm today pr^sentf an 
attractive appearance to the passer-by. 

The marriage of Mr. Caldwell to Mary A. (Mc- 
Mehan) Nichol took place in Greene Co., Ohio, Nov. 
5. 1840. She was born in Belmont County, that 
State, March 26, 1822, and has borne her husband 
ten children, — Nancy J., Jackson N, Joseph M., 
John M., Francis M., James R., Donna M. E., Lelia 
A., Eva J. and William E. Nancy J. is the wife of 
Thomas Goudy, of Kansas, ; Jackson, Joseph and 
John also reside in Kansas and are alljmarried; 



Francis M. is a professor of music at Monmouth, 
and is also married; James lives at home; Donna 
married Henry Runyan, a resident of Iowa; Lelia is 
the wife of John Shaffer, a farmer in Hale Township; 
Eva married James T. Nash, who also resides in 
Hale Township; William E. is likewise a resident of 
the township last named. 

Mr. Caldwell has been Supervisor and Justice of 
the Peace and held other minor offices within the 
gift of the people of his township. He and his wife 
are members of the United Presbyterian Church, 
and, in politics, Mr. Caldwell votes with the Repub- 
lican party. 



T" 



~^jfo^§l(bsalom Vandeveer. Prominent among the 
S^^^jf leading agriculturists of Warren County is 
^IIM" *" Absalom Vandeveer, who resides on sec- 
5,^}jft tion 15, Swan Township. He has long been 
|i regarded as one of the enterprising and suc- 
1 cessful farmers of the county. He was born 
Sept. 22, 1822, in Jackson Co., Ind., and is a son of 
Charles Vandeveer, a native of North Carolina. The 
father spent the early part of his life prior to his 
marriage in Kentucky, and was among the early 
pioneers of Illinois, coming here as early as 1830. 
He then located in Sangamon County, where he re- 
mained until 1836, when he removed to this county 
and here resided until his death, in 1854, at the age 
of 66 years. He was born in 1788, and had occu- 
pied the pulpit for over 30 years, preaching the doc- 
trine of the old-school Baptist. His marriage to 
Polly Gilbraith took place in r8io. She was born 
in 1788 and was of Irish parentage, her father hav- 
ing emigrated to this country in time to take part in 
the Revolutionary War. She died in March, 1856, 
in Warren County, after having borne her husband 
eight cliildren, — Eveline, John, William, Elizabeth, 
Aaron, Cynthia, Absalom and Polly, only four of 
I whom are yet living, viz. : John, William, Cynthia 
I and .Absalom. 

j .Absalom Vandeveer, of whom we write, formed a 
I matrimonial alliance with Miss Delila Lieurance, 
Dec. 14, 1845. She was born .Aug. 23, 1827, in 
I Clinton Co., Oliio, and came to Illinois with her par- 
I ents ill 1S35. Her father still lives in this county, 

•A - . 



1 

i 



V 



JU 



WARREN COUNTY. 



243 



at the advanced age of 84 years, having been horn 
in 1801 in Tennessee. He married Miss Anna 
Wright in 1822. She was born in 1803, and died in 
1838, leaving to the care of her husband six chil- 
dren, — -Mary, Delila, Aylett R., Rebecca, Jehu and 
Amos, the latter two of whom have deceased. 

Mr. Vandeveer and his wife have become the par- 
ents of nine children. The record is as follows : 
Silas B., born Dec. 8, 1846; Amelia J., Feb. 16, 
1848; Abbie, Dec. 16, 185 1; Lovell P., Oct. 12, 
1852; Mary E., March ro, 1854; George M., Dec. 
15, 1855 ; William A., Jan. 8, 1858; Donezell, Nov. 
19,1859; and Flo N., Oct. 27, 1861. Mr. Vandeveer 
has 12 grandchildren. Of his own children men- 
tioned above, George was killed in the memorable 
tornado, May ^2, r873. He was in the cellar under 
the house when the tornado took the building from its 
foundation, and a field roller was blown into the 
cellar, which was probably tlie cause of his death, 
the roller striking him, while in motion, on the back 
part of his head. His life was thus cut short in the 
17th year of his age. 

Mr. Vandeveer is an earnest worker in the Baptist 
Church, of which he is Deacon. He has 280 acres 
of land in Swan Township, with a fine two-story 
residence, 30 x 36 feet in dimensions, and a barn 
24 X 50 with 20-foot posts. In addition to the cul- 
tivation of his land, he is also devoting a portion of 
his time to the breeding of thoroughbred Short- 
horns, of which he has seven head. In the tornado 
of 1873 he lo.it everything save his land, but he had 
many kind neighbors who contributed to tiie wants 
of himself and family until assistance was no longer 
necessary, and now that he has recovered his losses, 
and is in a fair way to secure a certain competency, 
he does not forget the acts of kindness bestowed 
upon him and his in the hour of need All of 
Mr. and Mrs. Vandeveer's children, except Amelia, 
are living in this county. She became the wife of 
James M. Crabb, and is now living with him in Mac- 
pherson Co., Kan. They have seven children, whose 
names are Leon, Minnie, Rena, Edward, Paul, Mar- 
lin and Flo Crabb. Mary E. is the wife of Samuel 
Larkin, a farmer of this county, and they have three 
children, — D. Alvin, Walter and an infant. Lovell 
married Ida Lawrence and resides on the home 
farm ; Floss Rose is the name of their only child. 
Donnie married Robert Beekner, a farmer of Swan 



Township, and is the mother of two children, — Lova 
and Zelma. The entire family are members of the 
Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. V. is identified 
with the Democratic party. 



— -86?- 



-^91— 




illiam Patch, who is one of the leading 
agriculturist!: and stockrraisers of Ellison 
^\^P^>f' ' Township, was born on the old homestead 
">!> of his parents, on section 31 of this town- 
ship, July II, 1858. His home farm is now 
on section 30. His father, Mayhew Patch, in 
early years was engaged at the carpenter's trade, 
but turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, at 
which he devoted the remainder of his life. He was 
born in New Hampshire, of New England ancestry, 
and was married in Eaton, his native State, to Miss 
Susan Snow, a native of that place, where she was 
also reared. As early as 1 855, they came West, and 
located upon a tract of raw land in Ellison Town- 
snip. Here he erected a house, made excellent im- 
provements and with the exception of three years 
spent in llie city of Monmouth, he passed the re- 
mainder of his life here. He died at his home July 
24, 1880, at the age of 57 years. He was highly es- 
teemed for his many excellent virtues, and was re- 
garded as one of the leading citizens in Ellison 
Township. His widow yet resides on the old home- 
stead. She is the mother of five children, four of 
whom are living and all married. 

William Patch was the youngest but one of the 
family mentioned above. He was born, reared, edu- 
cated and embarked in lousiness for himself in this 
township. He lived with his mother after the death 
of his father, working on the home farm until his 
marriage. This important event of his life occurred 
June 10, 1885, at the residence of the bride's father 
in Prairie City, III. The lady who joined him at 
this time was Miss Hattie Jones, daughter of Robert 
Jone?. She is a native of New England, and was 
only five years of age wlien her parents came to 
Prairie City. Here she was reared and educated 
and lived at home until her marriage For five years 
previous to this event, however, she had been en- 
gaged in teaching school. Her mother died in 1881. 



T 



-f4--± 



244 



. .v. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



— -T4- 



Her father is a blacksmith, residing in Prairie City. 

The parents of Mr. Patch were active and zealous 
members of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
which our subject with his wife is also connected, 
and he has taken an active part in the labors of the 
Church. His father was a Democrat in [lolitics, but 
William is inclined to be more independent in his 
political views. He has held the minor offices of 
his township, and is regarded as one of the enterpris- 
ing young farmers of Warren County. 




*t 




U^saac Van Tasell, who is passmg the sunset 
of his life in ease and comfort, having re- 
tired from active labors of the farm and 
who is at present residing at Monmouth, is a 
son of Green and Deborah Van Tasell. The 
parents of Mr. Van Tasell died in Lyons, 
Dutchess Co., N. Y., when Isaac was but two years 
of age. Isaac was born in Dutchess Co., York 
State, July 3, 1822, and continued to reside there 
until 1851, when, hoping to better his financial con- 
dition in life, he came to Kendall County, this Slate. 
In the latter county he resided for ten years, follow- 
ing agricultural pursuits, and in tlie fall of 1859 
came to this county and located in Lenox Township 
and followed the same occupation there until 1883, 
when he removed to Monmouth. 

Mr. Van Tasell was united in marriage in his na- 
tive county and State, Sept. 12, 1850, Miss Phebe 
D. Cargill becoming his wife. She was a native of 
York State and has borne her husband five children, 
— Mary E., Julia A., Jam-;s W., Ella L. and Carrie 
M. Mary E, became the wife of George Brown, a 
farmer of Kendall County, this State; Julia A. mar- 
ried Jacob Ball, and resides in Nebraska; James W. 
follows farming in Leno.\ Township (see sketch); 
Ella L. resides at home; Carrie M. was united in 
marriage with Ira Sprout, a resident of Kirkwood. 

Mr. Van Tasell is the proprietor of 134}^ acres of 
land, 120 of which is under an advanced state of 
cultivation. He resides in Monmouth Township, 
where he is passing the sunset of his life, enjoying 
the accumulations which toil and economy have 



brought him. He has held the office of School 
Director, and his politics are those of a staunch and 
unflinching Republican. 



,■ (^ ;(^i ranklin Booth, located on section 18, 
;^ |^£, I Swan Township, where he resides and is 
'^^^^ ''• actively engaged in its cultivation and 
^j^ improvement, which has been the vocation of 
4^> his life, was born in Cabell Co., Va., Nov. 7, 
I, 1829, and is a son of Ferguson Booth, de- 
ceased, who was born in Virginia, Oct. 10, 1799. 
The father came to this State in March, 1836, and 
located in Kno.x County; remained there for a time, 
then moved to this county, where he died, Feb. 14, 
1876. He was married to Miss Lucinda Perdue in 
1819. She was born in 1804 in Virginia, and still 
survives, residing in this county. Of the parents' 
union, these children were born : Sarah J., Burwell, 
Franklin, Russell, Morris, James W., Leander and 
Mary A. Marinda was drowned when four years of 
age while wading across a stream in Virginia. She 
became bewildered, and falling was unable to re- 
cover herself, and was thus drowned. Sarah J., 
wife of Stephen Spoidock, died leaving eight chil- 
dren; William Lewis, the eldest child, died in his 
infancy. 

Franklin Booth, the subject of this biographical 
notice, was married to Miss Martha Sargent, March 
23, 1854, at Monmouth, 111. She was born April 3, 
1836, in Jacksonville, Morgan County, this Slate, 
and is a daughter of John Sargent, born in Ohio, 
Dec. 15, 1801. Her father came to this State in 
1822, and participated in the Black Hawk War. His 
wife, Mary (Johnson) Sargent, to whom he was mar- 
ried in 1827, was born in 1809, and died in 1838, 
her husband surviving her until Sept. 24, 1884. Of 
their union nine children were born, — Elizabeth, 
Mary A., Sarah, Martha J., Lorinda, Eveline, 
Thomas B., Tobitha and Mary L. 

Mr. and Mrs. Booth are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, namely: James W., born July 2, 1857; Ira 
S., Jan. 20, 1858; Henry T., March 8, 1859; Nellie, 
June 23, 1863; Allen C, Sept. 27, 1865 ; Nola E., 
Feb. 20, 1868; Annie M., July 19, 1873. Two of 







J^^M 



Residence OF JuHiNt VVoi^^qerly. 5ec. 13., Lenox Township 




Residence of 8. r. Forwood Sec. 23., Spring Grove Township. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^?=j-^ 



247 



the above named are deceased, James and Nellie, 
the former dying May 17, 1858, and the latter June 
3, 1864. Ira S. married Ada Cooper, and resides in 
Swan Township. All are at home except Ira S. and 
Henry T. The latter is farming in Swan Township. 
Mr. Booth and family are pleasantly situated on 
their magnificent farm of 375 acres, located on sec- 
tion 18, Swan Township. He owns his land and 
has the same under an advanced state of cultivation, 
and since coming to the county, in 1852, lie has de- 
voted his time and attention to its cultivation. In 
addition to the cultivation of his land, he is to no 
small extent interesting himself in the breeding of 
Short-horn cattle, and fattens stock for the purpose 
of shipping. 

Mr. and Mrs. Booth are Consistent members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. 
Booth is, and has been all his life, a Republican. 



rri=f— 



ohn H. Lippy, engaged in merchandising 
at Swan Creek, is a native of Hamilton 
Co., Ohio, where he was born July 31, 
„,„ 1841. He came to this State in 1844, landing 
1£ in Fulton County July 4, of that year. The 
father of Mr. Lippy, John Lippy, Sr., was born 
in Maryland, in 1804, and married Miss Sarah Zepp 
in 1832. She was born May i, i8o6, and they be- 
came the parents of 14 children, nine daughters and 
five sons,— Mary E., Rebecca, Sarah C, J. H., 
George W., David E., Susan L., Marinda J., Jane, 
Edna M., William, and three unnamed who died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Lippy of this notice was married April 12, 
1866, to Miss Hulda Luper, who was born Aug 29, 
1846, and has borne her husband four children,— 
Ida May, S. J., P. H. and Louisa L Mr. Lippy 
has a fine stock of goods in Swan Creek, his store 
room being 22 x 50 feet in dimensions, and is meet- 
ing with financial success in his business. He car- 
ries a stock of about $3,500. In July, 1877, he was 
appointed Postmaster, and still holds that office. In 
politics, he is an active, working Republican. In 
1862 he entered the service of the Union, and June 
6 of that year was mustered in at Knoxville, 111., 




joining Co. D, io2d 111. Vol. Inf., Col. McMurtry 
commanding. He first did service in Kentucky, 
" after Bragg," and was in several general engage- 
ments and 24 skirmishes. He was wounded twice 
in the left leg while in Mississippi, but is receiving 
no pension from the Government. Jan. 6, 1865, 
almost at the close of the war, Mr. Lippy received 
his discharge at Vicksburg, Miss., and returned 
home. 

In addition to his general mercantile business, Mr. 
Lippy is engaged in buying and shipping grain and 
stock. He started his business at Swan Creek 
Marcli 13, 1876, and by his fair and honest dealings 
with his patrons has established a good trade. So- 
cially, he is a member of the G. A. R. He has nine 
lots and four buildings in Swan Creek. 




ohn Wonderly, one of the best known of 
t the many well-to-do farmers of Lenox 
'* Township, is the owner of an excellent farm 
located on section 15, where he is residing. 
He is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wolf) 
Wonderly, natives of Pennsylvania, in which 
State they also died. John was the third in order of 
birth of a family of six children. He was born in 
Cumberland Co., Pa., Nov. 20, 1822, and received 
his education in the common scliools. His years, 
prior to his emigration to this county, were passed 
in farming in his native State, with the exception of 
about ten months, which were spent in Indiana. He 
came here in 1855, and after being a short time in 
Monmouth, located in Lenox Township, where he 
has since resided. He is the owner of 160 acres, 
the major portion of which is tillable, and with his 
family resides on the farm on section 13, Lenox 
Township; besides, he owns a tract of timber land 
in Floyd Township on section 8. He has a com- 
modious and well furnished farm residence, which 
with its pleasant surroundings are illustrated in the 
view on page 245. 

The marriage of Mr. Wonderly to the lady whom 
he wooed and won. Miss Margaret Zug, occurred in 
Cumberland Co., Pa., Nov. 28, 1844. She was a 
native of the county in which she was married and 



1 



^ 



V 



-e4r-^ 



>- 



■48 



WARREN COUNTY. 



¥ 



has borne her husband nine children. The Hving 
are Mary E., Emma C, Daniel Z., John W. Martha 
J. and Charles A. Those deceased are George W., 
Ann M. and Clara A. Mary E. became the wife of 
J. L. Young, a farmer of Lenox Township; Emma 
C. was united in marriage with Wm. Jewell, who re- 
sides in Nebraska ; Daniel Z. is a resident of Hen- 
derson County; John lives in Nebraska; the husband 
of Martha, Henry Norcross, with his wife resides in 
Nebraska ; Charles A. lives at home. 

In politics, Mr. VVonderly casts his vote with the 
Democratic party. He has held the offices of Road 
Commissioner and School Director, and is one of the 
energetic and highly respected farmers of Lenox 
Township. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Church. 



^*hJh«^ 




ayton A. Vaughn, farmer, residing on sec- 
-. - , lion 20, Greenbush Township, was born in 
Jl^ Dinwiddie Co., Va., March 31, 1810, and 
i||jt J is tlie son of John E. Vaughn, a native of that 
y|^ State. The father married Miss Susan Cotton 
in i8c8. She was a native of England, and 
bore her husband five cliildren, — Payton, Nancy, 
George C, Jane and Emily. 

Payton A. Vaughn married Miss Mary A. Dar- 
neille, July 18, 1834, Rev. Kirkpatrick, of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, officiating. She was born 
Feb. 13, 1820, in Kentucky, and came to this State 
in 1833 with her mother, and located near Quincy, 
Adams County. Of their union seven children were 
born, the following being their names: Elizabeth, 
Dec. 5, 1835 ; Martha A., June 27, 1838, died March 
13, 1843; Barthenia, Jan. 6, 1841; James T., May 
21,1843; Mary Z., Nov. 2, 1848; George E., July 
10, 1852, and Douglas B., Feb. 14, i860. 

Mr. Vaughn, of this sketch, owns 370 acres of 
good farm land, located on section 20, Greenbush 
Township, and is there engaged in farming and rais- 
ing graded stock. He has some very fine Norman 
horses, and also a fine half-blooded Clydesdale four- 
year-old, and in both branches of his vocation is 
"meeting with financial success. He has served as 
Road Commissioner and School Trustee. In politics, 



*t 



he is a believer in and supporter of the principles ad- 
vocated by the Democratic party. Mr. Vaughn and 
and wife are both members of the Methodist Episco- 
p.il Church. 



^^ 




rs. Rebecca Morford, residing at Rose- 

ville, is the widow of Benjamin Morford, 

who was born in Mercer Co., Pa., March 

, 1813. The parentsof Mr. Morford were 

^* Joseph and Elizabeth (Fell) Morford, natives 

of New Jersey. The family of the parents 

consisted of teui children, seven of whom grew to the 

age of manhood and womanhood. 

Benjamin Morford, husband of the subject of this 
sketch, assisted his father on the farm and_ attended 
the common schools, developing into manhood. Four 
years after he attained his majority, when 25 years 
of age, his father gave him a farm, on which he lo- 
cated and at once engaged in the vocation in which 
he had received instruction at hojne up to that time, i 
— farming; and on this place he remained and 
continued to cultivate the same for 14 years. He 
tlien sold his farm and came to this State, in 1851, 
and settled at Roseville, purchasing 80 acres of land 
on the east and one acre on tlie west side of Main 
Street. On this land he erected a residence and 
there made his home until the date of his death, 
which occurred Jan. 14, 1875. He platted a part of 
his farm, and since his death tlie remainder, with 
the exception of a few acres, has been incorporated 
within the present limits of tlie village of Roseville. 

Mr. Morford was united in marriage to Miss Re- 
becca Stem in 1838. Slie was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, her parents being Frederick and Sarah 
(Harris) Stem, natives of Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania respectively. Her father came with his family 
to this State in 1861, and settled one and a half 
miles east of Roseville, where he purchased 160 
acres of land, and by his economy and perseverance 
increased his landed interests in the county to 400 
acres. He and his wife continued to reside on the 
old homestead until their deaths, that of the former 
occurring June 9, 1875, and the latter Jan. 14, 1867. 

Mr. and Mrs. Morford became the parents of ten 



V 



4 



■ Y 
WARREN COUNTY. 



j __ T > 



249 



children, six of whom are still living, — Sarah E. 
Patch, Zilpah A. Lewis, Nelson A., Ross C, Cora 
D. and George E. Mrs. Morford still continues to 
reside on the old homestead, with her daughter Cora 
and son George. She is a member of the Baptist 
Church, to which denomination he also belonged. 
Mr. Morford was the first Postmaster in Roseville, 
and held the office for some lo or 12 years. He 
also held the offices of Justice of the Peace and 
Road Commissioner, and was one of the respected 
and honored pioneers of the village of Roseville. 




T^ 



i3 
li^hester Brooks, a prosperous and ener- 

1^ getic farmer and stock-raiser, on section 
W^ 16, Ellison Township, was born in Ni- 
agara Co., N. Y., on the 27th of December, 
1817. His father, Noah Brooks, a farmer and 
mechanic by occupation, was a native of Con- 
^ necticut, of New England parentage and Welsh de- 
' scent. He formed a matrimonial alliance in Ulster 
Co., N. Y., with Miss Maria Russell, also a native 
, of Connecticut, and of similar ancestry and descent. 
Before the war of 181 2, the parents settled in Gene- 
see Co., York State, where they remained for some 
years. Mr. Noah Brooks, during the War of 1812, 
held the position of a militia soldier, and after his re- 
turn moved to Orleans Co., the same State. When 
our subject, Chester Brooks, was but a small child of 
about 12 years of age, and while living near his birth- 
place, Noah Brooks, his father, died. The mother 
afterward lived with her daughter in Wisconsin and 
Ohio, dying at the former place at an advanced age. 
Chester, after the death of his father, went to live with 
a Mr. William Jackson, of Orleans Co., Empire State. 
Here he remained, making that his home until he 
reached the age of 26 years, having attended the 
high schools of Orleans and Niagara Counties in the 
meantime. In the fall of 1844 he came to Illinois, 
and began teaching in the common schools and also 
teaching music in Cass County, and later worked at 
his trade, that of carpenter and joiner, which he had 
learned in his native State. While in Cass County 
he was united in marriage, in 1847, to Miss Elizabeth 
V. Beard, daughter of Alex, and Lucy (Yates) Be^rd, 



the latter a cousin to Governor Yates. Mrs. Brooks 
was born in Cass County, this State, Nov. 26, 1830, 
and her parents were successful farmers and natives 
of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. After Mr. 
Beard's first marriage, he came to Illinois, but re- 
turned to Kentucky after the demise of liis wife, and 
married the second time. He again returned to this 
State and here both he and his wife died. Mrs. 
Brooks was well educated in the public schools and 
lived at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brooks have became the parents of five children, of 
whom the following is a brief record : WiUiam mar- 
ried Jennie Reynolds and they reside on a farm in 
Hardin Co., Iowa; Edwin C. is the husband of 
Sarah, nee Baldwin, and is engaged in stock-raising at 
Centralia, Nemaha Co., Kan.; Lucy A., wife of B. F. 
Graham, lives on a farm in Grundy Co., Iowa; 
George A. resides at home, as likewise does Emma E. 
After marriage Mr. Brooks resided in Cass County, 
this State, for 10 years, where he was engaged in 
in farming. In October, 1864, he came to this 
county and purchased 137 acres of land, all of which 
was improved, with good buildings, etc. Since that 
time he has added 40 acres to his purchase and now 
has 177 acres of good farm land. He has held the 
offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk 
and also School Trustee, which latter office he has 
held for 15 years and is the present incumbent. He 
has been a Republican ever since the organization 
of that party, and is an active and e.iergetic worker 
in support of its principles. 




ames B. Reynolds is a farmer on section 
24 in the township of Sumner, where he 
has resided since 1865. At the time he suc- 
ceeded to its ownersliip a small frame house 
was on the place, which, with the other appur- 
tenances of the site, was in a dilapidated con- 
dition. He has erected a good set of buildings and 
put the place under improvements second to none in 
the county. The residence and its surroundings are 
beautiful, the former being of much more than ordin- 
ary style for a farm house, and the well planned and 
beautified grounds adding greatly to its attractive 



I^^Zl 




4= 



JU 



»So 



IVARREN COUNTY. 



V. 




appearance. The ornamental trees include Scotch 
pine, European larch and others of equal rarity and 
beauty. It is but justice to stale that the estate is 
one of the most attractive and valuable in Warren 
County. The location is on a southern slope, and 
from the liuildings, which are placed on the height 
of the land, the spires of Monmoutli are plainly vis- 
ible. 

Mr. Reynolds has been a Democrat until later 
issues engaged his attention, and now adopts the 
views of the Prohibitionists. He was born in the 
township of Hale in Warren County, Feb. i8, 1838. 

Tiiomas Reynolds, his father, was a pioneer of the 
county, of 1836. He was born Oct. t5, 1782, in 
North Carolina, and was of Scotch-Irish origin. He 
passed all the earlier years of his life in his native 
State, where he was married to Eleanor McClanahan. 
She was born in North Carolina, March 10, 1803. 
In addition to the business of farmer the senior 
Reynolds was a practical miller, and he followed 
the combined relations of his two callings in his na- 
tive State tnitil 1834. 

About that time the spirit of progress seemed to 
take possession of the people in a manner then un- 
common, and Mr Reynolds yielded to it and to the 
belief that he could secure for himself and his in- 
creasing family the advantages of a broader field of 
operation. Accordingly, in the year named, he set 
out with his household for Indiana. The country 
between North Carolina and the point of destination 
in the Hoosier State was traversed with a team and 
a covered wagon ; and the same conveyance carried 
the goods of the household; and the cooking and 
domestic arrangements generally were conducted on 
the way much after the same pattern as in the de- 
serted home in the South. They stayed their steps 
in White Co., Ind., and resided there two years. In 
1836 they took up their line of march to the west- 
ward and came in the same manner in which they 
had made their former journey, to Illinois. The 
father made a location at Sugar Grove, in Hale 
Township, in this county. He rented land for a time 
to give himself an opportunity to look about and de- 
termine on the best plan to pursue and where was 
the best place to make a jiermanent settlement. lie 
decided to go to Henderson County. He bought a 
tract of land in the timber in the vicinity of Hollings- 
worth's mill, and proceeded to arrange his aflfairs on 



the accepted plan of the pioneers. He erected a log 
cabin for a temporary home and cleared 40 acres of 
land. There he remained about 14 years. On sell- 
ing out, he bought a prairie farm two miles from 
Biggsville and was its owner and occupant until 
1866. That was the year in which he made his final 
removal to Sumner Township. He settled on the 
farm which his son had bought in that township and 
his life continued only a few years after. He died 
June 12, 1869. The wife and mother lived until 
Aug 15, 1881. Of their seven children only two 
survive. Mr. Reynolds has a younger sister — Mar- 
tha E., the wife of R. W. Wiley, of Sumner Town- 
ship. 

Mr. Reynolds was ten years of age when his par- 
ents removed to Henderson County. He was brought 
up to the calling of his forefathers and was a pupil 
in the public school. Later he attended the High 
School at Oquawka, and finally finished his educa- 
tion with three years' attendance at Monmouth Col- 
lege. 

Feb. 18, 1868, he was married to Araminta C. 
McCrery, and they have two children. Mabel is 
pursuing a course of study at Monmouth College. 
Bertha A. is the younger, Mrs. Reynolds was born 
in Monmouth, June 25, 1849. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members of the United 
Presbyterian Church, as is their oldest daughter. 




illiam K. Stewart attorney at law, Mon- 
^^3? mouth, was born in McDonough County, 
J^T* this State, Dec. 3, 1845. He spent his 
' '^i> youth largely at school, and graduated from 
Monmouth College in the class of 1867, He 
began the study of law at once under his father 
and was admitted to the Bar in April, 1868, and be- 
gan practice at Oquawka the following fall. (For 
parentage, etc., see biography of Hon. J. H. Stewart, 
this volume.) In 1873 he came to Monmouth from 
Oquawka and became the junior of the firm of 
^Stewart, Phelps & Stewart, probably the strongest 
law firm in the city. At the end of two years the 
firm dissolved, and Mr. Stewart repaired to Burling- 
ton, Iowa, and was there two years. Returning tQ 



lAj 



¥ 








■ ^ e ^^ ^/^ ^^^-^ 



-e^^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



•S3 



f 



Monmouth in 1877, he was at once appointed City 
Attorney, and in 1878 was elected Police Magistrate, 
which he resigned at the end of three years to be- 
come a member of the firm of Stewart & Grier. 
Since 1883, this firm has been Stewart & Stewart, 
and is composed of Hon. J. H. Stewart and the sub- 
ject of this sketch. At the spring election of 1885, 
Mr. Stewart was elected City Attorney, and is the 
present incumbent of that office. 

He was married in McDonough County, this State, 
April 16, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Mariner, and has 
tliree children. 



-0-&- 




acob Byers, a sturdy tiller of the soil, 
which vocation he has followed the major 
portion of his life, resides on section 18, 
Hale Township. He is a son of Jacob and 
Catherine (Lawver) Byers, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. The father died in Darke Co., Ohio, 
12, 1862, aged 80, and the mother in Franklin 
Co., Pa., Aug. 4, 1842, aged 63. The parents of the 
elder Byers were of Girman and Irish ancestry re- 
spectively. The record of the elder Jacob Byers' 
family of seven children is as follows : David, Re- 
becca, Elizabeth, Joseph, Solomon, Rosana and 
Jacob. David married Miss Eve Stake, of Frank- 
lin Co., Pa., and they had one son : the father and 
son are deceased. Rebecca married George Ens- 
menger, of Cumberland Co., Pa., and a large family 
blessed this union : the mother is deceased. Eliza- 
beth married Isaac Basehore, of Franklin Co., Pa., 
and became the mother of two children, one of 
whom, with the mother, is deceased. Joseph mar- 
ried Rebecca Rafesnyder, of the same county, and 
had a family of two boys and three girls. Solomon 
married Sarah A. Bitner and had 15 children, five of 
whom are deceased : the father died in 1884. Ro- 
sanna married Samuel Railing, of Cumberland Co., 
Pa., and had a family of seven children, four of 
whom are deceased. 

Jacob Byers was the youngest of a family of seven 
children born to his parents, all growing to attain the 
age of their majority. He was born June 16, i3?{, 



and during his early boyhood attended the common 
schools, receiving a fair education. At the age of 
15 years he went forth in the cold, unfriendly world 
to dj for himself His first occupation after leaving 
the parental roof was that of an agriculturist, which 
he followed for two years, receiving remuneration for 
his services, at the expiration of which time, when 
he was 17 years of age, he appren'icad himself to 
learn the blacksmith's trade. This he mastered and 
continued to follow as a means of livelihood for sev- 
eral years, and even after coming to this county he 
was thus engaged in connection with his farm duties 
for about seven years. He came to Warren County 
in 1853, and for about three and a half years lived 
in Monmouth, where he followed his trade. He 
moved to Hale Township in 1857, and settled on 
section iS, where he became the owner of 88 acres 
of good tillable land, and on which he has lived and 
labored until ths present time. By his energy and 
economy he has succeeded in making additions to 
his original purchase until he is at present the pro- 
prietor of 208 acres of land in Hale Township and a 
farm of 69 acres in Henderson County. 

Mr. Byers vvas wedded to Harriet E. Bitner, in 
Franklin Co., Pa., June 20, 1845. She was the 
daughter of Michael and Jane (Goodman) Bitner, 
the former of whom died in Franklin Co., Pa., and 
the latter in Monmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Byers have 
become the parents of eight children, whom they 
have named PrisciUa J., Catherine E., John F., 
William E., Jacob M., Lyd a B., David I. and Grace 
E PrisciUa is the wife of Henry Cooper aad re- 
sides in Henderson County; Catherine E. married 
Ralpli Ostrander, a resident of St. Louis, Mo. ; John 
F. lives in (iejrgetown. Col. ; William E. is engaged 
in teaching in Iowa; Jacob lives at home; Lydia B. 
married Nicholas Resenei', who is a resident of Gris- 
wold, Iowa; Davil I. lives in St. Louis, Mo.; and 
Grace E. is deceased. 

Mrs. Byers died in Hale Township, March 28 
1879, and Mr. Byers was the second time married, 
in that township. The date of this marriage was 
Dec. 21, 1882, at which time Miss Hannah Stevenson 
became his wife. They lived together as man and 
wife but three short months, when, March 4, 1883, 
she passed to the land of the hereafter. Mr. Byers 
has held the offices of Road Commissioner and 
School Director in his township, and his political 
views coincide with the principles advocated by the 



-H- 



y^ 



-e4^ 



— -^ 



'54 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Republican party. He has attained no little prom- 
inence as a man of energy and honor in the com- 
munity, and his accompanying portrait gives addi- 
tional interest to this volume. 



-J-«-i«§<^^>^>^- 




( ichard Henry Shultz, deceased, was born 
at Maysville, Mason Co., Ky., June 7, 
^,'iS^ 1829, and died at Monmouth, May 21, 
^V^ 1883. His parents were Christian and Char- 
lotte (l.ec) .Shultz. The former was a native 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent, 
while the latter was a native of Kentucky and of 
Englisli extraction. The Siuillz family was of the 
sturdy old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, which was 
noted for liabits of economy and industry, combined 
with a strict regard for the rights of others, and 
formed the elemetits of a superior citizenship, while 
the Lees combined with all these elements the blue 
blood of the patrician, which infused itself with no 
stock but to better it, assimilating with none to the 
exclusion of its inherent potency, and displaying 
itself ever and anon in tiie very highest order of 
manhood. Men, eminent in Slate craft and in war; 
distinguished in belles-lett) es and in song; men who 
have adorned the Bench and the Bur; men whose 
eloquence . have swayed tlie asseini:)lage from the 
pulpit, the rostrum and forum, — aye, tliese are the 
men whose names will ever he found in the biog- 
raphy of the Lees. The mother of Richard H. 
Shultz was a cousin of Gen. Robeit K. Lee and (ien. 
" Stonewall " Jackson. Thus in our own great Re- 
public alone can the combinations of these elements 
be found possible; and when in the fullness of time 
the best |)eo[)le of all the laces of the earth shall 
have brought each his own peculiar superiority, 
whatever that virtue may <onsist in, and the whole 
shall have intermingled to form one race — the 
Anicrii an — tlien, indeed, will the human family have 
attained that high eniineiice to which it is l>y the 
Creator destined. The partial effect of this com- 
bination of race may be noticed d.iily by the student 
of human nature. Short biographical sketches of 
men who have been identified with the growth, 
progress and welfare q{ a single county, often dis- 



*% 



closes the important fact, though insignificant as it 
may appear, that the great design of nature was in 
these good men being partially carried out. 

Read the biographical sketches in the Warren 
County Albu.m, note there the history of the lives 
of the best people that live and have lived within its 
province, and by tracing their ancestry the true 
secret of the route to greatness, can be seen, though 
not in wealth. Wealth is not greatness; in fact it 
is seldom an integral part of it. So with Mr. Shultz: 
his greatness consisted in a superior citizenship, and 
its essential (.[ualities are largely traceable to his an- 
cestry. 

Mr. Shultz was educated in Kentucky, and em- 
barked in business while yet a young man. June 7, 
1853, he was married, at Maysville, to Miss Lizzie 
Mcllvain, daughter of William Mcllvain, who was 
30 years a banker in that city. Soon after his mar- 
riage, Mr. Shultz removed to Cincinnati, where he 
was for about three years engaged in a commission 
business. From there he emigrated to Missouri, 
where he was engaged in farming up to the time of 
his coming to Warren County, in 1861. Here he 
purchased a farm in Lenox Township and occupied 
it two or three years, when he removed to Mon- 
mouth. Here he purchased an interest in the drug 
firm of Brewer & McGrew, and later on bought the 
interest of Mr. McGrew and changed the firm to 
Brewer & Shultz, which continued for a few years. 
He then purchased Mr. Brewer's interest and es- 
tablished his two sons in the store, under the firm 
name of W. M. Shultz & Co.. Subsequently one of 
the sons, C. Shultz, became the owner. He was one 
of the projectors of the Monmouth Opera House, 
pressed the enterprise to completion and subse- 
quentl) became its sole owner. It is a magnificent 
structure, and a fitting monument to his public- 
spiritedness and enterprise while a citizen of the 
county. In all his undertakings he was successful 
and died the possessor of a handsome competency. 

Of Mr. and Mrs. Shultz's four children, William 
M. is a nromising young physician at Buena Vista, 
Col.; Crit is the sole successor to the drug business 
of W. M. Shultz & Co., and manager and one-fourth 
owner of the Opera House; Lottie and Lewis are 
the names of the younger members of the household. 

Mr. Shultz was an ardent Democrat and a mem- 
ber of the Masonic Order, and, though identified 
with no particular Church, was a liberal giver to all. 



"-•- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



"4* 

»55 k 



The day succeeding his death, a local paper con- 
tained the following handsome tribute to his memory : 
" Mr. Shultz was an open, generous, enterpris- 
ing and public-spirited man, always ready with his 
purse and influence to further every enterprise for 
the growth and advancement of Monmouth. Asa 
neighbor and friend he was possessed of that gen- 
uine Kentucky hospitality and frankness that made 
his home one of the most pleasant and attractive in 
the city, and none were more earnest in entertaining 
friends and company than he. To those with whom 
he vvas intimate, he was a fast and abiding friend, 
tried and true, and with them was most deservedly 
popular. The death of no citizen could be more 
universally regretted." 




. ames Kelsay, formerly a resident of Swan 
Township, was born in Kentucky in rSoc. 

^'•''' He came to Ilhnois when he was a young 
man and located in the southern portion 
of Sangamon County which, by a later divi- 

S" sion, was set off to Christian County. He oc- 
cupied his time in farming, and, in 1834, was married 
to Elizabeth Vandervere, who was born in Indi- 
ana in 1815. They continued to reside in the 
county in which they were married until the fall of 
the year succeeding In that season they removed to 
Warren County. They passed the first year in Hoyd 
Township and then fixed their residence in Swan 
Township. They bought land there and the hus- 
band erected a log house. He lost no time in mak- 
ing the improvements customary in a prairie country 
and tlie work was far advanced at the time of his 
deatii. That event occurred in August, 1844. His 
widow was his survivor 28 years, her demise occur- 
ring Aug. 28, 1872. Their children numbered six 
and there are five still living. Mary J. is the wife of 
Israel Jared and they are living in Point Pleasant 
Township. Margaret A. is married to James Jared 
and they live in Swan Township. John A. is a citi- 
zen of the township. William resides in the State of 
Missouri. S.inmel B. lives in the township where his 
father and mother resided. 

Mrs. Kelsay was married in 1847 to John Blue. 



They had three children. Cynthia is married to 
Benjamin Kidder and they also reside in Swan 
Township. Absalom V. is a citizen of Shenandoah, 
Iowa. Bailey R. lives in Nebraska. The parents 
were both members of the Baptist Church. 




illiam Spencer Almond, now deceased, 
was formerly a resident in the township of 
Point Pleasant. He was born Oct. 1 r, 
> ■ i8ri,in Louisa Co., Va. His parents re- 
\' moved in his youth to Kentucky and were 
pioneers of Warren County, that State. Wyatt 
Almond, his father, was a man of superior abilities 
and education and was a soldier in the service of 
the United States in the War of 1812. He followed 
the profession of teacher in Kentucky and was a 
resident of that State after his removal there until 
the time of his death. The name of the lady wlio 
became his wife was Susannah Ware previous to her 
marriage to him. After his death she came to Illi- 
nois and married Thomas Gunter, and finally died 
in Swan Township, this county. Five of her chil- 
dren are her survivors. A daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Watkiiis, resides in Shenandoah, Iowa. Thomas 
lives in Point Pleasant Township. William S. was 
the next in order of birth. Mrs. Emma Wade lives 
in this county. Mrs. Susan Collier resides in Ar- 
kansas. Zachariah D. is a citizen of Union Mills, 
Mahaska Co., Iowa. 

Mr. Almond, of this sketch, was brought up in the 
county in which he was born. He was married in 
Kentucky, to Miss Nancy Spradling, who was a na- 
tive of th.Tt State, and died there in 1852. She left 
six children: William Allen lives in Union Mills, 
Iowa. Martha J. is the wife of Joseph Johnson, of 
Point Pleasant Township Thomas |. is a farmer in 
the same. James W. was a soldier in the 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf., and was killed at Fort Donelson. After 
the death of his first wife, Mr. Almond was married 
to Sarah A. Hawkins. Mrs. Hawkins was born in 
Warren Co., Ky., March 3, 1818. She was the 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Meyers) Haw- 
kins. Mr. H. was an Englishman by birth and liis 
wife was a native of Virginia. They both died in 
Edmonson Co., Ky. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 



¥ 



-e-^ 



256 



WARREN COUNTY. 



JU 



Almond took place about the year 1854. She, by a 
former marriage, to Mitchell Spradliog, had four chil- 
dren : Mary F.,\vife of George Ewing, a resident of 
Mills Co., Iowa. James K. lives in Kansas. Re- 
becca, wife of L. VV. Simmons, and lives in Califor- 
nia. Angeline, wife of Weldon Worrell, and a 
resident of Mills Co., Iowa. 

The family removed to Illinois in 1852. They 
traveled with ox-teams and brought with them all 
their household belongings, and they lived in the 
gipsey fashion while on the road. Mr. Almond made 
a location in the township of Swan, where he bought 
50 acres of land on section 34, on which he lived 
four years. At the end of that time he sold the prop- 
erty there and removed to Point Pleasant Township, 
where he bought 160 acres of wild land, on section 
34. This was the homestead until the death of the 
father, which occurred May 12, 1884. All the prop- 
erty was under improvement, and the proprietor had 
increased his acreage until he was the owner of 320 
acres in that township and another considerable tract 
in Iowa. Mr. Almond had built farm structuies of a 
character suited to the farm. He was a quiet man 
and good neighbor, a member of tlie Methodist 
Church, and in political sentiment a Democrat. 

Of the second marriage which lias been mentioned 
there were three children, of whom two are living. 
They are named Andrew S. and Jesse E. The lat- 
ter was born April 30, 1859. He received his edu- 
cation in the public schools, and was married to 
Lydia J. Larkins, June 13, 1880. Mrs. Almond was 
born in Warren County, Jan. 22, i860, and is the 
daughter of Sa;nuel and Mary (Smith) Larkins. 
Wernie C. is the only surviving child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Almond. Their first child was named Ora 
Dell, and she died wh?n les, than nine months old. 
Mr. Isaac N. Almond, the youngest son by the 
former marriage, was in his second year when his 
mother died, and he was brought to Illinois by his 
father. He was trained and educated in the manner 
common to the sons of farmers, and the first import- 
ant event of his life was his marriage to Mary E. 
Waters, which took place April 23, 1876. She was 
born in Ohio, Aug. 5, 1855. Her death occurred 
March 16, i88r. In September, 1882, Mr. Almond 
was again married to Eita C. Prather. She is a 
native of Abingdon, Knox Co., III. Two children 
were born of the first marriage. Their names are 



Elvin Walter and Eva J. George C. is the name of 
the only child of the second marriage. 



-i-€#f-^ 




■ ames Smith, an agriculturist prosecuting 

^|t- his vocation on section 16, Benvick Town- 
'■'^'^ ship, was born in Greene Co., Ohio, near 



Xenia, Sept. 15, 1841, and is a son of James 
Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania and died 
about 1850, in Ohio, and whose father, Joseph 
Smith, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., about 1841, the 
year in which the subject of this sketch first saw the 
light of day. 

James Smith, at the date of his father's death, was 
but nine years of age, and accompanied his grand- 
father on his mother's side, by the name of Broad- 
stone, to this State. His grandfather came from 1 
Wales to this country, and to this State in 1850, and" 
located in Crawford County and there died. Some 1 \ 
three years later, in the spring of 1856, James, the] I 
subject, came here and located near Monmouth. "^ 

He enlisted in the war for the Union, joining Co, 
C, 83d Regt. 111. Vol. Inf , under Capt. L. B. Cutler, 
of Monmouth, and was mustered into the service in J 
that city. His regiment was ordered to Fort Henry, 
Ky., where it remained for some 25 days, and was 
then ordered to Fort Donelson, some 12 miles dis- 
tant. He participated in the fight of Fort Donelson, 
Feb. 3, 1863, and after that battle he was stationed 
at the fort until June, 1865, when he was mustered 
out at Nashville, Tenn., receiving his final discharge 
and pay at Chicago, July 5, 1865, whereuiwn he 
immediately started upon the train for his hoine in 
Monmouth Township, Warren County. 

Mr. Smith, of this notice, was united in marriage 
with Al)bie S. Pike, March 25, 1879. She was born 
June 5, 1850, in Stoughton, Mass. Her father 
Augustus H. Pike, was a native of Maine, and died 
while in the Union army, in 1861, some six months 
after he had enlisted. He married Miss Mary T. 
Soutiiworth, of the literary family of Southworths, 
who was born in Bostoi, Mass., in 1023, and died in 
Dubuque, Iowa, in 1855. Mrs. Smith was a resident 
of Galesburg, Knox Co., III., at the time of her mar- 
riage, where her western relatives live. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Pike three children were born, — Abbie S. , 



ia: 




'EvERGREEnUaV/n;'ResIDENce OF SCHUYLER PALMER.SEC/15 SPRING GROVE 




VIEW OF BUILDINGS r R O M NORTH . 







M3'=K^^^^^ 



Maple Grove^ Residence of John h .Frantz,Sec.22,Sprim8 fiROVE. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



U 



259 



Jan. 5, 1850; Mary A., Feb. 10, 1852; and Ozro, 
who died when two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith of this notice are the parents of three chil- 
dren, — Wallace R., born Dec. 31, 1880; Winihrop 
G., Dec. 29, 1882; and Glen D., March 12, 1885. 
Mr. Smith moved on the place where he now resides 
in March, 1884. This place he had purchased the 
year previous. He is there actively engaged in the 
vocation of an agriculturist, meeting with success. 
In 'politics, he is a believer in and a supporter of the 
principles advocated by the Republic.xn party. 



4 



-f3- 



-£S- 




^chuyler Palmer, a resident on section 15 
of Spring Grove Township, is a pioneer of 
Warren County of 1845. He is one of 
the leading farmers of the township and has 
reached prominence through the extensive 
business relations he has established in the 
county. He was born Nov. 24, 1831, in the province 
of Ontario, Canada, and is the son of Wilkinson and 
Nancy (Hurd) Palmer. His parents were born in 
the same portion of the country as himself. The 
father was born of parents of New York origin and 
those of the mother were originally from the State 
of Vermont. The ancestors of the latter were orig- 
inally from Connecticut and later from New Jersey, 
and later still from New York. The father of Mr. 
Palmer removed with his wife and children to White- 
side Co., 111., in 1842. Here they made their home 
in the vicinity of Prophetstown until the year named 
as that in which their removal to Warren County was 
effected. On coming to this county they located 
in Hale Township, where the father rented land un- 
til 185 I, when a tract of 80 acres of land was pur- 
chased. It was wholly unbroken and the first 
move made was to build a house for the accommo- 
dation of the family. It was made of logs and was 
occupied for the purpose for which it was constructed 
three or four years. The family then took posses- 
sion of a new frame house which the father built on 
the homestead. Prosperity attended him in his busi- 
ness relations, and he was soon enabled to make 
other purchases until he became the owner of 200 
acres of land, a portion of which was located in 
Henderson County. His death occurred in July 



J., 



1878, and that of his wife some years previous. 
Eight of their 1 1 children are now living. Sarah is 
the wife of Jeremiah Young. They are residents of 
Ida Co., Iowa. Ira A. lives in Ringgold Co., Iowa 
Minard resides in the same State, in the county of 
Harrison. George W. is a farmer in Hale Town- 
ship. Manada A. is married to B. C. Darrah, of 
Henderson Co., Iowa. Eliza lives in Pottawatomie 
County, in that State. William is a resident of Otoe 
Co., Neb. 

Until he became himself the head of a family by 
marriage, Mr. Palmer was a member of the house- 
hold of his father and mother. His marriage to 
Lucy A. Mills took place Dec. 25, 1856. She was 
born in Henderson County and is the daughter of 
William H. and Lucretia (Morris) Mills, who were 
early settlers in the county where their daughter was 
born. Williain H. Mills, the father of Mrs. Palmer, 
was a native of New Jersey, but when five years of 
age his parents removed to Dearborn Co., Ind., lo- 
cating near Lawrenceburg, where he became a farmer, 
William H. there grew to manhood, and, in 1836, 
married Lucretia Morris. Three years later he moved 1 
to Henderson Co., 111., and settled upon a farm in"' 
Greenville Township, where they now reside. Here 
Mrs. Palmer was reared, and received her education 
in the neighboring district school. She was born in a' 
log cabin two miles west of where her parents now 
reside. Her mother was a native of Eastern Penn- 
sylvania, and is of Scotch parentage. Her mother's 
p.xrents were Amos and Johanna Morris. William 
H. Mills' parents, the paternal grandparents of Mrs. 
Palmer, were Cyrus and Nancy Mills. 

About the time of his marriage Mr. Palmer bought 
the northeast quarter of section i of Spring Grove 
Township, which is now the site of that part of 
Alexis that is in Warren County. It had never 
been cultivated in any sense, being still in its orig- 
inal condition of wild prairie land. He built a 
house on the north line of the county and made the 
first improvement on the place in the spring of 1856. 
This was previous to his marriage. He bought the 
farm in the fall preceding. He made the usual im- 
provements, and that place was his home and field ' 
of operation until his removal to the farm on wliicli 
he has lived since the spring of 1867. At that lime 
he sold the place of which he was the first owner 
and has since occupied the property on sections 10 
and 15. There was already a good house on the 



^ 



4 



26o 



. T. Y. ■ "~ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



--4^ 



southwest of the section first named and this was 
the family abode until the fall of the same year 
in which they took possession of it, when it was 
destroyed by fire. They moved to another house 
which had been erected on the farm, which they 
occupied until 1871, when Mr. Palmer built the 
frame house in which they now live and which is 
situated on section 15. He has also increased the 
value and appearance of his estate by building other 
suitable and excellent farm structures, which are 
without doubt the most substantial in .Sprinu; Grove 
Township, and among the finest in Warren County. 
We are pleased to be able to present a view of these 
on page 258. He is the owner of 400 acres of land, 
and, in addition to the common business of farming, 
is engaged in raising Durham cattle of extra grade. 

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have 1 1 children. Mary E. 
is the oldest. Alice J. is the wife of Charles Gal- 
laugher, who is a resident of Ringgold Co., Iowa. 
Lillian married Fred L. Gilmore, who lives on sec- 
tion 9, Spring Grove Township. A sketch of the 
parents of Mr. Gilmore may be found on another 
page of this work. Effie A. is married to Robert 
Armstrong, of Spring Grove Township. The younger 
and unmarried children are named Henry W., Myron 
G., Mattie, Lura, Eva, Kate and George W. 

Mr. Palmer is a Democrat in his political views, 
and has held the office of Road Commissioner for 17 
years. Mrs. Palmer became a member of the Bap- 
tist Church at the age of 13 years, and in 1869 Mr. 
Palmer also became a member of the same Church. 
Three of their eldest daughters are connected with 
the Baptist Church, while the next three younger 
are members of the Church of God. 



^^ 




■ ohn Wingate, a well-known and highly re- 
j^' spected farmer of Greenbush Township, who 
is actively engaged in the cultivation of his 
excellent farm, was born Feb. i, 18 15, in 
Maine, and is the son of Edmund Wingate, a 
native of that State. His father was united in 
marriage with Rebecca VVhitney, also a native of 
Maine, and they had four children, — Hannah, 
Daniel, John and Lydia. John Wingate, subject of 
this biographical notice, came to this State in the 
fall of 1838. He was married to Miss Annis Dibble, 



March 5, 1844. She was born in Chenango Co., N. 
Y., March i, 1820. Her father, John Dibble, was a 
soldier in the war of [812. In 18 19 he married 
Martha Brown, who was born in New York in 1801. 
Of her parents' union five children, Annis, Eliza- 
beth, Erastus P., Laura A. and Thomas, were born. 
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wingate of this notice, 
five children have been born, namely: John J. 
(deceased), Ann Eliza (deceased), Arthur L., Ella 
and Eva. 

Mr. Wingate, with his wife and children, are pleas- 
antly situated on their fine farm of 250 acres, all of 
which is under an advanced state of cultivation. He 
has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Town- 
ship Cerk, Assessor and Treasurer of the School 
Board for 39 years. In pi)litics he votes with the 
Deirfocratic party. What he has of this world's 
goods, he has accumulated with his own strong 
hands and the active co-operation of his good help- 
meet, and is passing the sunset of his life in peace 
and quiet at his pleasant home on section 20. 



^«8-^^ 




illiam T. Boyd, a farmer on section 1 1, in 
__ i»jjo ''is township of Point Pleasant, is a na-' 
^^^^ ' five of the State of Indiana. He was born 

1' in Jefferson Township in Greene County, 
Oct. 7, 1845. Thomas H. Boyd, his father, 

was born in Kentucky. The place of the birth 
of the latter was Baih County and the occurrence 
was dated June 4, 18 1 2. He was the eldest son of 
Drury B. and Elizabeth (Hurd) Boyd, of whom a 
sketch is presented elsewhere in this work. His pa- 
rents removed to Greene Co., Ind., when he was 13, 
and there he passed the years that intervened be- 
tween that period and his removal to Warren Co., 111. 
His father was a carpenter by trade and he worked 
with him both at that Ijusiness and as an assistant 
in the clearing of the farm. April 3, r838, he was 
married to Margaret Jones. She was born in New 
Berry District, in the State of South Carolina, Jan. 
17, r8i8, and was the daughter of Benson and Pris- 
cilla (O'Neil) Jones. The families of her parents 
were both of the same Slate in which the daughter 
was born. In 1819 they removed to Indiana and 
were early settlers in Greene County. Their home 



r 



■c T _L 



. .Y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



!?—«- 



36t 



if 



was there until 1847, when they made another trans- 
fer of their interests to Illinois. They came to War- 
ren County to seek a place lor a peimanent home 
and at the time their family included three children. 
They came from iheir abode in the Hoosier State 
with oxen and horse teams and three wagons. They 
were in fair circumstances and they brought with 
them their household belongings. After a journey of 
three weeks duration they halted in Henderson 
County, where they remained three months. At the 
expiration of that time they removed to Ellison^ 
where they rented land and resided until the 
year which has been mentioned as that in which 
they removed to the township in which their son re- 
sides. The senior Boyd bought a tract of unim- 
proved prairie land on what was then " town 8,'' and 
now bears its present " Pleasant " name. The father 
erected a small frame house in which the family 
could find shelter until he should be able to build 
such a structure as their necessities demanded. He 
Tat once proceeded to the work of improving the place 
and put it in excellent condition. He added to and 
.rebuilt the house, and erected a frame barn. The 
= place was well supplied with trees of the varie- 
' ties common to the locality and was all enclosed. 
Mr. Boyd lived to see his township fully developed. 
■His demise occurred on his farm, March i, 1877. 
His widow is still his survivor and is the occupant of 
the homestead. Drnry B., John J., William T. and 
Gary are the names of their sons. Priscilla, the 
only daughter, is the wife of Andrew Woodward and 
they are residing on the homestead with their mother. 
When his parents came to Illinois, Mr. Boyd, of 
this sketch, was an infant of 18 months. Conse- 
quently, he is to all purposes a native citizen of the 
township of which he is now a resident and in which 
he has been a continuous inhabitant ever since. He 
was trained in the profession of a farmer and was a 
pupil in the common schools during the early years 
in which he was busy in obtaining his education. 
Later, he was a student at Cherry Grove Seininary at 
Abingdon, where he attended three terms. At the 
age of 19 he engaged in teaching and filled his first 
terra of school in District No. 6, in the same town- 
ship where he was brought up. He also taught one 
term in addition and that was the extent of his oper- 
ations as a pedagogue. He has passed the remainder 
of his life of activity in the pursuit of a farnrer. 
Oct. I, 1868, he was joined in marriage to Sqsan 



F. Dean. She was born in Levifistown, Fulton Co., 
III., Sept. I, 1849, and is the daughter of Michael 
and Susan (Cummings) Dean. Her father was born 
in Kentucky and her mother was a native of Scot- 
land. They were pioneers of Fulton County and are 
now living in Warren County. 

Mr. Boyd located on the farm on which he is now 
residing at the time of his marriage. It is situated 
on the northeast quarter of the section which has 
been mentioned. One child — Jennie May, has been 
born to the household. Mrs. Boyd is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is a Demo- 
crat. He was Supervisor for three terms. 



#^<- 



.^^ M ehu Bailey came to Illinois in 1855. In 
JI^Shk' the same year he located in Warren Coun- 
•^^ ty, and has therefore lived within the same 
1',^ municipality 30 years. He was born in York 
V Co., Pa., Feb. 14, 1823. Charles Bailey, his 
i father, was also a native citizen of the Key- 
stone State. The family name of the mother of Mr. 
Bailey was Davis. He was deprived of her care 
when he was about four years of age and from that 
time was the charge of an older sister. She was the 
manager of the domestic affairs of the household un- 
til she was married, which event transpired about 
four years after the removal of their mother by death 
He lived with his sister until he was 14, when he 
undertook the solution of the problem of self-main- 
tenance. He learned the trades of cooper and 
plasterer, which he followed winters and summers 
alternately in Cumberland Co., Pa., for some years. 
He was there married to Frances Swiler, Dec. 25, 
1846. She was born in the same county Feb. 22, 
1827. They lived thereuntil 1850, when they re- 
moved to Ohio and were residents in Hancock 
County until the year in which they came to Illinois. 
While there, Mr. Bailey was engaged in the business 
of plasterer and he also operated as a farmer. In 
the fall of 1855 he set out with his family for an 
overland trip to the West, journeying in the common 
manner. They passed 2 1 days on the road between 
Ohio and Warren County. Soon after his arrival, 
Mr. Bailey bought 160 acres of land on section ri 
in the safpe township in which he is now a property 

A ' . 



t* 



-t4-r:?! 



JU 



362 



WARREN COUNTY. 



holder. It had been previously occupied, and there 
was a log house for the accommodation of the family 
and 20 acres of the land had been broken. Mr. 
Bailey continued the purchase of land until he was 
at one time the owner of more than 400 acres. The 
buildings and stock on the place are of excellent 
type. 

In political faith Mr. Bailey is a Republican. In 
former days he was a Whig, and passed through the 
phases of the changes between that party and the 
one to which he at present belongs. He has been 
Assessor and Collector of Spring Grove Township. 
He and his wife are members of the Church of God. 
and he is an Elder in the local organization. 

The record of the children of the family is as fol- 
lows : Ira, the oldest son, is a farmer in Nemaha 
Co., Kan. Agnes is the wife of William I'ostlewait, 
of Spring Grove Township. Jacob and Lincoln re- 
side in the same township and are married. Harry 
lives at home with his parents. 




4 



^^ 



fruman Eldridg, one of the pioneer settlers 
of Warren County, and a gentleman possess- 
ing more tlian ordinary ability as a busi- 
ness man, with a large amount of practical 
knowledge obtained by actual experience, 
who at present resides at Roseville, is a native 
of Massachusetts, having been born in Hancock, 
Berkshire Co., that State, April 24, 1808. The pa- 
rents of Mr. Eldridg, Thomas and Rachel (Hall) 
Eldridg, were natives of Massachusetts. Thomas 
Eldridg, Sr., together with his wife, the grandparents, 
moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts at an 
early day. They made their way thither on horse- 
back by means of blazed trees wiiich were marked to 
indicate the road. Thomas, Sr., followed the voca- 
tion of a farmer, and, with his wife, continued to re- 
side there until their death. Thomas Eldridg, Jr., 
the son of Thomas, Sr., and wife, lived in Berkshire 
Co., Mass., until about 1845, when they moved and 
located in Rensselaer County, he following the oc- 
cupation of a farmer in that county until his death. 
His wife also died in that county. They were the 
parents of nine children, six sons and three daugh- 
ters, all of whom grew to attain the age of manhopd 



and womanhood. Their names were Heman, James 
H., Thomas B., Truman, Norman A., Nathaniel A., 
Thyerressa G., Elvira S. and Mary. Three of them, 
Truman, Norman and Nathaniel are yet living. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this biographical notice was the fourth in order of 
birth of his father's family. He remained at home 
until 21 years old, alternating his labors on the 
farm with attendance at the common schools. After 
leaving the parental roof-tree he worked out, laying 
stone walls and taking such jobs as he could pro- 
cure to obtain a livelihood. At 20 years of age, be- 
fore leaving the old homstead, he commenced teach- 
ing school during winters, and was occupied in that 
vocation for five seasons. He then engaged in part- 
nership with a gentleman in a country store, his 
partner being Erastus Brojvn, at North Stephentown, 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y., which partnership existed 
for three years, when Mr. Eldridg sold his interest 
and, in 1836, came to this State and county. On ar- 
rival here he " took up " 240 acres of land near Hat 
Grove, on which he remained for about three months. 
He then returned to South Willianistown, Berkshire 
Co., Mass., and engaged in the mercantile business, 
which he followed for about two years, until the first 
of September, 1838. He then returned to this county 
determined to make it his permanent abiding place, 
and during the winter of i8'38 stopped at Swan 
Creek. He went into the woods, cut down his tim- 
ber and hewed and framed the same, preparatory to 
the erection of a residence. lie then hauled it four 
miles to his prairie farm and the 2d day of April, 
1839, raised the then palace residence of Warren 
County. It was 24 X 24 feet in dimensions and one 
and a half stories in height, and was at that time con- 
sidered a most magnificent residence for the then 
undeveloped portion of Warren County. Mr. Eld- 
ridg at once engaged actively and energetically upon 
the task of improving his farm, determined to make 
it his permanent abiding place for all time to come, 
and improve and beautify it until it became one of 
the most pleasant homes, as it has, in this part of 
the county. When Mr. Eldridg came here in 1839 
tiie country was new and undeveloped, at one point 
of the compass his nearest neighbor being three 
miles and the other 12 miles. He nevertheless had 
great faith in the future development of the country 
and resolved to " stick it out," which he did, and by 
so doing succeeded in accumulating a competency, 



■±1A1 



¥ 




r7r.J-. 




'K^ 










a^^ym2^o^(:^G^4^ 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



367 



%¥ 



In this, the sunset of his life, while his hair is 
streaked with silver threads of years past and gone, 
he looks back to those pioneer days with no small 
degree of pleasure. 

The marriage of Mr. Eldridg to Miss Alma Jones, 
occurred Jan. 12, 1839. She was a native of Rens- 
selaer Co., N. Y., having been born in that State, 
April 2, 1808, the same year as her husband ; and be 
it said to her credit that during the trials of the past 
and tlie privations incident to the early settlement of 
a new country, she bore her part with that womanly 
fortitude of which she is characteristic. Of their 
union o;ie child was born, — Irene E., who became 
the wife of Edwin R. Smith, of Monmouth. He died 
in 1867, leaving one daughter, — Edna B; Mr. and 
Mrs. Eldridg adopted Flora A. Jones, who became 
the wife of Dr. H. E. Aylsworth, and by him she 
had three children, — Murray, Mabel and Iran. Dr. 
Aylsworth died in 1865. 

Mr. aiid Mrs. Eldridg are members of the Baptist 
Church, as are likewise both of their daughters. Mr. 
Eldridg was the the first Postmaster in the village 
of Roseville, which was originally called Hat Grove. 
)*■ In politics he is a believer in and a supporter of the 
principles of the Republican party, and has held 
offices within the gift of the citizens of his township. 
He has been the owner since he came to this county 
of three quarter-sections of land, a portion of which 
he has sold, and a portion has been incorporated 
within the limits of the village of Roseville. 




illiam P. Sykes, deceased, formerly a 
farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 
'->-) 9, Monmouth Township, was born in the 
'' city of Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 11, 1805. 
Mr. Sykes was the son of Henry Sykes, a 
native of England, who emigrated to the United 
States in company with two brothers some years 
previous to his marriage. He was accidentally killed 
by falling from the top of a house in Philadelphia, 
which accident occurred when William P. was but a 
small child. The mother of the subject of this notice 
died in Philadelphia, Aug. 29, 1835. 
Tlie gentleman whose name stands at the head of 



this biographical notice, was the youngest in order of 
birth of his parents' five children. After the death of 
his father, which, as stated, occurred when he was 
quite young, William P. lived with his mother, attend- 
ing the common schools and assisting in her mainten- 
ance, until his marriage. In his early years he had 
learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, at which he 
worked, obtaining remuneration sufficient to enable 
him to procure the necessities of life and support his 
mother, and amass a property worth $3,000. At his 
death he had property valued at $40,000 

He was married in Lancaster Co., Pa., to Jane 
Ramble, daughter of a respected and wealthy miller 
of Lancaster County. Some 15 months after his 
marriage and after one child had been born to them, 
Mrs. Sykes died, the date thereof being 1828, her 
child having preceded her to the land of the here- 
after. 

Mr. Sykes had learned his trade with a Mr. Eagle 
in Lancaster Co., Pa., and about 1825 engaged in 
the business of undertaker, which he followed for 
some years, meeting with success. Eight years after 
the death of his first wife, Mr. Sykes was again mar- 
ried in Salisbury Township, Lancaster Co., Pa., the 
date in which he formed a union with Miss Anna C. 
Linville being Dec. 29, 1836. She was a daughter 
of Arthur and Elizabeth (Haines) Linville, who re-, 
sided in Lancaster County the major portion of their 
lives, and where her father was engaged in the voca- 
tion of farming. Her father was appointed Justice of 
the Peace for Lancaster County by Gov. Rittner. 
He died in this county Nov. 29, 1857, aged 65 years; 
his wife dying in Logan Co., Ohio, Sept. |ii, 1846, 
aged 50 years. Mrs. Sykes' brother, Jacob H. Lin- 
ville, of Philadelphia, is one of the celebrated civil 
engineers of the present day, having assisted to con- 
struct the St. Louis and Brooklyn bridges. He is 
now President of the Keystone Bridge Company. 

Mrs. Sykes, wife of the subject of this notice, was 
born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Aug. 25, 1819. She re- 
ceived a good education in the common schools, and 
was brought up under the influence of the doctrines 
of the Presbyterian Church, to which denomination 
her parents belong. Mrs. S. was the eldest child 
but one in order of birth of a family of 11 children. 
About one year after the birth of their first child, 
William A., who was born Oct. 16, 1837, and died in 
Warren County in 1853, at the age of 16 years, they 
carne West, settling upon a farm of 1 60 acres, wl>ic|> 




'XL 



-^ 



*t 



t68 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



h;\d formerly belonged to General Harding. On this 
place, Mr. .Sykes at once went to work with a view 
to makhig it an abiding place for himself and family 
for all lime to come. He added to his landed pos- 
sessions but disposed subsequently of his additional 
purchases and at the time of his death was the owner 
of 160 acres of g)od farm land. Mrs. Sykes, since 
the death of her husband, has increased her acreage 
ii\ the county by purchasing 87 acres on section 17, 
the same township, which is also under a high state 
ol cultivation, and she is also the owner of 240 acres 
of well improved land in Nebraska. The homestead 
farii) on which she resides is under an advanced 
stale of cultivation and has a good residence, to- 
gether with substantial outbuildings \.\\>ox\ it. 

Mr. S. .while living, was honored with all the minor 
offices within the gift of the people of his township, 
and politically, was a supporter of the principles ad- 
vocated by the Republican party. He was a well- 
respected and honored citizen 0/ Warren County, 
and like his wife, who then as she is still, was an 
active member in support of the Presbyterian 
("luirch. His death occurred Dec. 13, 1875. A 
second child was born of their union — Charles L., 
the date of his birth being Jan. 17, 1855. His 
demise occurred Dec. 16, 1871. 

Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Sykes and a view of 
their homestead are shown on other pages of this 
work. 



-«Cg>:4- 




It 

k lof Bengtson, deceased, of the township of 

M| Spring Grove, was a native of Sweden, and 
!^J^ was born in Christianstadt, Dec. 5, 1823. 
He a;is reared a farmer and was well educated 
in the common schools t)f the province where 
he was born. The town was several miles 
distant liom the farm on which he was born and 
brought up, and wjien he was 17 he succeeded to 
the entire charge of the homestead estate. Soon 
afier entering upon the duties of the position, he 
opened a store and sup[)lied the adjoining commun- 
ity with groceries. He continued this line of traffic 
as long as he remained in the land of his birth. 

In 1853 he left his native land to come to the 
.\merican Continent. He sailed thence »nd after a 



*x 



voyage of seven weeks he landed at the port of New 
York. He made no tarry there but came directly to 
Illinois. He made a stay of a few months in Knox 
County and came thence to Monmouth. He con- 
tinued in that place until 1856, when he bought 160 
acres of land on section 11 in Spring Grove Town- 
ship. It was in a wholly unimproved condition, and 
he at on< e built a shanty for a shelter and proceeded 
to the work of putting the land in a satisfactory con- 
dition. He was at the time a single man, and as 
long as he remained such he discharged the duties 
of his domestic establishment after a pattern of his 
own. He was married May 3, 1857. to .Anna Rem, 
daughter of Nils and Caroline Rem. She is a native 
of the eastern part of Sweden, where she was born 
in 1837. She came to this country in 1855. Im- 
mediately after their union in marriage they com- 
menced their house-keeping in the board house 
which had been the home of the husband during the 
days of his bachelorhood, and which they occupied 
eight years. Meanwhile Mr. Bengtson had bought 
the northwest quarter of section 14 in the same 
township, and at the expiration of the time named 
he moved his family there. He improved all the 
land he had at first purchased and fenced it. He 
erected a good frame house on the land he bought 
secondarily, and that was his home until his death, 
which transpired July 18, 1885. He was one of the 
most successful farmers in the township and accu- 
mulated territory until he was the owner of 5 15 acres 
of land, which was all situated in the same township 
where he at first became a land-holder. He was 
from first to last engaged in mixed farming. Polit- 
ically, he was a radical Republican, ai.d after be- 
coming a citizen of this State he was fearless in the 
advocacy of his principles and always acted con- 
sistently with his convictions. 

To him and his surviving wife six children were 
born, four of whom lived to realize the condition of 
the fatherless. Minnie is married to Nels A. Hol- 
mer. Her husband is a native of Christianstadt, 
Sweden, and was born March 13, 1862. He con- 
tinued to reside in his native country until he had 
reached manhood, and in 1880 he came to America. 
He set out from home March 10, and celebrated his 
birthday on the North Sea. After landing at New 
York he came immediately to \Varren County. He 
was married .Aug 22, 1884. Their children are 
I Anna and Alma. They reside with the widowed 
A • 



¥ 






4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



A_ T > 



269 



mother on the Beiigtson homestead. Edward, Carrie 
and Harry are the names of the remaining children 
who are the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Hohner. 



^ll)fl|tsrael Jared, of Point Pleasant Township, is 
If one of the leading agriculturists of Warren 
T County. He is the owner of a consider- 
able tract of land in the township in which he 
is a resident, and also of a considerable acre- 
age in Swan Township. His residence is on 
section 23. 

Mr. Jared was born in Bedford Co., Va., Aug. 5, 
1829. His father, John Jared, was born in the same 
county, in 1795. The latter grew to the age and 
ambitions of manhood in the county where he was 
born, and where he was married, to Elizabeth Bandy. 
She was born in the same county, in 1800, and was 
therefore but 14 when she became a wife in 1814. 
They remained in the "old Dominion" until 1830, 
when they emigrated to Kentucky. They resided in 
Breckenridge County, in that State, until 1835, when 
they came to Morgan Co., 111. They passed a year 
there and at the end of a twelvemonth they came to 
Warren County, landing May 6, 1836. They settled 
on a tract of land in Swan Township, which was 
designated " patent " land. It was situated on sec- 
tion 5, and they also purchased a piece of limber on 
section 8. On the former a log house was built, 
which had clapboards for a roof and a puncheon 
floor. The chimney was built outside and was con- 
structed of earth and sticks of wood. The death of 
John Jared occurred in the pioneer home, in May, 
1844. His widow was the occupant of the place 
until hei death, .April 1, 1879. Of their family of 13 
children nine are still living. Ruth is married to 
John Simmons and they are located in Nodaway Co., 
Mo.; Joseph resides in Hamilton, same State; John 
lives in Allen Co., Kan. ; Thomas is located in Rose- 
ville. 111.; Mr. Jared, of this sketch, is next in order 
of birth; Benjamin F, who was Second Lieutenant 
in the late war, lives in Wayne Co., Iowa; James is 
a farmer in Swan Townshi]); Elizabeth married A. 
L. Bair, of Allen Co., Kan.; and Miriam L. is the 
wife of Caleb Bair, of Roseville, 111. The children 



of John Jared- who are deceased, were: William, 
who died in 1873, in his 69th year, leaving four chil- 
dren; George, who died in his 12th year: Polly Ann, 
wife of James C. Kinerick, who died in r868, in her 
40th year, leaving six children; and Agnes, wife of 
Thomas Bair, who died Aug. 8, i87i,in her 34111 
year, leaving four children. 

Mr. Jared was a child in his mother's arms and 
was only six months old when the removal to Ken- 
tucky was made. He was but six years of age when 
the family came to VVarren County, and was 15 when 
his father died. He has consequently been a resi- 
dent of Warren County since 1836. He remained 
in the family of his mother until he went to Califor- 
nia, in 1852. On the i6th of April of that year he 
set out for the land of gold and crossed the plains 
with an ox team, carrying a load of provisions and 
camping on the ronte. The company comprised 
Joseph Jared, D. K. Michael, Wm. Roger.s, the sub- 
ject of this sketch and B. F. Jared. Wm. Rogers died 
on the plains, from cholera, and was buried there. 
Cholera made its appearance among them and many 
of the company lost their lives. After four months 
of travel the remainder of the party arrived at Placer-*; 
ville, which then rejoiced in the significant name ofl 1 
Hangtown. Mr. Jared remained there six years andj ' 
passed the first four vears in mining and the nextj 
two in the business of a farmer. In 1858 he returned . 
to the East, via the Isthmus of Panama and thence 
to New York and then home. 

He resumed farming as soon as he was fairly at 
home in Warren County, locating von land he had 
bought before leaving for California. After a resi- 
dence on it of about 16 years, he sold out and lo- 
cated on the farm which he has since occupied in 
the township of Point Pleasant. He bought the 
property in 1862, and at that lime it consisted of 
wild prairie and timber. 'The farm is all improved, 
and is well supplied with good buildings. He is the 
owner of 470 acres in the township where he resides 
and of I [5 acres in Swan Township, of which he has 
retained the ownership since it became his property. 

His marriage to Mary J. Kelsey took place Dec. 
15, 1859. The sketch of the parents of Mrs. Jared 
is given in full on another page, and the credit of its 
appearance in this work is due to Mr. Jared, who 
has presented the items relating to the family of his 
wife. The latter was born in Sangamon Co., 111., 
Oct. I, 1835. Their five children are named Leenora 



r 



!?-4-^ 



»7« 



WARREN COUNTY. 



A., Allen E., George B., Israel K. and Roy L. James 
Albert died in his second year, Leon H. died in 
childhood, and Lilborn E. died in his fourth year. 

The parents are members of the Universalist So- 
ciety at Swan Creek, and Mr. Jared is a Democrat in 
his political sentiments. 



^^ 




awrence H. Gilmore is a resident on sec- 
tion 34, Spring Grove Township, and has 
been a citizen of Warren County since 
1833. In that year his parents. Col. Robert 
rS and Maria (Pilgrim) Gilmore (see sketch of 
Col. Robert Gilmore in biography of J. T. Gil- 
more), removed from Jefferson Co., Ohio, to Warren 
. Co., 111. The son was born in the former county 
April II, 1830, and was but three years of age when 
the family of which he was a small member located 
in the township where he is now a part of the busi- 
ness element. 

Mr. Gilmore had only the advantages of the pio- 
neer home and log scliool-house, and attained to ihe 
age of independent manhood in Warren County. He 
was born in a log house, schooled in a log house and 
lived in a log house until he built his present resi- 
dence in 1S54. His initial business enterprise on his 
own responsibility was the securing of a pre-emption 
claim in Spring Grove Township in 1851. It is the 
same on which he is now situated, on section 34. He 
had little available means, and lie was obliged to 
borrow the balance of the purchase money beyond 
the amount of his small savings. In 1854 he built a 
small frame house on his property and at the same 
time commenced the work of improvement. He was 
until that year a member of the family of his father. 
From the little beginning made by Mr. Gilmore in 
1854 his possessions have swelled until his real es- 
tate comprises more than 1,000 acres of land, all in 
advanced agricultural condition, 840 acres of which 
is in Spring Grove Township and 160 acres in Lenox 
Township. The acreage is divided into several 
farms, which are managed by himself and his sons. 
In 1857 Mr. Gilmore commenced to raise stock and 
since that date has operated in all the avenues of 



mixed farming. He raises grain and stock, the lat- 
ter including horses, hogs and cattle. 

Politically, Mr. Gilmore adheres to the faith of the 
Democratic party. He served his township as Super- 
visor for II or 12 years, and it is said of him that he 
made a very excellent officer and did much to pro- 
mote the welfare of his township. 

Nov. 9, 1854, he was joined in marriage to Sarah 
A. Forwood, who was born July 19, 1 831, in Harvard 
Co., Md., and is the daughter of William W. For- 
wood. (See sketch of him in the biography of his son, 
Benjamin F., on another page.) The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, six in number, are named 
Clarence M., Frederick L., Frank E., George F., 
Rosa L. and Sarah B. They all reside at home ex- 
cept Clarence M., and Frederick L., the second son, 
who is married to Lillian, daughter of Schuyler 
Palmer, of Spring Grove Township. Her parents 
were pioneers of this county and are represented by 
a sketch in another part of this volume. He became 
a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Mon- 
mouth in 1856, his wife having been a member 
since 1852. For many years he has been a Trustee 
of the congregation and for the last five years has < 
held the responsible position of Elder. He has ever ' 
been ready to advance the cause of religion and 
morality in his section of the country. Three of his 
children are also members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 



^iFwflfe-asper M. Dull, farmer, residing upon sec- 

JI^^SlT tion 8, Hale Township, i.s a native of 

eJjIjpV' " ■•■' •'" ' • 1^ — " K«-.. ;.. M:fln;., 

hiu ,v. r.- o.._. _g22^ When Mr. Dull was 



life Co., Pa., Sept. 4, I 
^ five years old and a 

* nir»lVi(*r ninu^rl fn 



after his father's death, his 
mother moved to Greene Co., Ohio, where 
Casper M. resided until 1851, being engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. His years prior to attaining his 
majority were passed on the farm and in attend- 
ance at the common schools. In 1851 Mr. Dull came 
to this county and joined with the farmers of Hale 
Township in their efforts to establish a permanent 
home for themselves and family. ■ He became a 
citizen of that township by the purchase of 160 acres 
of land and by moving his family upon the same. 




^ 



■Y. . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



-^r^^ 



«73 



He at once engaged actively upon its cultivation 
and improvement, and has there resided until the 
present time, having developed his land until the 
major portion thereof is in an advanced State of 
cultivation. 

June 5, 1861, in Greene Co., Ohio, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Margaret Stevenson, who 
was a native of the same county and State in which 
she was married, having been born there Dec. 25, 
1832. Of their marriage, two children, a son and 
a daughter, have been born, — Florence J. and 
Calvin M., who reside at home. In politics, Mr. 
Dull is independent. 

The parents of Casper M. Dull were Benjamin 
and Nancy (Junkiu) Dull, natives of the Keystone 
State. They married and settled in that State, 
where his father died, his mother afterwards remov- 
ing to Greene Co., Ohio, from which State she came 
to this county- with the subject of this notice, and 
here died, at the age of 74, in February, 1876. She 
was the daughter of Major John and Catharine 
(Kirkpatrick) Stevenson. The Major was a native of 
Virginia and a soldier in the War of 181 2. He went 
with his parents to Kentucky, where he grew up and 
was married about 1809 or 1810. They were mar- 
ried in their native State and immediately afterwards 
moved to Ohio, where he was a farmer and resided 
until his death. He had 12 children, of whom Mrs. 
Dull was the youngest. 



'^^'^+-*'*^ 



^N 



■ > w*^ 



Ife^harles Torrance, one of the leading and 
llF well known farmers of the township of 




K>"*" Point Pleasant, came to Warren County 
fe) in 1868, and settled in that township. He is 
*"W the owner of 320 acres of excellent farm land 
and is closely identified with the development 
of the agricultural resources of the county. 

Mr, Torrance was born in the town of Jay, Essex 
Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1834. Riley Torrance, his 
father, was a native of Bennington, Vt., and was 
born May 13, 1801, only 13 years after the admis- 
sion of that State to the Union. John Torrance, the 
father of the latter, removed from Bennington, Vt., 
to Essex Co., N. Y., in 1808, and was one of the 



earliest of the white settlers there. He purchased 
a large tract of timber land, upon which he cleared 
a farm. He was a resident there when the War of 
r8i2 was declared, and lie enlisted in the service to 
protect what had cost the colonists so much to se- 
cure. He remained on the Essex County farm' until 
his death. The name of the lady he married was 
Ruth Hurd. They had nine children, eight of the 
number living to become the heads of families. 

The father of Mr. Torrance of this sketch was but 
seven years of age when his parents removed to the 
northern portion of the Empire State, and he was 
reared there on the farm of his father. He married 
I.ydia Foulton, who was born at Plattsburg, Clinton 
Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1804, a place where some of the 
stirring scenes of the War of 1812 were enacted. 
Her father had died previous to that war. Her 
mother was the only woman that refused to leave 
the place at the time of the battle of Plattsburg. 
She said she was needed there and would remain 
and render all the assistance in her power. And 
she carried out her resolution. 

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Torrance settled 
on a portion of the land which his father had pur- . 
chased in the town of Jay and continued its occu-; 
pant until 1865. In that year he removed to Illinois, 
accompanied by his wife, and they passed the re-' 
mainder of their lives in the household of their son 
Charles. They were not long separated in their 
deaths, as that of the mother occurred Oct. 27, 1873, 
and the father died May 28, 1874, following the wife 
of his youth to the grave seven months after she 
had been placed within that retreat of peace and 
rest. They were the parents of 16 children, and of 
that number 13 grew to mature years, nine of whom 
are still living. 

While in his early youth, Mr. Torrance of this 
sketch attended the common schools in the winter 
and operated as the assistant of his father in the 
summer. He remained in Essex County until 1858, 
when he turned toward the setting sun to seek a 
place where there was a reasonable prospect of win- 
ning the smiles of the fickle goddess, fortune. He 
came to Warren County and obtained a position as 
a farm hand. In the spring of 1859, accompanied 
by a party who pjjsessed similar intentions, he set 
out for what was just then the land of promise — 
Pike's Peak. The company made their way across 
the plains with ox teams. They found, before they 



' X — 




«74 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4* 



arrived at their destination, that the stories that had 
lured ihem away from their homes were rather 
mytliical, and as they received positive proof of the 
futiHty of the hopes that incit^ tliem, they turned 
their faces again toward the land of certainties. 
They arrived in Henderson County in the fall of the 
same year. Mr. Torrance rented land there and 
continued to operate it in that m.mner until 1868, 
when he came to the township of Point Pleasant. 
He bought land on section 17 and made a perma- 
nent location thereon. He has since been eminently 
successful and his farm is justly ranked, in propor- 
tion to its value, as one of the most desirable and 
best managed in tiie toivnship. We present a view 
of his residence with its pleasant surroundings on 
page 272. 

Mr. Torrance is a stanch Republican in his polit- 
ical relations, and has always been consistent in his 
actions. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

He was united in marriage to Margaret Hindman, 
May 18, 1871. She was born in Green Co!, Ind., 
and is the daughter of Joshua and Lucinda (Hughen) 
Hindman. Four daughters are now included in the 
household. Their respective names are Bertha, 
Carrie, Laura and Hallie. 



^1 



his demise, which his widow is controlling at the 
present time. She has erected a fine residence and 
all other necessary outbuildings on her farm, and to- 
day it presents the appearance of thrift and energy. 
Mrs. Teare and family are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 



i obert Teare, deceased, was born on the 
Isle of Man, Feb. 3, 1828, and there lived 
until about 25 years of age, when he emi- 
V\\j\ grated to Australia for the purpose of engag- 
ing in mining, and there remained about five 
years. He came to America, and in the 
spring of i860 came to Warren County and located 
in Lenox Township, where he died Feb. 20, 1866. 

His marriage to Martha Killey, who was also a 
native of the Isle of Man, having been born tiiere 
March 5, 1840, was celebrated in their native coun- 
try on the ist of March, i860. Slie was the daugh- 
ter of John and Catherine (Quayle) Killey, and of 
her union with Mr. Teare were born three children, 
— John K., Kate A. and Lizzie R.; all reside at 
home. Mr. Teare was the possessor and owner of 
240 acres of excellent improved land at the time of 



taae?©^* 



1^4—— ^<2)/33OT>. 



gff^Slereules Roney, a well to-do farmer, resid- 
f^^^lklt '"g o" section 21, Hale Township, and 
y^ clerk of that township, was born in this 

A county, and in the township in which he now 
i resides, Feb. 10, 1845. He received a com- 
i mon-school education, which he supplemented 
by a course of study at a commercial college at Day- 
ton, Ohio. He has been a resident of this county, , 
with the exception of tliree years, spent at Dayton,, 
and has devoted his time exclusively to tiie vocation 
of an agriculturist. He is at present tlie owner ofj 
90 acres of land, 80 of which is under an advanced!' 
state of cultivation. On his farm he has erected a' 
good set of buildings and his place presents an at- 
tractive appearance to the passers-by. A view of, 
his residence and farm buildingo is given on page . 
272. 

Hercules Roney was married to Miss Mary A. 
Munima, Feb. 11, 1869, at D.iyton, Oiiio. She was 
born in Montgomery County, that State, .Aug. 2, 
1847, and has borne her husband one child, — Mary 
E. Mrs. Roney is the daughter of Joseph H. and 
Elizabeth (Solenberger) Mumma, who resiile at 
Dayton. 

Mr. Roney has held tlie offices of Commissioner of 
Highways and Township Clerk, of which latter (Kisi- 
tion he is the present incumbent. He and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, and, in 
politics, Mr. Roney votes with the Republican party 
and endorses tlie principles advocated by it. 

The parents of Mr. Roney of this sketch, Hamil- 
ton and Elizabeth (McReynolds) Roney, were natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father 
was an early settler of this county, coming here at 
the early day of 1836. His first marriage took place 
five years previous to his emigration to this county, j 
his wife's maiden name being Miss Margaret Mackey, 



—P- 



4 4 -A^ 



JL^T » 



WARREN COUNTY. 



»7S 



by wlioin he had five children. She died in 1841, 
and in 1842 he married Elizabeth McReynolds, at 
her home near Dayton, Ohio. She was a daughter 
of Joseph McReynolds. Hamilton Roney, in early 
life; was a blacksmith, and carried on that business 
in Monmouth for about five years. There his first 
wife died, and he continued to reside there a short 
time after his second marriage, when he removed to 
the farm. As a farmer lie vv'as eminently successful 
and became the owner of 700 acres of land, some of 
which was the finest farm land in the township. 
This is now divided among his sons and daughters, 
to whom, at his death, he left a comfortable com- 
petency. He followed the vocation of an agricultur- 
ist until 1863, when he went to Dayton, Ohio, and 
there, on the 3d day of March, 1884, departed this 
life. His wife survives him and resides in Dayton, 
Ohio. 

The parents of Mrs. Hercules Roney had a family 
of nine children, of whom Mrs. R. was the second in 
r order of binli. 



^__|t^i^<^. 



ulius T. Lathrop, a retired farmer, resid- 
ing in Roseville, Warren ("ounty, was born 
in Livingston Co., N. Y.,in the year 1818. 
He is a son of Colby and Polly (Terry) La- 
throp, natives respectively of New York and 
New Hampshire. Coming to Ohio in an early 
day, he, the fatlier of our subject, purchased land 
there and remained until his demise, which occurred 
March 12, 1857, his wife dying m 1874 in Michigan. 
Julius T. assisted liis father on the farm, attended 
the district sciiools and remained under the influ- 
ence of his parents until lie was 25 years of age. In 
1846, after leavi'ig home, he engaged in carpentering 
in a ship-yard in the Buckeye State, but not follow- 
ing that trade long, he emigrated West the same year, 
and settled in Greenbush Township, this county and 
State. Here he invested some money in the purchase 
of 120 acres of prairie land, which he engaged la- 
boriously in cultivating, and remained there for 
about 24 years, when he removed to Roseville vil- 
lage and bought a lot, on which he erected a build- 




ing and has since lived therein, engaging in carpen- 
tering and wagon making a part of the time. 

Feb. 22, 1843, he was married to Miss Almira 
Light, a native of New York, and they have one 
child living,— Sarah Sheppard, who resides in Iowa. 
Mrs. Lathrop died in 1874, and Mr. Lathrop took 
for his second wife a Mrs. Vurlinder T. Byarlay, a 
native of Indiana and daughter of Joseph and Su- 
sanna (TurnbuU) Grain, natives of Indiana and Ken- 
tucky respectively. They lived in Indiana until 
their death, the father's occurring April, 1844, and 
the mother in March of the same year. Mr. Lathrop 
is the proprietor of a fine farm in Kansas, consisting 
of 120 acres. He is a member of the Christian 
Church and is one of the representative men of his 
village, and politically is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. 



-{3 



J, i_ 



"r~r 






et- 




*% 



ohn R. Graham, one of the oldest settlers 
in Warren County and a gentleman who 
has witnessed the wonderful developments 

the county has made during the last 50 years, 
jt and who has shared the privations incident to 

its early settlement, resides on section 3, Hale 
Township. He was born in Greene Co., Ohio, Jan. 
31, 1817, and continued to reside in his native State 
until the fall of 1835. 

During the year last named, Mr. Graham came to 
this county and located in Hale Township, where 
he has since lived. At that time, the hand of civ- 
ilization had hardly turned a furrow and the land 
was in its original, natural condition. Having a 
firm determination in the future development of the 
county, he " stuck to it," and to-day lives to witness 
the fulfillment of a prediction made by him 50 years 
ago, namely, that Warren County would in time to 
come be one of the garden spots of the great com- 
monwealth of Illinois. In 1850, he made a trip 
across the plains to the land of gold and spent £2 
months in California and Oregon. The trip was not 
made for gain, but for health and pleasure, and after 
returning he located in Hale Township, where he 
has continued to reside until the present time, a 
period of almost 50 years from the time he first set' 



¥ 



A 



JU 



376 



WARREN COUNTY. 



}■ 



tied here. He is the proprietor of 340 acres of land 
located on section 3, Hale Township, the major por- 
tion of which is under advanced cultivation; and 
there, in the sunset of his life, he lives, enjoying the 
comforts which a life of labor, pluck and persever- 
ance enabled him to procure. 

The marriage of Mr. Graham took place in Hale 
Township, March 24, r842, at which time Miss 
Mary T. Rogers became his wife. She was born in 
the State of Missouri, Monroe County, Oct. 4, 1823, 
and has borne her husband 1 1 children, — Elizabeth 
L., born Dec. 17, 1842; William F., Oct 31, 1844; 
Phebe I., Feb. 8, 1847 ; Andrew R., March 11, 1849; 
Mary L., Feb. 4, 1852: Aleri R. and John A., twins 
Auj;. 24, 1854; Emma A., June ii, 1858; Frank E., 
June 3, 1861; Nannie M., Jan 24, 1864; and Eva 
J., Jan. I, 1867. William and Andrew are deceased, 
Elizabeth L. is the widow of John Balmer, and re- 
sides in Hale Township with her parents; Phebe is 
the wife of David Armstrong, a farmer living in Ne- 
braska ; Mary L. married T. B. McCuUey, and they 
reside in Nebraska; John A. is a farmer of Hale 
Township ; Aleri R. is a physician residing at Little 
York ; Emma A. became the wife of George \V. Hill, 
who lives in Nebraska ; Frank is a farmer in Hale 
Township; Nannie became the wife of Joseph W. 
Dawson, who follows the vocation of farming in 
Nebraska; Eva J. lives at home. 

Mr. Graham has been Supervisor of Hale Town- 
ship one year, and has held other offices within the 
gift of the people of his township. He is a Demo- 
crat in his political affiliations, and his wife is a 
member of the United Presbyterian Church. 



-4— HG 




ohn W. Reynolds, one of the progressive 

p|j£ and well known farmers of Warren County, 

and a resident of section 10 of Hale Town- 



ship, was born in North Carolina, Aug. 14, 
1818. He went with his parents to Jackson 
Co., Ind., when but 12 years of age, and there 
resided until October, 1836, when he came to War- 
ren County and settled in Hale Township. He has 
since made the latter place his permanent home, and 
is the proprietor of 150 acres of e;(cellent tillable 



*f 



land. Upon the same he has erected a fine set of 
buildings, and altogether the farm presents the ap- 
pearance of thrift and energy. 

Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage in Hale 
Township, Se|)t. r, 1846, the lady chosen to become 
his wife being Miss Jane Campbell, who was born in 
in Carroll Co., Ohio, June 23, 1826. Of this unioti 
ten children were born, — George W., Josiah B., 
Martha A., William Y., John W., Mary J., Sarah E., 
Richie C, James W. and Thomas M. George W. 
and Martha A. are deceased ; Josiah, \\'illiam and 
John reside in Warren County and are married ; 
Mary J. is the wife of F. P. Kilgore and resides in 
Kirkwood ; Sarah E., James and Thomas reside at 
home; Richie resides in Spring Giove Townshij). 

Mr. Reynolds has served his township as School 
Director, and both himself and n ife are members of 
the United Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is 
a Republican. 



jfri^cr 




1 



p. Emans, who is accredited with being 
the oldest merchant of Roseville, having , 
been constantly in business here since 
^^ 1858, and one of the prominent business men 
of Warren County, caine to this State from 
Ohio in 1855. He is a naiive of the Buckeye 
State and was born in 1832. He was left an orphan 
when quite young and went to live with an uncle, 
who gave him good educational advantages. He 
sent him to the common district schools for a time 
and later to a select school. He then engaged as a 
clerk for his uncle and remained with him in that 
capacity until he was 23 years of age. During the 
meaniime he studied book-keeping at Bacon's Com- 
mercial College at Cincinnati. His health failing, he 
was obliged to leave the desk and engage in some 
other calling. For a time he was interested in the 
livery business at Camden, Preble Co., Ohio. Here 
lie remained for five years. He came to Illinois in 
May, 1855, bringing his livery stock, and located at 
Fairview, Fulton County. He remained here but a 
short time when he sold and came to Warren 
County and embarked in the mercantile business 
at Roseville. Here he has remained and become 



nM 



V 



■ tT ■ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



-X^ 



«79 



one of the most widely known merchants in the 
southern part of the county. From 1870 until 
1881, he was engaged in the lumber business and 
also, in company with William A. Pratt, in the 
grain business, in which latter business he still con- 
tinues. He is interested in Roseville village prop- 
erty and owns several houses which he rents. He 
does a large business in his store and employs two 
clerks and a boy. 

Mr. Emans, in 1863, was married to Miss Anna 
Oslrander, a native of New York State, and came 
to Ohio when young. Her mother is a native of 
Ohio and came to Illinois in 1855, and now makes 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Emans. .Mrs. 
Ostrander has three sons, one a dealer in lumber and 
hardware at Swan Creek, and two others are in 
Washington Territory engaged in farming. Mr. and 
Mrs. Emans have two children living, — James H. 
and Jessie. Mr. Emans is a Republican and at pres- 
ent is serving as Treasurer of the village. 



r 




Raines A. Evans, deceased, who was one of 
^ Warren County's well known and success- 
'■^'^ ful farmers, and a resident on section 29, 
Lenox Township, was born in Virginia, March 
I, r82i, and passed his early life in the Buck- 
eye State and Indiana. He afterward came to 
Illinois, locating in Henderson County, where he re- 
mained until his removal to Warren County, about 
the year 185 1. Locating in Lenox Township, he 
entered land on section 29, where he resided and 
labored until death. He was the owner at the time 
of his demise, which occurred April 3, 1875, of 240 
acres of some of the best equipped and cultivated 
land in his township, having fine substantial build- 
ings and all other necessary appurtenances upon 
it; but his widow is now the possessor of only 80 
acres. 

Mr. James A. Evans was married in Henderson 
County, March 7, 1844, to Miss Lucy C, daughter 
of Washington and Elizabeth (McChesney) Fort, 
who was born in Kentucky May 10, 1827. Mr, and 
Mrs. Evans had become the parents of nine children, 
six of whom survive, viz. ; Emeline, who became 



the wife of David Darr, and they are both now de- 
ceased ; Washington, deceased ; John A., who is 
married and lives in Lenox Township, this county; 
Samuel, deceased; Stephen D., who is married and 
lives in Kansas ; Mary E. ; Ida J., now the wife of 
Thomas Davis and living in Gladstone, Henderson 
Co., 111.; James A., who resides in Kansas; and 
Jesse C. is at home. 

Mrs. Evans is a member of the Baptist Church, 
as was her husband. She is now carrying on the 
farm with the assistance of her sons. A portrait of 
her late husband is shown on another page. 




illiam V. Moore, Sr. There is growing 
class of well-to-do farmers, who have la- 
'^^Sr bored hard and diligently for years, and 
i> now have wisely concluded to spend the 
autumn years of their lives in comparative j , 
ease and retirement. Among this number is I 
William V. Moore, Sr., who is living in the village of j 
Roseville. New Jersey is his native State, and May 1 I 
I T, 1825, the date of his birth. Abraham H. Moore, J ' 
his father, also of New Jersey (Hunterdon County), I 
met and married Grace Van Dome, in 18 13. They ' 
came west to Ohio in 1839, and purchased a 100- 
acre farm and followed agricultural pursuits there ; 
until 185 I, when they made another move westward, 
coming to Illinois and settling in Fulton County. 
Here, about three miles east of Prairie City, they 
purchased 160 acres of land. In r864 Mr. Moore 
sold this and bought a farm near Bushnell, McDon- 
ough County. Here he lived until a few years be- 
fore his death, when, in 1871, he moved into the city 
of Bushnell, where he died in 1879, in his 88th year. 
Mrs. Moore survived her husband and died in Bush- 
nell, Dec. 18, 1885, aged 90 years and four months. 
William B. remained with his parents until he was 
26 years old, assisting them, on the farm and in re- 
turn was given an opportunity to receive a good 
common-school education. After leaving home he 
worked out for one summer, when his ambition led 
led him to try farming on his own hook. He then 
rented a farm in Butler Co., Ohio, which he kept for 
two years. At the end of that time, in 1854, he came 



^ 



28o 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



West to Illinois and settled in Fulton County on a 
rented farm. Here he remained for two years 
longer, when he found a desirable quarter-section of 
land on section 3, Point Pleasant Township, in this 
county, which he was able to purchase. He subse- 
quently got 15 acres of land in Ellison Township, 
and in 1873 secured 80 acres additional in the same 
township. He continued to follow agricultural life 
with satisfactory results until 1876, when he retired 
from his farm, moving to the village of Roseville. 
Here he purchased two and a half acres of land, 
upon which are a good residence and barn, arid the 
family are living comfortably. He is regarded as 
one of the most substantial men of Warren County. 
Politically, he has been a Republican. 

In 185 I, before coming to Illinois, Mr. Moore was 
married to Miss Temperance Curtis, who is a native 
of Butler County, Ohio, and daughter of Daniel and 
Charlotte Curtis. The latter were natives of Mary- 
land, but came to Oiiio before their marriage. There 
they lived until their death, which occurred in 1853 
and 1854 respectively. 

Mr. Moore's brother, Isaac, who was a member of 
Co. H, 7th 111. Cavalry, was killed while his regiment 
was in Missouri, April 2, 1862. Mrs. Van Dyke 
(his sister) died at her residence in Bushnell, 111., one 
week after the death of her mother. 



^aston Morris, deceased. One of the prom- 
inent and well-to-do pioneers of Lenox 
^P^ Township of 30 years ago was Easton 
"C Morris, who located on section (5. He was 
born in Wayne County, Southern Illinois, May 
26, 1833, and enjoyed but limited advantages 
for an education, us the days of his boyhood in Illi- 
nois afforded very meager opportunities for securing 
any advanced education. He met a violent death 
while on a visit to Kansas, being killed in Missouri 
hy lightning on ihe 8th day of Sept. 1866. 

Mr. Morris was married in Lenox Township, Jan. 
25, 1855, to Rebecca A, Butler. She, like her hus- 
band, was also born in Illinois, in Warren County, 
Feb. 28, 1834. She is the mother of three children, 
— Eva A.. Ewing V. and Myron H. Eva is de- 



ceased. Mrs. Morris owns 95 acres of excellent til- 
lable land on section 15, in Lenox Township, and is 
an excellent business lady. She is a member of the 
Baptist Church. Ewing V. is married and lives in 
Galesburg, where he practices medicine. The other 
son, Myron H., assists his mother in carrying on the 
home farm. 



-^^ 



-»— 




eonard Hall, a successful and energetic 
farmer, owning 234 acres of land located 
on section 31, Greenbush Township, where 
Wjy he resides, and also 50 acres of land in Iowa, 
l^ was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 
1819. He came West and located at Mon- 
mouth, and worked at that place from September, 
1845, until the date of his marriage, March 25, 1852. 
.\t this time, Miss Susan B. MpMahill became his 
wife. She was born in Sangamon County, this State, 
and bore her husband six children, namely : Will- 
iam L., burn July 5, 1853; Wyatt, Julys, '855; I; 
Warren, Feb. 8, 1857; Mary M., .\pril i-j, 1861 ; 
.\lbert P., Jan. 19, 1867; Aleta, March 14, 1872. 
Wm. L. married a Miss Mollie Dilly, and is now a 
successful farmer in Jewell Co., Kan. Wyatt mar- 
ried .\x\n .McFetridge. They have two children. 
Wyatt is also a fanner. Mary M. is the wife of Mr. 
Wetzvel, a resident of this township. 

The father of Mr. Hall, Stephen Hall, was a na- 
tive of Connecticut, and married Miss Cynthia Leon- 
ard. They had eight children, — Lester, Sarah .\nn, 
Polly, Leonard, Theophilus, Coridon. Benjamin, 
Philomen, four of wnom are deceased, namely: 
Sarah, Polly, Benj^imin and Philomen. Mrs. Hall's 
father, Mr. McMahill, was born in Kentucky in 
1 806, and died in 1881. He married Miss Mary 
Sna]))) in 1827, She was born in 1806 in Kentucky, 
and they became the parents of 12 children, viz.: 
George S., Susan B., Sarah S. Nancy J., Elizabeth, 
John, Maria \., Kentucky A., William H. H., Pink- 
ney M., Mary and Lucinda. Four of these children 
are dead. 

Mr. Hall, of whom we write, has 235 acres of good 
farm land, located on section 31, Greenbush Town- 
.=hip, under an advanced state of cultivation, and 



V 



\ 



1 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^?^H- 



*8i , , 



also 50 acres of land in Iowa. On his place he has 
a good residence and barn, the latter being 34 x 40 
feet in dimensions. In addition to his farm duties, 
he is breeding Short-horn cattle and handles English 
draft horses. He has served as Road Commissioner 
for some 12 years, and also School Director of his 
township. In religion, he belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Cnurch. Politically, he votes with the 
Republican party. 





W. Coghill, engaged as an agriculturist on 
section 28, Roseville Township, is a pros- 
perous and spirited citizen of Warren 
County, and a native of Virginia, where he was 
It born Aug. 17, 1830. His parents were Benja- 
min C. and Millecent (EUett) Coghill, also na- 
tives of Virginia. The father came to Illinois in 
1836, and settled in Warren County, where he pur- 
chased land and built a grist and saw mill in the 
northern part of the county, which is known as Cog- 
hill's Mill. It is now located in Henderson County, 
but when it was built, that district was then a part 
of Warren County. He died in 1880, in Virginia. 
He was an apponent of the system of slavery as it 
then existed in the Southern States, and was a slave- 
owner at the time he lived in Virginia. When he 
made up his mind to go to the free State of Illinois, 
the question arose in his mind what to do with his 
slaves. He gave the matter serious thought and 
made it the subject of earnest prayer. The tempta- 
tion to sell them and get the money was strongs 
the conflict l:)et ween thedevii and the man was hitter 
and fierce, but, upheld by Divine strength in the 
hour of weakness, the right, as he understood it, pre- 
vailed. They were set free, good homes procured 
foi the older ones and the young sent to Liberia. The 
Coghills are of English descent, the first member of 
the family, James Coghill, coming to this country in 
1664. 

J. W. attended the common district schools dur- 
ing his earlier boyhood, finishing his education at the 
Galesburg College, at Galesburg. He was 27 years 
of age before he left home. He was a partner 
with his father in the milling business from the time 



he became of age until he left home. On the nth 
of August, 1858, he was married to Elizabeth Tucker. 
She was a native of Warren County, and the daugh- 
ter of James and Abigail (Long) Tucker, who were 
among the earliest pioneers of the county. Among 
the early labors of Mr. Coghill was teaching school 
in Warren and Henderson Counties. We soon find 
him comfortably located on a farm of 140 acres in 
Henderson County. Here he lived for about 12 
years, when he sold out and went to Washington Co., 
111., and purchased a farm. He remained there but 
four years. In the fall of 1874 he returned to War- 
ren County and found a desirable location on an 80- 
acre farm on section 20, in Roseville Township. 
Here he has since lived and is engaged in mixed 
farming. Politically, Mr. C. is a Democrat, and has 
served the community as Highway Commissioner 
and School Director and takes a general interest in 
the affairs of the township. Both he and his wife 
are members of the Baptist Church. Of the seven 
children born to them, Benjamin C. died in his 17th 
year and a daughter in infancy. Carrie and James 
are attending school at LTpper Alton, at the pres- 
ent time. 



U 



-ra- 



-e»- 




^avid M. Hallam, one of Warren County's 
|, wide-awake and energetic citizens as well 
Jjlf'^'^ "^ as successful farmers and stock-raisers, re- 
siding on section 26, Monmouth Township, 
is a native of Ohio, having been born in Sabina, 
Clinton County, that State, Sept. 3, 1837. 
The father of the gentleman whose name stands 
at the head of this biographical notice, Samuel Hal- 
lam, was the son of a Pennsylvania farmer of Eng- 
lish parentage and extraction, the family having 
their origin in the United States prior to the Revo- 
lutionary War, and which consisted of but one branch 
which came from England. The members of that 
branch generally followed agricultural pursuits. 
The grandparents died in Pennsylvania and Ohio 
respectively. Samuel, father of David M., was one 
of a family of four children by his father's first mar- 
riage, by his second marriage his father having the 
same number of children. Samuel Hallam was born 



i T j L 



I z82 



. V 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



in Washington Co., Pa., where he lived during the 
early portion of his life. His education was acquired 
in the common schools of his native county and his 
years, prior to the age of majority, were passed on 
the farm. He left the parental roof-tree when about 
2 1 years of age and went to Clinton Co., Ohio, where 
he made a settlement. At that time Clinton County 
was very sparsely settled, and there he endured the 
trials and hardships of a pioneer life. It was in that 
county that he was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary Ann Mills. She was the daughter of a Clin- 
ton County farmer who had come to that county and 
State from Kentucky. After marriage, Samuel pur- 
chased 80 acres of land, the same being in heavy 
timber and located in that part of the State. He 
went to work vigorously and energetically upon 
the task of clearing and improving his land, and 
after he had placed the same under an advanced 
state of cultivation, he sold it and made another 
purchase of 160 acres, also uncultivated. He im- 
proved that place and by subsequent purchases in- 
creased the same to 320 acres, all of which was 
placed under an advanced state of cultivation, when 
he disposed of it by sale and in the spring of 1850 
came to this State and located on an 80-acre farm 
in this county (a portion of which is at present 
within the limits of the city of Monmouth), which 
he rented for one year. When Samuel Hallam 
started West with his family, he intended to go to 
Iowa, but on reaching Burlington, that State, the 
condition of tlie country, and the action of a portion 
of the citizens with whom he came in contact, were 
such as to create a desire on the part of his wife and 
children to return to Ohio, and thither they started; 
but on reaching Monmouth and finding a different 
country, together with a change in the appearance 
and actions of the people, they rented the farm before 
referred to and engaged in farming. The residence 
into which they moved had been occupied by a man 
who had committed suicide by cutting his throat 
with a razor a few days before their arrival there. 

In the spring of 1851, Samuel Hallam purchased 
240 acres of land in Monmouth Township, on which 
he moved will) his family, and where he resided 
more or less until his death. His first wife, who 
was the motlier of the subject of this notice, died in 
December, 1864, and he was again married, to Mrs. 
Mary McKay, of Monmouth, by whom he had three 
children, — Harvey W., Anna S. and Maude F. Af- 



ter his second marriage he moved to Monmouth 
city, in 1873, where he continued to live until his 
death, which occurred in July, 1879, while he was 
in his 79th year. His wife still survives and is re- 
siding in Monmouth. 

David M. Hallam, the subject of this notice, was 
the fourth in order of birth of a family of ) i children 
by the first wife of his father. He was about 13 
years of age when his parents removed to this county, 
and his education was acquired iji the common 
schools and at the college at Monmouth, which was 
then under the presidency of David A. Wallace. 
When a young man of 18 years, he engaged in teach- 
ing, and for 18 winters he followed that profession, 
working on the farm during the summer season, his 
teaching being principally in this and Knox Counties. 

The marriage of Mr. Hallam took place March 
12, 1861, at the residence of the bride's parents, to 
Miss Mary C. Murphy. She was born in Warren 
County, March 12, 1842, and was the daughter of a 
farmer who died when she was a small child, his ' 
name being Jolin H. Murphy. Her mother's maiden 
name was Eliza Moore, who was born in Virginia 
and was first married in this State. Her second 
marriage was to Samuel T. Shelton, with whom 
she is at present residing at Cameron, this county. 
Mrs. Hallam, wife of David M., attained the age of • 
maturity under the fostering care of her mother and 
step-father, with whom she resided until her mar- 
riage. She obtained a good education in the com- 
mon schools and graduated at Abingdon College, 
Knox County, and for a short time prior to her mar- 
riage was engaged in teaching. She has borne her 
husband seven children, one of whom is deceased. 
Orline E. is living in Chicago. He was for two years 
engaged in the Grand Opera House at that place, 
and also one year at McVicker's, and at present is 
engaged in the support of McWade, whose reputation 
throughout the country is so well established that it 
requires no comment here. Samuel S. resides at 
home and is engaged in the study of law, prepara- 
tory to the practice of that profession; Clinnie M. 
resides at home, as likewise do Frank M., Minnie 
M. and George M. Charles M. is deceased. 

After the marriage of Mr. Hallam, he resided al- 
ternately in this and Knox Counties until 1873, 
when he abandoned the profession of teaching and 
settled on his farm of 183 acres in Monmouth Town- 
ship and engaged in the vocation of farming. His 



*\ 



r 




Ke^id£mc£ Of Thomas A. Weakley. 5ec. 13. Lei-iox Townsh i p. 




Residence of James Campbell, Sec. 6. HaleTownshi p. 




" Hillsdale Tarm' Res.of Hon. H.M. Lewis, Sec. 19. Berwick Township. 



i T^_j_ 



—4^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



285 




place is in a high state of cultivation, and in his vo- 
cation as a farmer Mr. Hallam is meeting with that 
success which energy and perseverance, coupled 
with good judgment, are sure to bring. He and his 
wife are members of the Christian Church, of which 
denomination Mr. Hallam is Deacon. He was for 
20 years Superintendent of the Sunday-school, but 
recently resigned that position. 

Politically, he is a strong supporter of the princi- 
ples of the Prohibition party. 



_=P3_ 



,on. Henry M. Lewis, one of the land- 
holders of Berwick Townslnp and a repre- 
sentative citizen of Warren County, resid- 
ing upon section 19, Berwick Township, was 
j born in Basking Ridge, N. J., Feb. 21, 1824, the 
1 son of Eliphalet C. Lewis, a native of New Jersey, 
having been born in that State May 11, 1799. He 
came to Illinois in 1837 and two years later came 
to this county from Sangamon County, and located 
in Berwick Township, where he purchased a patent 
title to the northeast quarter of section 20. He im- 
mediately went to work to improve his land, and at 
the same time economized and added to his original 
purchase until he became the owner of 750 acres in 
the county. 

He was married to Mary Ann Mills, Nov. 21, 
1823. She was also born in New Jersey, the d^te of 
her birth being July 23, 1806. She bore her hus- 
band five children, namely: Henry M., Feb. 21, 
1824; Phebe A., July 9, 1826; Mary A., in July, 
1838; Susan E., in October, 1841, and Thomas P. in 
1843, all of whom are yet living. The father died in 
1868, aged 69 years, and his widow still survives and 
is living in this county, aged 79 years, and is enjoy- 
ing good health. 

Henry M. Lewis, of whom we write, formed a 
matrimonial alliance, Oct. 18, 1849, with Miss Jane 
Carr, the Rev. Young officiating. 'She was born 
Jan. 22, 1827, in Perry Co., Lid., and came with her 
parents, Absalom and Sarah Carr, to this State, in 
1840. Mr, Carr was born in i8oi, in Breckinridge 
Co., Ky.,and married Miss Sarah Claycomb in 1824. 
She was a native of Kentucky also, and was born 



there in 1802. Her demise occurred in 1868, in this 
county, and that of her husband July 4, 1879. Of 
their union nine children were born, namely : Eli, 
Jane, James, Lucy, Lewis, Thomas, Hannah, Malinda 
and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had born 
to them nine children, eight of whom survive, viz.: 
Norvel, born July 12, 1850; Mary, Nov. 29, r852; 
Jedediah, Nov. 13, 1854; Henry, Dec. 6, 1856; 
Emery, March 31, 1858; Sarah, March 9, 1862; 
Phebe L., Aug. 13, 1864; Effie J., March 23, 1867! 
Edwin C, Oct. 14, 1873. Henry is deceased, his 
death occurring March 14, 1857. Norvel is married 
and is engaged in farming in Nebraska. He has one 
child. Mary is the wife of John W. Miller, of this 
county, and the mother of five children. Emery 
married Miss Nettie Mann and resides in this 
county. Sarah is the wife of Geo. B. Richmond and 
lives near Sedalia, Mo. 

Mr. Lewis is the owner 895 acres of land in Ber- 
wick Township, in pasture and under cultivation, and 
on his farm has a fine residence, together with good 
barns and necessary outbuildings, which are shown 
in the view on page 284. In addition to carrying on 
general farming he is also engaged in dealing in "S 
stock. He has taken a prominent part in the affairs 
of his township and the county as well. He has 
been Supervisor of his township for 13 years, and 
was elected to represent the counties of Warren and 
McDonough in the State Legislature during its 3rst 
session. He was a member of the committees on 
Agriculture, Militia and Labor, and a busy member 
too, and represented those who gave him their suf- 
frages in an able manner, and with credit to him- 
self and satisfaction to his constituency. He has 
also held various minor offices within the gift of the 
people. In politics, he is a Democrat. 



--^M 



«->-— 



i?;£;^|l oseph L. Young, a farmer residing on sec- 
tion 12, Lenox Township, and of which he 
' is Township Clerk, is a son of John and 
Elizabeth (Bishop) Young, natives of Pennsyl- 
jf vania and Maryland respectively. After their 
marriage the parents settled in Ohio, where 
the father died, Sept. 2, 1851. In 1865 the mother 



V 



4= 



r" 



86 



WARREN COUNTY. 



came to tliis county with her children. Tlie chil- 
dren by her marriage with Mr. Young were seven in 
number, named Hannah, John L., Jacob, George, 
Abraham N., Joseph L. and Elizabeth A. 

In writing the biography of Joseph L. Young, we 
record his birth as May 29, 1840, and the place of 
his nativity Crawford County Ohio. His education 
was not neglected in his early years, and on attain- 
ing the age of manhood he was for eight yjars occu- 
pied in teaching scliool in Ohio, and continued to 
reside in his native State until 1865, when he ac- 
companied his mother and the remaining children of 
the family to this county, locating with them in 
Lenox Township, where he has since resided. He is 
the owner of 30 acres of tillable land and is a gen- 
tleman of considerable public prominence in his 
township. In his agricultural pursuits he is meet- 
ing with fair success, and. his accumulations have 
been acquired solely through his own push and en- 
ergy. 

The marriage of Mr. Young took place in Mon- 
mouth, Dec. 32, 1868, at which time the accomplish- 
ed daughter of John VVonderly, Miss Mary E. VVon- 
derly, became his wife. Her father's sketch is 
given in another part of this Albu.m. She was born 
in Cumberland Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1845, and has 
borne her husband one child, Bessie M. Mr. Young 
has held the office of Township Clerk for six years, 
and is still the incumbent of that position. He also 
held the office of Township Collector four years. 
Justice of the Peace three years, and School Trus- 
tee three years, and in politics is a Democrat. 



— * 



«»- 




4^ 



■Xiharles O. Bradshaw, publisher and pro- 
?3-s^ prielorof the ICirkwjod Leader, was born 
»j,>y in Sheffield, Bureau Co., this State, Dec. 30, 
^\^ 1856. The parents of Mr. Bradshaw of this 
(jv notice, J. F. and Mary M. Bradshaw, are at 
present residing in Kirkwood. His father is 
a native of Kentucky, and was born in that State 
March 8, 1832, and at present is engaged in the fur- 
niture business at the place mentioned. The mother's 
maiden name was Smith, and she was born in Ful- 
ton County, this State, May 20, 1836. 



.\: 



The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 

this biographical notice, came to Kirkwood with his 
parents in the fall of 1865. Here he received a 
common-school education, at the completion of 
which he decided to make journalism his lifes pur- 
suit. After several years experience as a local re- 
porter and correspondent, on Jan. ist, 1882, he 
purchased a half interest in the Kirkwood Leader, 
which had been established a few months previous. 
He took editorial charge of the paper, and in Jan- 
uary, 1885, became sole proprietor of the same. The 
paper is at present an eight column folio, independ- 
ent in politics, and is issued at the small subscription 
price of $1.50 a year. From being a dubious venture 
at the start it has come to be considered one of the 
permanent institutions of the county. K good job 
printing office is run in connection with tlie paper, 
and Mr. Bradshaw is meeting with that success which 
strict attention to business, push, tact and energy 
are sure to bring. 



"^•^w 




ames A. McClannahan is one of the lead-_ 

("- ing physicians of the county, and resides 
at the village of Kirkwood. In 1854, when 
the fertile prairies of Warren County were but 
partly settled, Mr. Thomas McClannahan with 
his young wife and small family came from 
Ohio and located upon 80 acres of land in Hale 
Township. Here he has since lived, but increased 
his acreage to 240 acres and has grown to be one of 
the prominent citizens ol tlie county and for many 
years has served tlie people as County Surveyor. 
He oversees his farm and during the winter teaches 
school. Before leaving Ohio he met and married 
Miss Jane Martin, who like himself was a native of 
the Buckeye State. Before they decided to leave 
Ohio, their eldest son, James M., was born to them, 
the date of his birth being March 26, 1850. Besides 
this son they had born to them seven other children. 
Dr. McClannahan received a good English edu- 
cation, attending both the common schools and the 
Academy at Monmouth. Until he reached his ma- 
jority he remained on the home farm, assisting in its 
cultivation during the time not spent at school. In 



r 



^ 



.- irTmrr; — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



287 



187 I he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. 
J. P. Clannahan, of Norwood, Mercer County, Illi- 
nois, and for three years closely applied himself to 
the study of his profession. He attended the Chi- 
cago Medical College and from it graduated in 1874, 
since which time he has been actively engaged in the 
practice of medicine. He first located at Berwick, 
this county, where he practiced with satisfactory 
success for four years, when he came to Kirkwood. 
Here he has built up a fine and lucrative practice 
and has a residence, with an office connected, and 
is recognized as one of the representative men of the 
village. 

Dr. McClannahan and Miss Anna McClung were 
married Sept. 20, 1875. Miss McClung was born 
in Ohio, and is a daughter of Charles and Nancy 
McClung, of that State. Two children, both boys, 
have been born to them, — Ralph, born Oct. 22, 1876, 
and Harold, born Sept. 25, 1872. The Doctor is a 
Republican, and, with his wife, belongs to the Pres- 
fbyterian Church. He is a member of the Board of 
Health and has held most of the city offices. 



r 






■E*- 




T^ 



rury B. Boyd, a fanner on section 2, Point 
,^ Pleasant Township, is the oldest son of 
'^ Thomas H. and Margaret (Jones) Boyd, 
who were pioneers of the township and 
county where their children are now identified 
with the business community. He was born 
in Greene Co., Ind., Dec. 12, 1839, and was in the 
seventh year of his age when the household came to 
Warren County. He has resided here ever since 
and was educated in the schools of the township. 
He was also reared to the calling of a farmer, which 
he has pursued since the commencement of his act- 
ive life. 

He resided with his parents until his marriage to 
Harriet Conklin. which took place Sept. 19, 1861. 
Mrs. Boyd was born in Claimont Co., Ohio. After 
their marriage, they located on the farm on which 
they have since lived. It is situated on the south- 
east quarter of section 2. 
The children of the household are named Elgie B. 



and William L. The parents are connected in mem- 
bership with the Methodist Church. Politically, 
Mr. Boyd is a Democrat. 



|ww||^^avid Stem, a retired farmer and one of Illi- 
li^^jl, nois' early pioneers, is a resident of Rose- 
• jt^ ^ ^'"^ Village, this county, having been 
CTV born in Mercer Co., Pa., Jan. 13, 1829. His 
parents were Frederick and Sarah (Harris) Stem, 
natives respectively of Westmoreland and Fay- 
ette Counties, Pa. In 1851 they came to the State of 
Illinois, and located on section 28, this county, where 
they purchased a [6o-acre tract of land and im- 
mediately began to cultivate and improve the same. 
Their efforts were fully rewarded, and they had the 
gratification of seeing their land developed to that 
high state of excellence which deservedly caused it 
to take rank among the most valuable in Warren 
County. They became the parents of 13 children, 
and died amidst the comforts of their peaceful home- 
stead. 

David Stem, the gentleman whose name stands at 
the head of this biographical notice, remained the 
companion of his parents until he reached his 25th 
year, in the meantime assisting in the duties of the 
farm and alternated his labors thereon by attend- 
ance at the district schools in the acquirement of an 
English education. He engaged in farming for him- 
self in the year 1854, purchased a tract of 80 acres of 
land and began actively and energetically in the im- 
provement and cultivation of the same, making his 
home there for 20 years and interesting himself in 
general farming. He then purchased, at different 
times, land in the village of Roseville until he now 
is the owner of 17 lots, containing 14 acres at the 
present time being a resident on the same. 

Aug. 16, 1854, was the date of one of the most im- 
portant events in the life of Mr. David Stem, it be- 
ing his marriage to Miss Sarah Adkinson. She is a 
native of Kentucky, who came with her parents to 
Illinois when she was a babe and settled m Warren 
County Her parents were Pleasant and Fanny Ad- 
kinson, and were among the earliest settlers here, 
drawing the first stick of timber in what is now 



•Ji^ 



-t4-^ 



388 



r 



4 



, ^ Y ■ . . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



:^r4-§^ 



called Monmouth. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Stem four children have been born, only two of whom 
are living — Ida and Patton. The former married 
William Johnson, a resident of Point Pleasant Town- 
ship, and a farmer. One daughter — MariUa, blesses 
their home. 

Mr. Stem and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church of Roseville village and he is considered one 
of the solid and substantial men of Warren County. 
Politically, he affiiliates with the Republican party. 



^$*-h{h»^ 




State. 



W. McCurdy, a well known and prosper- 
ous agriculturist, residing on section 20, 
Roseville Township, was born near Ma- 
comb, McDonough Co., this Slate, Oct. 12, 
1842, and is the son of James and Hannah 
(Herring) McCurdy, natives of the Keystone 
On the i6th of July, in the year 1839, Mr. 
James McCurdy, the father of the gentleman of this 
narrative, was united in marriage with his present 
wife, the mother of R. W. McCurdy. In 1839, they 
came to Illinois and settled in McDonough County, 
remaining in the same until 1847, and then moved 
to Ellison Township, Warren County, and about 
four years later again removed, this time going to 
Fulton County. At the latter place the father made 
a purchase of 80 acres of land, and afterward added 
to his original acreage by a purchase of a 160 acre 
tract. Not being perfectly satisfied, he thought he 
would try another change, and we next find him lo- 
cated in Roseville Township, Warren County, where 
he came in 1865. He purchased r20 acres of land 
located on section 20, and entered energetically and 
vigorously upon the task of its improvement, and 
made this his home for ten years, when he moved 
into Roseville village and retired from the active 
labors of life. 

R. W. McCurdy remained at home until he at- 
tained the age of 23 years, in the meantime receiving 
the advantages aflforded by the district schools and 
in his leisure moments assisting his parents in the 
duties of the farm. After leaving home he rented a 
farm for two years, it being located about a mile and 
a half from Roseville village. In 1867, he made a 



purchase of an 80-acre tract in Tompkins Township, 
and upon this he worked hard and arduously for 
seven years, putting the same in an advanced state 
of cultivation, when he sold it, and purchased the 
property where he now resides, being 120 acres. He 
is engaged in the stock business quite extensively 
and is meeting with success in his chosen vocation. 
Besides his present homestead he is the proprietor of 
80 acres of land in Ellison Township. 

Miss Lydia Pusey, a native of Maryland, and 
daughter of William and Ann (Watson) Pusey, was 
the lady chosen by Mr. R. W. McCurdy to be his 
companion through life. Their married life has been 
replete with domestic happiness and they are now 
the ptoud parents of six children, namely : Louella 
J., William B., Charles W., Melvin J., Robert R. and 
Ralph E. Mrs. McCurdy's parents were natives of 
Delaware and Maryland respectively, and in 1850 
the father, Mr. Pus:y, came to Cuba, Fulton County, 
this State, the mother having died in Clear Spring, 
Maryland, Feb. 6, 1849. 

Politically, Mr. McCurdy is a Democrat, and with 
his wife belongs to the Methodist Protestant Church. 
Socially, Mr. McCurdy is a member of the Select 
Knights and the A. O. U. W., and is regarded as a 
liberal, representative gentleman of Warren County, 
always willing to help build and improve schools, 
churches, etc., and lends a helping hand to all 
worthy objects. 



^^ 




homas A. Weakley, a successful farmer of 
Leno.x Township, residing upon section 13, 
comes of old Pennsylvania " stock," his 
parents, James and Priscilla (Foulk) Weakley, 
having been natives of that State. The elder 
Weakley died in his native State. His widow, 
the mother of Mr. Weakley of this notice, came to 
Warren County to live with her son, Thomas, and 
died in Lenox Township in i86i. The gentleman 
whose name appears at the beginning of this bio- 
graphical notice, was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., 
Nov. II, 1826. He received a good education in his 
native State, the rudimentary portion thereof being 
attained at the common schools, which was supple- 
mented by an attendance at the seminary at Kennet 




9?^ ^-^i 








ca/yn^ 




?r:4-5- 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



291 



Square, in Chester County, that State. In fact the 
early life of Mr. Weakley, prior to his attaining his 
majority, was passed alternately upon the farm and 
in attendance at school. He was also engaged in 
early manhood in the dry-goods business, which he 
followed for about four years in Cumberland County. 
Hoping to better his financial condition in life, at 
least to procure a home for himself and family, in 
1854 he came to this county, at first locating in Mon- 
mouth Township. He lived there for 12 years, fol- 
lowing the occupation of an agriculturist, when he 
removed to Lenox Township, where he has resided 
until the present writing. He owns 125 acres in that 
township, every acre of which is good tillable land, 
and in his cliosen vocation in life, is meeting with 
that success which energy and perseverance insure. 
A view of his home place is shown on page 284. 

Mr. Weakley was united in marriage with Miss 
Lovinia Kaufman, Sept. 19, 1850. Mrs. W. was 
born in Cumberland Co., Pa., Feb. 18, 1822, and 
was of highly respected and well-to-do parents of 
that county. Mr. and Mrs. Weakley have become 
the parents of seven children, two of whom are de- 
ceased. The living are: Spangler K., Anna J., 
Harriet G., Willis F. and Emma L. The deceased 
are Jane M. and Priscilla F. Anna J. is the wife of 
Daniel Wonderly, a resident of Henderson County, 
this State. Harriet G. married Addison Nesbitt and 
resides in Lenox Township. The remaining chil- 
dren reside at home. In politics Mr. Weakley is 
identified witli the Democratic party. Mrs. Weakley 
and their two eldest daughters are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 



^^ 




ohn H. Murdock, a retired farmer residing 
at Berwick, was born in Greene Co., Pa., 
in 1814. He is a son of John Murdock, 
^^ who was married to Miss Margaret Hufty, and 
by her had nine children, — Sarah, Mary, 
Jane, James, Hofty, Eliza, John H., Daniel 
and William. 

John H. foimed a matrimonial alliance with Miss 
Frances Milligan, Nov. 31, 1837. She was born 
Sept. 15, 1815, in Greene Co., Pa., and has borne 



her husband 11 children, — Margaret A., Sept. 3, 
1838; Jonas, July 22, 1840; Daniel, Aug. 21, 1842; 
John, May 1 1, 1844 ; Mary J., Jan. 29, 1846 ; George, 
June 26, 1848; Permelia, Dec. 26, 1850; Hiram, 
March 2\, 1853; Allen, June 26, 1855 ; Armina B., 
June 3, 1858; Joseph E., Feb. 2, 1863. Six of the 
children named are yet living. Mrs. Murdock's 
father was born in T776, by name John Milligan, 
and died in 1846. 

Mr. Murdock has an acre of ground within the 
corporate limits of the village of Berwick, upon which 
is a good dwelling, where he resides retired from the 
active labors of life. He and his wife are members 
of the Baptist Church, as are likewise all his children 
except one. Mr. Murdock, although a gentleman 
not seeking office, has held some of the minor offices 
of his township, among which are Road Commis- 
sioner and School Director. 




ames T. Gilmore, who was one of the-s^ 
'■r earliest pioneers of Warren County, and 
one of the very few yet living who came as 



'JKl 



early as 1833, is the third son of Col. Robert 
and Maria (Pilgrim) Gilmore. He is in every 
sense a pioneer of the county, arriving here 
June 13, 1833, and here he was reared and was edu- 
cated and has since lived. He was born in Jeffer- 
son Co., Ohio, June 5, 1823. His father was born 
in Chester Co., Pa., Feb. 2, 1783, and grew to man- 
hood in his native county. He learned the trade of 
a tanner, serving an apprenticeship after he was 21 
years of age. After acquiring an understanding of 
his business, he went to Ohio, and there embarked 
in the tannery business extensively, especially for 
that period. He located at Cross Creek, in Jefferson 
County, and carried on the business until the out- 
break of the second war with Great Britain. He 
then enlisted and was made a Colonel of a regiment. 
He served under Harrison and was one of his staff 
officers. He was in the military service as long as 
there was any need of his assistance, and after the 
close of tlie contest he returned to his business. He 
was also the owner of a farm, which he put into the 
management of a renter. In 1833, he sold all his 
interests in the Buckeye State and started for lUi- 



^ 



A 



392 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



*X 



nois. His family then consisted of himself, his wife 
and nine children. They traveled on the rivers, 
which at that period were the principal means of I 
transfer to the West. One member of the family , 
was stricken with the cholera, which was prevalent ; 
in that year, but the attack did not prove fatal. 

They landed at Oipi.iwka on the 13111 of lime, a - 
day made memorable by the trial of the Indians who '< 
murdered Williaui Martin the previous year. The ! 
eldest son of the family, Ephraim, started for Warren ' 
County on foot, and obtained a team, which con- 
sisted of three yokes of oxen and a wagon, and with 
its aid the family and household belongings were 
transported to Warren County. The father took a 
claim on section 25 of township 12, ranj^e 2, or what 
is now Spring Grove I'ownship. He held his claim 
until the land came into market, wlieu he made the 
customary effort to " prove up;" but failing to do so 
and to secure a cle.ir title, he sold his right, and 
later bought the southwest quarter of section 24, in 
the same township. While on the lirsl claim he 
built a log house of a good ty|)e, then called a double 
house. It was covered with split clapboards and 
had a puncheon floor. The chimney was built on 
the outside of ihc dwelling and was made of dirt 
and sticks. After buying the second place, he built 
a similar structure upon that, and made shingles for 
the roof and puncheon for the floor. He fenced and 
otherwise improved more than half the land of the 
claim and built a stable and a cmn-cril) He was a 
resident on that pla<x until his death, which occurred 
July 9, 1857. He was twice married. His fir^t 
wife was Elizabeth Collins, who became the mother 
of six children, as follows: Ei)hraim, John, Ara- 
bella, Ann, Joseph C., and one who died in infancy. 
Mrs. Gilmore died about the year 182 1 or 1822. 
Col. Gilmore"s second wife was Maria Pilgiim, and 
the record of their children is as follows : The eld- 
est two died in infancy, James 'I', (our subject), then 
Thomas, Elizabeth C, Lawrence H., Rachel, George 
W., Benjamin Franklin and Robert, making 16 chil- 
dren born to Col. Gilmore. His second wife was 
born in Germany and c.ime to America in her child- 
hood. She died Aug. 20, 1840. Ephraim was for 
many years a resident of Mercer County, and was 
the first County Clerk of that county, and also 
County Surveyor for eight or ten years. He after- 
wards started into the banking business. In t883 he 
went to Paoli, Kan. John died in Ohio; Arabella 
, • ' A 



married Theodore Jennings and they live in Ford 
Co , 111. ; .\\\n is the wife of John Ritchie, of Har- 
rison Co, Ohio; Joseph G. lives in Aledo, Mercer 
County; James T. and Thomas are the next in 
order of birth ; Elizabeth C m irried Sidnty Lafferty, 
of Mercer County; Lawrence H.; Rachel is the 
wite of John .\rmstrong, of the same township of 
which her parents were pioneers ; B. Franklin resides 
in Hopkins, Mo. ; Ro'.jerl died in Kansas 

Mr. Gilmore of this sketch was ten years old 
when he came with his parents to Illinois, and he 
grew to the estate of nianhood in Warren County. 
He was reared under all the influences of the 
pioneer period and was a pupil in the pioneer log 
school-house. \\. the age of 25 he commenceti his 
life as an independent man of business, and pur- 
chased the farm on which he now lives. It had 
been improved to some extent and included a double 
log house, a stable and 30 acres of broken farming 
land. There were 410 acres that had Pot been un- 
der the plow, and the new proprietor made all 
possible haste to render his property a profitable in- 
vest nenl. He erected a good class of buildings, 
which are a credit and an ornament to the farm, and 
of which a view is given in these pages. Mr Gilmore 
is the owner of 330 acres in Warren County and 160 
acres in Mercer County. The entire amount of 
land is in cultivation. 

Oct, 26, 1848, his marriage to Mary C. Lair was 
was i:elebraleil. She was born in Warren Co., Ky., 
Oct. 29, 1827. She was the daughter of William 
and Sarah (Wallace) Lair. Her father was a native 
of Warren Co , Ky., and is said to have been the 
first wliite child born in that county. The date of 
his birth was April 3. 1796. His parents were con- 
sequently among the earliest pioneers of Ken- 
tucky. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Gilmore, was 
also a native of Warren Co., Ky. She was born 
May 8, 1808, and is of Scotch-Irish parentage. Her 
husband was of German descent. They were mar- 
ried in 1826, and removed lo Illinois in 1832, and 
settled on a tract of land now embraced in Kelly 
'I'ownship, this county, where they improved a farm 
and lived respected and honored members of society. 
'They had born to iheni a family of 13 children, six 
of whom are yet living. Mr. Lair died April 7, 1873. 
Politically, he was a Democrat, and in his religious 
connections was a member of the Christian Church. 
His widow survives him, and resides with her son 



1 



r 



*1 



WARREN COUNTY. 



*93 




4 



William M., on the old homestead on section 3,0, 
Kelly Township, and is also a devoted member of 
the Christian Church. 

Of the five children of whom Mr. and Mrs. Gil- i 
more became the parents, three are now living: I 
Anna is married to John M. Irey, of Spring Grove ! 
Township; Ella is tlie wife of Oliver Stoner : they 
reside in Mercer County; (ieorge W. (married to 
Mary A. McKelvey) is assisting his father in work- 
ing the home farm. The motlier died March 3, 
r8?i. M irch 23, 1882, Mr. Gilmore was married 
to Susan, widow of George Leonard. She was born 

' in Pennsylvania, and was there married to her first 
husband Feb. 2r, 1850. In 1855, they came to 
Spring (jrove I'ownship, where, in Marcli, 1861, Mr. ' 
Leonard died. She had eight children by her first i 
husband, six of whom are still living. Silas is a 
resident of this township; Bertie resides in Alexis; 
Stewart is a citizen of Monmouth ; Ida; Alice lives 

: in Stephenson Co., I). T. ; Mary is the youngest. 

' r Mr. Gilmore is a Democrat in political persuasion, 

and both himself and wife are members of the Chris- 

. tian Churcli. He is looked upon by his many friends 

;>. as being one of the best men who ever honored War- 

j I ren County with their presence. 

A portrait of Mr. Gilmore is exhibited on page ; 

I I 290. } 



'oseph Martin, ex-President of the First 

K^ National Bank al Monmouth, a gentleman 

*-'-'''* 'y of more than ordinary business ability, re- 
tired from the active labors of life on a compe- 
tency acquired by individual effort and good 
judgineni, coupled with economy and perse- 
verance, resides on section 28, Monmouth Township, 
near the limits of the city of that name. He was 
born in '.he North of Ireland, Aug. 15, 1816, and is 
of Scotch-Irish extraction His father, William Mar- 
tin, was a native of the Emerald Isle, and resided 
there until his death, engaged in the vocation of 
farming. His death occurred about 1845. His wife, 
Mary Forbes, was born in the North of Ireland and 
was likewise of Scotch- Iiish extraction, and also died 
in her native country. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was 



next to the youngest in-order ofbirth of a family of 
six children, ard he and a brother, James, (who is re- 
siding in Page County, Iowa, where he is engaged in 
farming and cattle raising) are the only survivors. 
Joseph Martin resided with his parents on his native 
Isle nnlil he reached the age of 19 years, when he 
was united in marriage to Miss Jane Groves, a 
daughter of Joseph and Jane Groves. Soon . after 
they were weded, they crossed the briny waters and 
located in the United States, the date thereof being 
1834. His first location was in New Castle, Law- 
rance Co., I'a., where after residing for a short time, 
he moved to Mercer Co., Pa., where he purchased 
land and for 12 years followed agricultural pursuits. 
Leaving Pennsylvania he came to Galena, this State, 
and in the neighborhood of that place purchased 200 
acres of land, whi^li had been partly worked for lead. 
He re-opened the mines and succeeded in striki.ig 
an exceedingly rich vein, which yielded him about 
$25,000. He continued to operate his mines in that 
vicinity for about nine years, until r86o, when, in the 
fall, he came to this county and purchased 160 acres 
of partly improved land, in Tompkins Township, 
where he operated only a short time; then rented 
his land and moved to Monmouth with a view to 
educating his children. He afterward sold his farm 
in Tompkins township and purchased other property 
and cleared $8,000. His success as a speculator has 
been more than ordinary. In the fall of 1863, he 
with others, established the First National Bank at 
Monmouth, with a capital of $50,000, which was 
later increased to $75,000. The institution at times 
re|)resented a capital of $500,000, and was doing a 
good and increasing business until its recent failure. 
Mr. Martin was a stock holder for about 20 years, 
and was elected President of the institution some- 
time previous to its failure, but no word of censure 
has ever been heard against Mr. Martin on account 
of the disaster to the bank, it being tioo well known 
by every depositor and by the citizens of Warren 
County, who was the cause of its failure. Mr. Mar- 
tin has been actively engaged in many financial op- 
erations, and at present is the proprietor ot a 200 
acre farm in Page Co., Iowa, which is under an ad- 
vanced state of cultivation. He owns 22 acres on 
which he at present resides, and also a largi brick 
store-house, of which the Y. M. C. K. occupy the 
second story. 

The first wife of Mr. Martin died in Monmouth 



< 



M 



•94 



WARREN COUNTY. 



\ 



in 187 I. He was again married in that city to Mrs. 
Jennie Patton, nee Lee, widow of Rev. Samuel Pat- 
ton, of Detroit, and daughter of Judge Thomas and 
Nancy (Wilson) Lee, natives of Pennsylvania and 
Ohio respectively, of American parentage and Scotch 
descent. She was born in Cadiz, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1830. 
Her father was formerly a farmer by occupation, but 
later in life engaged in the business of a tanner, and 
still later was connected with politics, being almost 
continuously the incumbent of an official position 
thereafter until his death, which occurred in Cadiz, 
Ohio, in 1853, during his 57th year. Her mother 
died Sept. 20, 1885, at the venerable age of 87 years. 
Mrs. Martin lias borne her husband one cliild, — Nan- 
nie L., born June 12, 1872. Seven children were 
born to Mr. Martin by his first union, — William W., 
is married and lives in Salem, Oregon, the maiden 
name of his wife being Belle Myers ; James is also 
married and is likewise a resident of Salem, Oregon; 
the other five children are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Martin are members of the United Presbyterian 
Church at Monmouth, to the building of which Mr. 
Martin contributed $2,000. He is present trustee 
and member of the session. 

In politics he is a staunch supporter of the princi- 
ples of the Republican party, having always opposed 
the institution of slavery, and during the late Civil 
War was a strong and unswerving Union man. 



-— ^' 



«— 



#j|eiijamin P. Matteson, a farmer residing 
on section 30, Floyd Township, was born 




4 



in Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 1836, and 
Mj5 came to this State in 1838 with his parents. 
The father of Mr. Matteson (Myron Matte- 
son) was born in New York, in 1810, and 
died in 1849, in tliis county, whither he removed 
and settled in Floyd Township. He married Maria 
Davis, in 1830. She was born in 1808, in Oneida 
County, New York, and is still living. Of their union 
six children were born, — Geraldine, Juliet, Benja- 
min P., Christian, Joann and Myron D. 

Benjamin P. was married to Miss Margaret Mur- 
dock, Oct. 2, 1858. She was born Sept. 3, 
1838, and is a daughter of John Murdock, born 



Feb. 9, 1807, in Greene County, Pa., and who 
came to this State in 185 1, and located in this 
county. He married Miss Fannie Milligan, Nov. 14, 
1830. She was born Oct. 15, 1810, in Pennsylva- 
nia, and bore her husband 1 1 children, four of whom 
are deceased. The names of the children are: Mar- 
garet, Jonas, Mary, Daniel, John, George, Millie, 
Hiram, Allen, Armenia and Edgar. 

Mr. and Mrs. Matteson of this notice are the par- 
ents of two children, — Mabel, born Dec. 26, 1862, 
and Dora, March 31, 1864. The former is the wife 
of Dr. William McClannahan, a prominent physician 
of West Jersey, Stark Co., 111. They have one son. 
Miss Dora still resides with lier parents. 

Mr. Matteson is the proprietor of 80 acres of well 
improved land, located on section 30, Floyd Town- 
ship. He has a fine residence on his place, 22 x 35 
feet in dimensions, with a barn, 32x36 feet. His 
cattle are of a high grade and his place presents an 
appearance to the passer-by indicative of that energy 
which its proprietor possesses. Mr. Matteson is a 
member of the Anti-Horse-Thief Society. In relig- 
ion, he and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church, of which denomination he is a Deacon. In •<; 
politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, and 
during the late war was a strong Union man. 



ohn D. Grigg, proprietor of 130 acres of 
ilE^^lt" agricultural land under an advanced state 
y^^ of cultivation, located on section 32, Swan 
Township, is a native of Kentucky, and was 
there born May 26, 1841. He came to this 
State in 1864 with his parents, and for six 
years resided with them in McDonough County. 

The father of John D., Joseph W. Grigg, was born 
in 1802, in Virginia, his parents moving to Kentucky 
when he was but a lad. He there grew to manhood, 
receiving such education as was to be acquired in 
the district school, and married Miss Delila Mc- 
Cullougii. Sept. 5, 1822. She was born in Vir- 
ginia in 1806, and died in this Slate in 1877. Josepli 
W., the father, is still living with his son (John D., 
subject of this notice), at the venerable age of 83 
years. 

John D. Grigg was united in marriage. Sept 10, 



V 




Residence OF A.J.Sisson, Sec. 28, Swan Township. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



"^^^r^ 



*97 



1874, with Miss Anna B. Cline. This estimable 
lady, who by her well cultivated intellect, consistent 
course in life as a member of the Methodist Church 
and amiable qualities in general, had won the es- 
teem of all who knew lier, died July ^6, 1875, in the 
24th year of her age (having been born Jan. 3, 1852), 
leaving an only child, — Joseph H., born June 11, 
187s,— who followed the mother to the eternal home 
on the 2Sth of August of the same year (1875). 

Mr. Grigg formed a second matrimonial alliance, 

Oct. 30, 1877, with Miss Florence C Shoop. She 

was born Nov. 4, 1855, and is the daughter of W. VV. 

Shoop, a native of Maryland, who at present resides 

in McDonough County. Mr. and Mrs. Grigg have 

three children, namely : Iva L., born Aug. 19, 1878; 

Mina L., Dec. 6, 1880; Flora P., Oct. 31, 1884. 

Mr. Grigg has two brothers and two sisters living, — 

James W. and R. C, Susan and America, and two 

sisters, Sally and Minerva, deceased. Mrs. Grigg 

T has four sisters and five brothers, namely : Lydia 

' [■ A., William H., Alva, Emma Catharine, Freddie, 

, George E. and Maggie M., and Mary E. and John 

[ W., deceased. 

?" Mr. Grigg is pleasantly situated on his home farm 

of 130 acres on section 32, Swan Township, all of 

which is under an advanced state of cultivation. 

^ He is breeding high grades of Short-horn cattle, and 

handles the Poland China hogs. He has a pair of 

mares on his place weighing 1,500 pounds each. 

In politics Mr. Grigg votes with the Republican 
party. He was reared under the influences of the 
Methodist Church, and .although not a member of 
that denomination, in his religious principles he is 
inclined towards their doctrines. 



Ij^^^l'ndrew J. Sisson, an energetic representa- 
^^,, tive of the agricultural class of Warren 
ii3j< e-a Qgyjity, residing upon section 28, Swan 
Township, was born Sept. 5, 1828, in Rens- 
selaerville, Albany Co., N. Y. He is a son of 
Joseph Sissen, a native of Rock Island, but 
who became a resident of New York State when one 
year old. 

The father of Mr. Sisson married Miss Floretta 
Frisbie in 18(2. She was born in 1790 and he in 




1789. They emigrated to Illinois in 1837 and lo- 
cated in Swan Township, Warren County, where the 
husband, and father of this notice, died June 12, 
1 85 1. The wife and mother survived him until 
June, 1882, when she passed to the land of the here- 
after. Of their union ten children were born, 
namely: Asahel B., C^yrus, Emeline, Rufus, Ann, 
Augustine W., Marcus F., Andrew J., Mary E. and 
Martin V. His father was a pioneer settler in this 
county, a farmer by occupation and one of the re- 
spected and honored citizens of the coinmunity in 
which he resided and died. 

Andrew J. Sisson was united in marriage with Miss 
Nancy Jane McMahill, Jan. 19, 1854. Of their 
union there was no issue, but they have raised to 
manhood and womanhood, two children, — Nellie M. 
Brooks, who, when she came under their care, was 
three years old. She was born in 1859, received a 
good education at the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Sis- 
son, and resided with them until her marriage to 
Joseph Thorn, in January, 1S85. They reside on a 
farm in Swan Township. The name of their other 
adopted child is William H. Canfield, born Feb. 8, 
1858, who also received a liberal education at the < 
hands of Mr. and Mrs. Sisson, and became the , 
head of family. May g, 1881, by marriage with Miss 
Alice Watson. At present he is a farmer in Seward , 
Co., Neb. 

The father of Mrs. Sisson, Mr. William McMahill, 
was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., in 1806. He was of 
Scotch-Irish ancestry, his ancestors settling in Vir- 
ginia and from there moved to Kentucky. Mr. Mc- 
Mahill emigrated to Illinois, in 1829; was married to 
Miss Mary Snapp in 1828. His wife was born in 
1806, in Nicholas Co., Ky.,and died Aug. 31, 1877. 
Their union was blessed with the birth of 12 chil- 
dren, whom they named George, Susan, Sarah, 
Nancy Jane, Elizabeth, John, Ann Maria, Kentucky 
America, William H., Pinckney, Mary E., and Lu- 
cinda, four of whom are deceased, namely : Elizabeth, 
Mary, Lucinda and Ky America. 

Mr. Sisson, of whom we write, is pleasantly lo- 
cated with his family on his fine farm of 250 acres, 
on section 28, Swan Township, and has the entire 
place improved. In 1884, he erected a fine residence 
on his farm, 33 X36 feet in dimensions and two story 
with basement. His house is one of the best, if not 
the best, in Swan Township, and its inside appear- 
ance is almost as fine as its outside, it being fur- 



•J^l 




298 



~" . .V. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



U 



nished in the best possible manner, with all necessary 
apparatus for lightening the labors of the female 
portion of the household. He is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and he and his wife are both mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Sisson 
being Superintendent of the Sunday-school. In 
politics, he is independent. A view of his home- 
stead appears in this volume. 



-w=4=4 







eorge Gossett, retired farmer, enjoying the 

sunset of his life in ease and comfort at 

* Roseville, was born in Randolph Co., N. 



C, March 31, 1807, his parents being William- 
son and Rebecca (Stalker) Gossett, natives of 
North Carolina and of English descent. The 
parents of Mr. Gossett came to Indiana in 18 15, the 
father purchased land in that State, on which he lo- 
cated and was laboriously occupied in its cultivation 
until he became too old to follow the active labors of 
life, when he retired, and continued to reside there 
until his death, which occurred in 1863. 

George Gossett received a good education in the 
common schools of his native county, and worked on 
his father's farm until he was 19 years old. He then 
worked out by the month and continued to labor in 
that manner until he attained the age of 23 years. 
At that age in life he rented a farm on shares, but 
as he was poor he was unable to buy a team and he 
cultivated his land i)y working for others and receiv- 
ing compensation therefor by their loaning him a 
team. Under these trying circumstances he contin- 
ued to cultivate rented land for two years, when, by 
the closest economy he was enable to buy a team. 

He continued to save his earnings until 1850, 
when he had accumulated sufficient to purchase a 
farm of 74 acres in Indiana, whither his parents had 
removed. He raised two crops on this land, then 
sold it, making $600 by the sale. 

In 1852, Mr. Gossett came to Pike County, this 
State, where he cultivated rented land for one year. 
In February, 1854, he came to this county, where he 
had previously purchased 152 acres of land on sec- 
tion 4 Swan Township, and subsequently added 80 
acres to the same, making in all 232 acres. He lo- 



cated on this land and worked the same for 13 years, 
and then, in 1867, came to Roseville, purchased prop- 
erty and erected a residence thereon, and then sold 
the saiTie to William Moore. He then built on the 
corner of Main and Chestnut Streets, where he has 
continued to reside since 1876. Mr. Gossett rents 
his farm and at present is living a retired life, en- 
joying the accumulations which a life of energetic 
effort and economy have brought him. 

Mr. Gossett was married in January, 1829, to 
Miss VurlinderT. Turnbull, a native of Virginia, and 
the daughter of John and Mary P. (Tannihill) Turn- 
bull, natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively, 
and of Scotch descent. The issue of their union is 
six children, only two of whom survive, — Rebecca R. 
Davis and William T. Gossett. The latter is the 
present postmaster at Roseville. In politics Mr. 
Gossett is a staunch Republican. He and his wife 
are members of the M. E. Church and have been 
since 1839, of which denomination, Mr. Gossett 
is trustee and has been steward and class leader. 
Mr. and Mr. Gossett on the first day of January, 
1879, celebrated their golden wedding, having passed 
50 years of wedded life together. On that occasion 
they received many valuable presents from their 
host of relatives and friends. 



-o— <}- 



-G— - 




''k?>s^|^ athaniel Kidder, a farmer residing on 
section 28, Swan Township, was born 
in this county, July 31, 1845, and is a son 
of Larnard Kidder, a native of Mansfield, 
Conn., where he was born in 1806. The father 
came to Illinois about 1837, and located in Swan 
Township, where he died Sept. 24, 1864. He 
was married to Miss Mary Ann Hoisington, March 
22, 1837. She was born April 5. 1809, in Windsor, 
Vt., and of her union with Mr. Kidder, seven chil- 
dren were born, — Almon, Feb. 27, 1838; William O., 
Aug. 13, 1839; Henry H., May 25, 1841 ; Benjamin 
H., April 7, 1843; Nathaniel, July 31, 1845 ; Olive 
M., July 3, 1847, and Eliza A., Aug. 5. 1849. 

The grandparents of Mr. Kidder, of this notice, 
Abishi and Lucinda (Hastings) Hoisington, on his 
mother's side. His grandfather was born in 1769, 



r 



>• 



YZ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



4-^ 



BQ9 



and his grandmother, in 177 i. The former died 
March 16, 1859, and the latter Sept. 13, 1825, and 
of their union nine children were born, — Betsey, 
Olive, Sabrina, Harriet, Maria, John, Mary Ann, 
Eleanor D., and William \V. 

Nathaniel Kidder formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Miss Mattie Meredith, Dec, 18, 1872. She was 
born May 14, 1849, and has borne her husband two 
children, — Minnie I., Dec. 3, 1873, and Harriet G , 
July 27, 1876. The parents of Mrs. Kidder were 
James and Elizabeth (Thompson) Meredith. Her 
father was born Feb. 22, 1808, and is still living, re- 
siding in Nebraska. Her mother was born Sept. 1 1 , 
1823, and bore her husband eight children, namely: 
Sarah E., born May 22, 1847 ; Mattie, May 14, 
1849; James VV., Feb. 18, 1851 ; George R., July 9, 
1853; Lucius M., Dec. 18, 1855; Philinda, Dec. 5, 
1857; John M., Sept. 9, 1859; Bruce, Feb. 21, 
1861. 

Mr. Kidder is one of the substantial farmers and 
land owners in Swan Township, owing 156 acres. 
He has a fine residence on his place, two stories in 
height, erected in 1882. The first residence built 
on this site was 23 years ago. 

He is engaged, in addition to the cultivation of his 
land, in the raising of high grade short-horn cattle, 
and in his vocation as an agriculturist is one of the 
leading representatives, not only in Swan Township, 
but in Warren County. Mr. Kidder entered the 
service in the war for the Union, joining Co. C, 
128th III. Vol. Inf , May 7, 1864. He was on guard 
duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan , and there remained 
five and a half months, when, Oct. 18, 1864, he was 
mustered out at Springfield and honorably dis- 
charged. 




\ INe\^ 



lien S. Phillips, one of the large land-own- 
ers of Swan Township, is an energetic suc- 
cessful farmer of Warren Co., residing upon 
section 33, who was born in Saratoga Springs, 
N. Y., Jan. 10, 1832. He is the son of Scuiber 
Phillips, born in Greenbush, N. Y., Aug. 16, 
1802, and who died June 16, 1873. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Sophronia Da\is, Sept. 19, 1822, in 
New York. She was born Nov. 16, 1803, in Oris- 



kany Falls, Oneida Co., N. Y., and is still living in 
that State. Their children were six in number, — 
John N., Allen S., Cordelia J., Melissa D., Alonzo, 
James H., the latter dying in infancy. 

Allen S Phillips, subject of this notice, was united 
in marriage with Miss Anna M. McMahill, Jan. 26, 
1868, Rev. M. Sperlock, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, officiating. Of their union, six children 
have been born, one of whom is deceased: Emma, 
born March 14, 1870, and died May 14, 1877 ; Mary 
S., born March 22, 1872; Wilbur, Nov. 29, 1875; 
Burtis, Sept. I, 1877; Windle, Nov. 21, 1881; and 
Guy E., Aug. II, 1884. Tiie father of Mrs. Phillips. 
William McMahill, was born Nov. 26, 1806, in Ken- 
tucky, and died June 7, 1881, in this State. He 
was married to Miss Mary Snapp in 1828. She was 
born Feb. 22, 1806, and died Aug. 31, 1877. Of 
their union 12 children were born, viz.: George, 
Susan, Sarah, Nancy Jane, Elizabeth, John, Ann 
M., America Ky., William H., Pinkney, Mary E. 
and Lucinda A. The deceased are Elizabeth, Amer- 
ica, Mary and Lucinda. 

Mr. Phillips with his fainily are pleasantly situated 
on their large farm of 300 acres on section 33, Swan-^ 
Township, and has all his land under an advanced 
state of cultivation. He has a fine thoroughbred 
bull, two years old, and 14 head of high grade cattle, 
on his place, and also handles the Clydesdale breed 
of horses. He is Highway Commissioner of his 
township, and, in politics, votes with the Greenback 
party. His worthy wife is highly esteemed as a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in 
social circles generally. 



I « 
rson G. Chapman, Postmaster at Alexis, is 

a descendant of two families of New Eng- 
land origin. His father Orson C. Chap- 
man, was a native of that part of the United 
States, and his mother, nee Rebecca Gifford, 
I was born in the State of New York. They 
belonged to the agricultural class and reared their 
son to the same calling. 

The latter was born Feb. 26, 1843, in OswegoCc, 
N. Y. He was a pupil in the common schools in 
his boyhood and he remained in Oswego County 
until 1866, when became to Warren County and en- 




gaged in farming in Spring Grove Township, in com- 



lat: 



*i^ 



3°° 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



u 



pany with his brother, Alexander Chapman. In one 
year thereafter he went to Kansas, where he also 
became interested in farming in Doniphan County, 
remaining two years, and then returned to Spring 
Grove, where he again resumed fanning, which oc- 
cupation he continued until 1870. In the autumn 
of that year he embarked in the grocery business, 
and was the first to establish an enterprise of that 
character at Alexis. 

In January, 187 i, he received the appointment of 
Postmaster, and has managed the postal affairs of 
the Government at that place without intermission 
ever since. In the fall of 1872 he closed the sale of 
groceries, and has since conducted the sale of sta- 
tioners' goods and jewelry. He is a Republican in 
political sentiment. 

In August, 1872, lie was married to Adeline Gar- 
rett. They have two children. Wade and Ava. Mrs. 
Chapman was born in Breckenridge, Ky. 



\ 




,,arbard M. Hogan, a citizen of Kelly Town- 
ship, residing on section 35, came to War- 
ren County with his parents when he 
was nine years of age. He was born in Harri- 
son County, Ind., and is the son of Harmon 
and Elizabetli (Miles) Hogan. His father was 
born Oct. 30, 1792, in Montgomery County, Va. He 
married Margaret Elliott in 1814, and soon after that 
event he located in Indiana. He lived in Dearborn 
County three years, and went thence to Harrison 
County. The days of his removal to Indiana were 
the days of the pioneer period, and in both the coun- 
ties in which he was a resident he was among the 
first of the settlers. In the latter he bought a tract 
of land covered with primeval forest, cleared a small 
space and buill a log house. His wife died I here in 
1820. In April, 1823, he married Elizabeth Miles. 
She was born April 20, 1800, in Breckenridge Co., 
Ky. After their marriage they went to live in the 
native county of the wife, where they were residents 
until the year in which they came to Illinois. They 
started for the West October 9th, with teams of 
horses, and arrived in Warren Cohnty after 20 days 
of travel across the country. M. Hogan bought a 



tax title or. section 35, in Township 12, range r 
which was his field of operation until his death, 
which transpired Sept. 19, 1864. His wife survived 
him until Nov. 22, 1875. ^^ ^^^^ ''''^ father of 12 
children. William C. lives in the township of Hen- 
derson, in Knox County. Nancy is the wife of Har- 
mojT Brown, of the same township in which her 
brother lives These two were the children of the 
first wife. The second wife became the mother of 
ten children, three of whom survive. Mr. Hogan 
of this sketch is the oldest. Mary E. is the wife of 
R. A. Sinclair, of Nebraska. Jane is married to O. 
E. Beswick, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Mr. Hogan has lived in Kelly Township from the 
time of the removal of his father hither to the fall of 
1840, when he went to Missouri, remaining in that 
State two months. The business in which he had 
interested himself was that of an assistant in a fac- 
tory for the manufacture of fanning-mills. He went 
thence to Madison, Indiana, and was similarly occu- 
pied while there. He remained in Indiana until 
March, 1850. He then came back to Warren 
County and engaged in the same business in the 
township of Cold Brook. After a period of two years 
passed as a craftsman there, he located on a farm, 
on whicli he passed a year. After that he was occu- 
pied a season as a lightning-rod agent, and then op- 
erated as a collector. Meanwhile, in company with 
a brother, he made a purcha'^e of the farm which he 
now owns and occupies. Durmg the years 1853-4 
he was engaged in the management of his interests 
on the farm. In the autumn of the year last named 
he went to Galesburg and was an assistant in build- 
ing the first brick business block ever erected in that 
place. From that date he has been occupied in the 
pursuit of the business of a carpenter during the 
greater part of the time. 

He was married Dec. 30, 1862, to Miss Ida A. 
Thompson. They have nine children. Their names 
ate Jennie B., Emma, Harmon B., H. Eva, L. Maud, 
Willie, Orrin E., Frank M. and Ralph. 

In political connection and faith, Mr. Hogan is a 
Republican. He adheres to the faith of the Uni- 
versalists. He has officiated in various township 
official positions, among which are Collector of Taxes, 
Treasurer of the school fund and Clerk. July 7, 
1857, he was appointed Postmaster of Utah postal 
station by President Buchanan. He resigned to enter 
the military service and on his return was re-ap- 



< 



lA: 



T 




S- \> 




':4i 

















^^Cn— / /Oy,^^ 



^. 



WARREN CO UNT Y. 



-k^ 



303 



pointed by President Lincoln. He held the office 
until 1878, when he resigned. 

Mr. Hogan was one of the earliest to respond to 
the call of President Lincoln for troops, and he en- 
listed in April, 1861, in Company E, 17th 111. Vol. 
Inf., for three months. He was sworn into service 
and continued to discharge the duties of a soldier 
during that time. In 1862 he went to Ind.ana, ac- 
companied by his wife, and while there that part of 
the State was raided by Morgan and his guerrillas. 
The inhabitants armed for defense and Mr. Hogan 
joined them. He was captured by the Third Louis- 
iana Cavalry and after a brief bondage was released, 
after being robbed of his money and clothing. He 
went a little later to Vicksburg, where he was em- 
ployed in a bakery, and after a short service in that 
capacity he obtained a pass from Gen. John A. Lo- 
gan and went to New Orleans. After a stay in the 
Crescent City of five weeks he returned to Warren 
County. 




'^ eorge W. Fish, engaged in agriculture on 
section 4, Berwick Township, was born in 

He is 



Oneida Co., N. Y., July 28, 1820. 
son of William A. Fish, a native of Connecti- 
cut, in which State he was born April r, 1788. 
Mr. Fish, father of the subject of this notice, 
is one of the pioneer settlers of this county, coming 
herein 1836, and purchasing 71 acres of land on 
section 4, Berwick Township. Previous to his com- 
ing to this State and county, he had followed his 
trade, that of a carpenter, in Oneida Co., N. Y. 

On arrival in this county, he located on his land 
and there res'ded actively engaged in its cultivation 
until his death. May 4, 1845. He was an industrious 
man, kind-hearted and generous, and took an active 
interest in any and all measures that were calculated 
to benefit the community in which he resided. He 
was married to Miss Lydia S.Allen, Feb. 4, r8i6. 
She was born Sept. 25, 1798, in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
and died March 23, r885. Of their union four chil- 
dren were born, — Helen, June 22, 1820; George, 
July 28, 1822; Allen, Jan. 2r, 1828, and Albert, 
April 4, 1831. Two children are deceased. 

George W. Fish came to this State with his pa- 




rents, and located with them on the old homestead 
in Berwick Township, this county. He has followed 
agricultural pursuits all his life, and at present is en- 
gaged in the same occupation on the identical land 
on which his parents first located when they came to 
the county. Mr. Fish has never enjoyed the "bless- 
ings " of double blessedness, but has a most amiable 
and intelligent housekeeper in the person of his sis- 
ter. She was born in 1820; was never married, and 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also 
her mother. In politics, Mr. Fish votes with the 
Democratic party. 

jlon. Samuel Wood, deceased, formerly a 
I5' resident of Monmouth, was born at Blue 
Hill, Maine, June 12, 18 11, and died at 
Monmauth, Dec. 21, 1881. His parents, Sam- 
uel and Frances (Coburn) Wood, were natives 
respectively of the States of Maine and Massa- 
chusetts, and descendants from old English stock. 
They reared two sons and four daughters, of whom 
the subject of our sketch was the youngest. The 
senior Mr. Wood was a farmer during his lifetime, 
but the subject of this notice, early in life, learned 
the carpenter's trade and followed it for about 20 
years. He received liis education at the Blue Hill 
(Me.) Academy, and in 1838 came to Monmouth, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. He was 
married at Monmouth, Sept. i, 1840, by the Rev. 
Samuel Wilson, to Miss Mary Ann Hogue, a native 
of Tennessee. She died April 28, 1856. Their first 
born, Almira Jane, died Jan. r, 1854, aged about ii 
years ; Clarinda, now Mrs. William Mitchell ; 
Chades P., who died Jan. i, 1854, aged about six 
years, and Alice, who died Dec. 22, 1853, when lit- 
tle more than a year old. On Jan. 21, 1858, Mr. 
Wood was again married at Monmouth, to Miss 
Martha E. Mitchener, of Chester Co., Pa., the daugh- 
ter of William and Rachel Mitchener. Her father's 
family came over with William Penn to America. 
Mrs. Wood, nee Mitchener, was born April 23, 1825. 
Her parents came to Monmouth in 1854, where 
her father died in i860, at the age of 82 years. His 
widow survived him about six years, finally passing 
away in the 85th year of her age. Of the two chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Wood, the eldest. Lulu, born 



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304 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



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July 3, i860, died Aug. 11, following, and Lena 
Leota is, at this writing, November, 1885, the ac- 
complished companion of her mother. 

Mr. Wood was a self-made man, and during his 
life enjoyed the merited respect and esteem of his 
neighbors. He was a Republican in politics and 
a member of no Church or secret Order. He was 
three times elected Mayor of Monmoutli, and also 
held the office of Township Assessor for several 
years. For many years before his death, he had 
been engaged in no particular business, and on his 
demise he left his family a handsome competency. 
A portrait of Mr. Wood will be found on anotiier 
page of this work. 



j^f^3|.kharle8 S. Colver, M. D., has been a 
^I ^Sii T medical practitioner in Warren County 
■ Gl'^*' since 1853. He was educated primarily 
$N ill the common schools of the county in Ohio, 
f\^ where he was born, and at the age of 19 he 
1 commenced liic study of medicine at Middle- 
bury, in Logan County, under the instructions of 
Dr. Walker. Later, he read under the advice of Dr. 
Davenport, of Woodstock, in Union County. When 
he was thoroughly grounded in the course of his 
reading, he repaired to the college at Cincinnati, and 
at a later date he attended lectures at Starling Medi- 
cal College in Columbus, Ohio. He was graduated 
from the latter institution with the degree of M. 1). 
in the same year in which he came to Warren 
County. A few months prior to finishing his studies 
at Starling he operated as a physician in Montgomery 
County, and he went thence to New California, in 
Union County, wliere he was engaged at the time he 
completed his collegiate course. He started for Illi- 
nois immediately after his graduation. He brought 
his family with him as far as Hennepin, on the Illi- 
nois River, whence he came to Little York wiih a 
team to decide for himself as to the feasibility of the 
place for his business. He also made examination of 
other localities and desided on Little York as a suit- 
able place for his purpose. He brought his house- 
hold to that point and it has since been his field of 
operation. Three years after his removal hither he 
bought a piece of wild prairie in Mercer County 
situated eight miles from Little York and his family 



removed to it. The doctor continued his practice 
and hired laborers to effect the work of improvement 
on his land, .\fter a residence there of about a de- 
cade he sold out and removed to the farm he now 
occupies on the northeast quarter of section 20. He 
has rebuilt the liouse which was on the place, erected 
a barn and otherwise improved the farm. 

Hadassah Hamilton became his wife in 1848. She 
is a native of Greene Co., Oliio. She was the daugh- 
ter of Robert and Hadassah (Gillispie) Hamilton. 
Her parents were of Scotch-Irish origin. The grand- 
parents came to this country about 1770 and settled 
in Pennsylvania. They moved from the above State 
in 1812, and settled near Xenia, Ohio. Mrs. C. was 
born March 11, 1825, she being the oldest of four 
children born to her parents, viz. ; Hadassah T., 
Hannah M., Mary J. and James G. Two are de- 
ceased, Hannah M. and Mary J. Dr. and Mrs. 
Colver have had the following children: Rosa, their 
first-born, died when about 18 months old; Robert 
O., married Miss Bessie Watt, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and now resides in Sedgwick Co., Kan. ; Mark 
S. married Jennie Brownlee, a native of Warren 
County, and lives in Georgetown, Col., and have one 
child — Pearlie; Charles B married Mrs. Libbie 
Smythe, a native of New York, and they have one 
child — Hadassah, named after its grandmother. 
They are now living in Edwards Co, Kan.; Olive, 
born July 25, 1853, died Sept. 14, 1885 ; Abi H. and 
Merle 1). are the youngest children, and reside at 
home. The various members of the family of Dr. 
Colver are members of the United Presbyterian 
Church. Dr. C. is a believer in and supporter of the 
principles advocated by the Republican party. 



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iJ^li C. Johnston, general farmer and stock- 
grower on section 36, Ellison Township, 
was born in Daviess Co., Ind., Sept. 20, 
1830. The family traditions give the following 
facts concerning the remote account known to 
any of the family at present: They are Scotch- 
Irish descent. John Jolinston, a soldier in the Innes- 
killen Regiment, in the army of William the Third in 
the battle of Boyne, married Jane Potter about 1692, 
and settled as a farmer near the town of Straban, 
County Tyrone, Ireland. The names of two of their 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



305 



children were Christopher and James. Both were 
born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Christopher came 
to America some time during the first half of the 
i8th century and settled in Lancaster Co., Pa.; the 
other brother, James, remained in Ireland with his 
parents, who lived to a great age. He, after their de- 
cease, when about 50 years old, married Rebecca 
Barnhill. She became the mother of five children 
known to the family, namely ; Christopher, John, 
Edward, Elizabeth and Jane. The former was a 
soldier at the battle of Brandywine, afterwards went 
to Kentucky and was killed by the Indians at 
Estill's defeat. Jonn went to Georgia and since 
that eventful lime has not been heard of Elizabeth 
married William Frame and lived in Piitsburg, Pa., 
Jane married William Barnhill, who resided some 
time in Kentucky, and afterward went to Lawrence 
Co., Ind., where they both died. Edward was born 
in 1776 in County Tyrone, Ireland, and was about 
seven years old when lie came to America with his 

[father in 1783. 

His father died about 1791, and after his de;ith and 

. the settlement of the estate, Edward went to Pitts- 
't burg. Pa , and from there to Kentucky. He was en- 
gaged in two or three campaigns against the Indians 
and during the same, marched through the State of 
Indiana when it was a wild wilderness, full of game 
of all descriptions. He, Edward, married Jane 
Miller and in 1797 purchased 200 acres of land, on 
which he resided until i8oi,when he removed to 
Clark Co., Ind. In i8i7,he left that county and 
went to Lawrence County, same State, where he died 
in May, 1834. His wife, Jane Miller, was born in 
County Antrim, Ireland, in 1762, and died in Law- 
rence Co , Ind., in December, 1833. Their married 
life lasted for 40 years, and during the time they 
were man and wife they passed through many hard- 
ships and privations, common to pioneer life. Of the 
children born to Edward Johnston, Christopher, the 
father of the subject of this article, died at Paducah, 
Ky., while running a flat-boat down the Mississippi 
River. Christopher married Miss Sarah Dixon, 
daughter Eli and Rebecca Di.xon. .She was barn in 
Ohio. 

Eli C. Johnston, the gentleman whose name stands 
at the head of this biography, was the youngest child 
of his parents' family, and is the only survivor. 
His father died of cholera in Kentucky, as stated, 
and was buried at Paducah, same State. He was a 



pioneer in Lawrence Co., Ind., and by occupation 
was a flat-boatman on the Mississippi, WHiite and 
Wabash Rivers. Mr. Johnston, of this notice, was 
but three years old at the date of his father's demise, 
and soon thereafter his mother, accompanied by 
two children, went to Greene Co , Ind., where they 
locaied ne.ir Worthington. Mr. Johnston continued 
to reside with his mother until her death, which 
occurred when he was seven years old. He after- 
waids lived with and was reared by relatives, with 
whom he remained until [860, when he came to this 
State. 

Previous to coming here, Nov. 26, 1857, in Greene 
County, his native State, he was married to Miss 
Amanda, daughter of John C. and Charena (Alford) 
Andrews, natives of Tennessee. Her father was a 
blacksmith by trade, and was born in Lawrence Co., 
Tenn., where Mrs. Johnston, wife of the subject of 
this notice, was born, May 19, 1839. She was four 
years old when her parents moved to Greene Co., 
Ind., where-they resided until their death, that of 
the mother occurring in May, i860, in her 46th year, 
and that of the father in 1S64, when he was 52 
years of age. Mrs. Johnston was the oldest but one 
of her parents' family, which consisted of three sons 
and three daughters. She was educated at Broom- 
field College, and resided with her parent, following 
the vocation of teaching and assisting the mother in 
the household duties until her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have become the parents 
of five cliildren. Edward C. married Miss Ora Ad- 
kinson, daughter of William and Lucinda Adkinson, 
and they reside in Point Pleasant Township, where 
he is engaged in farming; William D. married Ida 
Stem, daughter of David and Sarah Stem, and he is 
also a farmer of Point Pleasant 'I'ownship; Blanche 
C, Minnie and Estella reside at home. 

In the fall of i860 Mr. and Mrs. Johnston came 
to this State and were for a few months residents at 
Roseville. Mr. Johnston then rented land in Point 
Pleasant Township, which he cultivated for two 
years. In 1863 he purchased 80 acres of partly im- 
proved land, the same being on section 36, Ellison 
Township. He and his familv at once located there- 
on, and he began the improvement which developed 
into the fine farm of 220 acres, on which they are 
now residing. By energetic labor and united efforts 
on the part of his wife and children, and economy, 
Mr. J. has been enabled to increase his landed pos- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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sessions in the county until he is at present the pro- 
prietor 860 acres, all in a body and all of it in an 
advanced state of cultivation. He has a good resi- 
dence on his land, together with substantial out- 
buildings, and after having passed through the trials 
of the past he is now enjoying the comforts of life. 
Since the fall of i860, Mr. Jolinston has not seen the 
shining light of day. The toils of life and exposure 
brought on a cold, which was followed by acute in- 
flammation, and resulted in totally destroying his 
sight, and he is now deprived of that greatest of 
blessings to man. His wife is a member of tlie 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which denom- 
ination Mr. Jolinston is an Elder, and lias held that 
position for the past two years. Mrs. Johnston is a 
consistent Christian, a kind mother and a loving wife. 
The care she bestows on her blind husband needs 
no mention in this book, neither does she desire the 
encomiums of friends for the performance of a loving 
duty in taking care of him to whom, 28 years ago, she 
gave her heart and hand, and we can but say, "well 
done, thou good and faithful seryant." Politically, 
Mr. J. is a Democrat. 



^Wlfred Hayes. There lives on section 19, 
of Roseville Township, Alfred Hayes, who 
has retired from the active labors of farm 
life, in which occupation he was successful. 
He is a native of New York and was born in 
Cortland County, March 23, 1820. George 
and Sally (Roberts) Hayes, his parents, were natives 
of Connecticut, and were farmers by occupation. 
They had a family of six children, all reaching 
a mature life, Alfred being the youngest. The 
names of the others were: Oliver, Sally, Samantha 
and George W. The three sons are the only mem- 
bers of the family living. 

Alfred received a good common-school education 
and assisted his father on the farm until he was 24 
years of age, when he left home and worked out by 
the month for 23 years. He came to Illinois, in 
June, 1857, and stopped in Berwick Township, this 
county, where he worked until 1859. He then 
rented a farm in Berwick Township, consisting of 
160 acres. He continued to rent and work out until 
1863, when he purchased the 171 acres where he 





Co., 



is now living. Here he made all of the improve- 
ments, erecting a fine dwelling, at a cost of $3,350, 
and a good barn costing $1,200. He also set out 
trees and beautified his place in various way, and is 
now regarded as one of the solid and substantial 
men of the township. Politically, he is a Republi- 
can. 

Mr. Hayes was married March 19, 1863, to Miss 
Melissa Hall, a native of Maine and a daughter of 
Lewis S. Hall. She was born Feb. 13, 1836. Her 
parents came West in 1855, and her mother died 
here. 



enry C Giddings, a successful farmer of 
Warren County, residing on section 28, 
Floyd Township, was born in Erie Co., Pa., 
March 20, 1846, and came to this State with 
his parents in February, 1855. Moses Gid-- 
dings, father of Henry, was born in Lancaster 
N. H., Nov. 19, 1801, and died at the old home- 
stead, wliere Henry now resides, May 7, 188 1. 

The father of Henry was united in marriage with 
Miss Sophia Stafford, in 1830. She was born in 
1817, in Erie Co., Pa., and died May 11, 1876, in. 
Warren County. He was a Republican in politics, 
and both he and his wife were consistent members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their union t3 
children were born: Jesse, Sebastian C, Hannah, 
Semantha, Eben W., Silas, John W., Marion, Thomas, 
Henry C., George W., Harriet A. and one who 
died in infancy. Jesse and Marion are now also 
deceased. 

The subject of this notice formed a matrimonial 
alliance with Miss Ophelia E. Wagner, Nov. 15, 
1866. She was born Jan. ti, 1845, in New York, 
her parents being Henry and Esther (Sherman) 
Wagoner. Her father was born in Herkimer Co., 
N. Y.,and came to this State in 1851, locating in this 
county, wliere he died June 19, 18S1. He was mar- 
ried to Esther Sherman in 1833, who was born Dec. 
29, 1812, in Vermont, and died Jan. 20, 1873, in this 
county. Of their union seven children were born, — 
Charles W., Mary S., Anna R., James S., Ophelia E., 
Fannie A. and J. E. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman iiad one child — Cyrus 
Sherman, born Aug. 23, 1867, and which died in in- 



V 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



.^°9 



fancy. Mr. Giddings is the owner of 190 acres of 
good farm land, which constitutes one of the model 
farms of Floyd Township. On the place is a good 
residence 35 x 40 feet in dimensions and two stories 
in height, and also a good barn 40 x 40 feet. He 
has a fine imported Clydesdale, eight years old, 
weighing 2,000 pounds, named King Cole. He is 
also engaged in breeding thoroughbred Herefords, 
and high grade Short-horns, having 1 1 1 head of the 
latter on hand. 

Mrs. Giddings is a member of the Baptist Church. 
In politics, Mr. G. is a believer in and a supporter of 
the principles advocated by the Republican party. 



viss^®^^ 



■^^-~-^^i0tnnv. 




, iUiam R. Rayburn, one of Warren 
County's most prominent well-to-do and 
respected farmers, and a resident of sec- 
tion 36, Ellison Township, was born 
near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co., Ky., 
Oct. 18, 1822. His father, George Rayburn, a 
farmer and native of the same State, was a son of an 
old Kentucky family who settled there in its early 
history. He was first married in Montgomery 
County to Miss White, who died a few years later 
without issue. After the death of his wife, George 
Rayburn vi'ent into Ripley Co., Ind., where he was 
again married to Susan Shafer, a native of Virginia, 
and daughter of farmer and old soldier of the Revo- 
lutionary War, having enlisted when only 16 years of 
sge. After marriage, Mr. Rayburn returned to 
Montgomery County, settling near Mt. Sterling 
(the county seat) and while residing there the 
subject of our memoir was born. When but an infant 
his parents again returned to Ripley Co., Ind., and 
located upon a farm where William R. was reared, 
educated and resided until his marriage. His pa- 
rents died there some years after his marriage. 

The date of the marriage of William R. Rayburn 
with Miss Sarah Roberts, daughter of John and Jane 
(Salyers) Roberts, natives of Kentucky, took place 
Nov. 17, 1854, in Jefferson Co., Ind., where her pa- 
rents had moved some time previous. Her parents 
were very early settlers in Southern Indiana. Her 
father was a farmer by occupation and had procured 
Government land at an early date in that State. 



They both died there. Mrs. Rayburn remained at 
home until her marriage, receiving the advantages 
afforded by the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. R. 
are the parents of seven children, three of whom are 
deceased. The living are: George W, Frank S., 
John R. and Charles C; Ida J., Willie and Eddie 
are deceased. 

About 18 months after marriage, Mr. Rayburn came 
to Warren County, and the same year, April, 1855, 
purchased a tax title to 160 acres of unbroken land, 
on section 36, of Ellison Township. He had some 
friends here and was attracted by the rich prairies of 
Illinois, a. sight of them convinced him that they 
were superior for farming purposes to the tender 
land of Indina. He located on his land, engaged in 
its improvement, and by laborious toil and economy 
has added thereto until he is at present the proprie- 
tor of 560 acres in Ellison Township, the major 
portion of which is under an advanced state of culti- 
vation. His farm is one of the best in the township, 
and his residence, barn and outbuildings are sub-' 
stantial, as the view of the same, vvhich appears in 
this work, fully demonstrates. Mr. R., in addition, 
to his farm duties and the cultivation of his land, de-" 
votes considerable of his time to the raising of stock, 
and feeds a large number of cattle and hogs. His 
wife is an active member in the Baptist Church. ^ 
Politically, Mr. Rayburn is a believer in and a sup- 
porter of the principles of the Republican party. 
Although a gentleman not seeking office he has held 
the position of Supervisor of his township for two 
years. 



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'■('>'- eorge W. Beekner, a successful farmer, 



jj l^j;!) owning 240 acres of land on section 32, 
'^I's^ "^ Swan Township, is a native of Bath Co., 
"/f * Ky., where he was born Jan. 13, 1825. The 

;: father of the subject of this notice, A. L. Beek- 
ner, was also a native of Kentucky, having 
been born in Fleming County, in 1805. - 

The father moved to Lewis Co., Mo., in 1851, 
where he spent the remainder of his days and where 
he died, in September, 1854. He married Miss Eliza- 
beth Kinkaid in 1822. Slie was born in Kentucky, 
in 1806, and died in March, 1856, and* was laid to 



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310 



, ,.Yt:= — . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



.^JX-3* 



*t 



rest in Bond Cemetery, just south of Greenbush, this 
county. Slie was of Irish ancestry and bore her 
liusband 1 1 children, five of whom survive, — George 
W., born in 1825 ; Mary A., in 1827 ; Joanna M., in 
183 I ; Peter T„ in 1845, and H. C, in 1850. 

George W., of whom this notice treats, married 
Miss Deborah Van Kirk, March 7, 1848. She was 
born Aug. 11, 1826, the issue of their union being 11 
children. The living are: Miranda, born May 16, 
1849; Robert P., May 7, 1852; George, Feb. 25, 
1865 ; Susan J., Aug. 31, 1867, and Hattie G., Aug. 
17, 1869. The deceased are Mathias, Abraham, An- 
drew S., Kansadia, Amelia A. and Mary. C, all of 
whom died in infancy. Miranda is the wife W. H. 
King, to whom she was married Oct. 7, 1869. They 
are residents of Swan Creek village, and liave six 
children — George T., Iba, William, Albert, John and 
Hattie. Robert is a farmer in Swan Township, and 
married Donazett Vandiveer. They have two chil- 
, dren — Lovinia and Virge. George resides in Brown 
Co., Kan. Susan and Hattie are at lionie. 

The parents of Mrs. Beckner were Mathias and 
Elizabeth (Wilson) Van Kirk. Her father was born 
I in 1796, in Kentucky, and there died in 1846. Her 
] mother was born in 1802, in Kentucky, and died 
L May 27, 1882, in McDonough Co., 111. Her remains 
rest in peace in Bond Cemetery, near Greenbush, this 
county. Of her jiarents' union 16 children were 
born, nine of whom are yet living, namely: John, 
Henry, Nancy, Deborah, Adelia, Mary K., Ann 
Eliza and Millie T. Of the children named, John 
married Johanna Beckner, in 1854; Nancy became 
the wife of Samuel Painter, in 1844, and Mary, the 
wife of Jacob Kines, in 1849; Adelia, the wife of 
Henry Stoner, in 1879; Ann Eliza, the wife of W. A. 
Perry, in 1856; and Millie, the wife of Wm. Tracy. 
Nancy and Mary are living in Kansas. The others 
are living in Warren and McDonough Counties, this 
State. 

Mr. Beckner and his family are pleasantly situated 
on their handsome 240-acre farm, all of which is 
under an advanced state of cultivation, and since his 
coming to this State, in 1851, he has continued to 
follow the vocation in which he is engaged. His 
first investment ia landed property was in 1852, tiie 
year he settled in Warren County. It comprised 160 
acres (unimproved). In 1873 lie purchased 80 acres 
which were.broken and somewhat improved. Tliese 



240 acres now constitute the homestead upon which 
he expects to remain the balance of his years in this 
life. 

Mr. Beckner belongs to the Order of Masonry, 
of which organization he has been a member since 
1866, and at the present holds fellowship with Lodge 
No. 387, Youngstown, 111. He has been Secretary 
of said Lodge for the last 12 years. He has held 
the office of Township Supervisor three years, Jus- 
tice of the Peace 15 years, Assessor 15 years, School 
Trustee, 18 years. He and his wife are member of 
the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Beckner votes 
with and endorses the principles advocated by the 
Democratic party. 



^^*hH^ 




uther B. Perry, proprietor of 80 acres of 
land, located on section 30, Swan Town- 
ship, where lie resides, engaged in its cul- 
tivation and improvement, was born May 25, 
1841, in this county. His father, J. C. Perry, 
was born in Vermont in 1801 ; came to this 
State in 1840, and located in the vicinity Olena, 111.; 
lived there one year, wiien lie moved to Swan 
Township, and there resided until his death, which 
took place Feb 19, 1881. The father married a 
Miss Phebe M. Dodge, in 1823. She was born in 
1807, and died Sept. 6, 1885, in this county. They 
were the parents of nine children: Elias C. (de- 
ceased), born Dec. 14, 1824; Melissa M., Feb. 18, 
1827; Cordelia O., July 29, 1829; Melvina J. 
March 12, 1832; Alanson W., Jan. 14, 1834; Mary 
O., May 24, 1836; Luiher B., May 25, 1841 ; Lorane 
E. (deceased), Oct. tr, 1844, and Lyman (deceased), 
March 29, 1849. 

Luther B. Perry was united in marriage with Miss 
Sarah J. Lybarger, July 4, 1872, Judge Nicholas, of 
Macomb, this State, officiating. Mrs. Luther B. 
Perry was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1854, 
and bore her husband four children, three of whom 
are living, namely : Mina J., born April 9, 1873; 
Orville L., Dec. 27, 1875; Iva M., Dec. 9, 1878; 
Rosa D., born May 31, 1884; died Aug. 4, 1885. 

The father of Mrs. Perry, Joseph Lybarger, was born 
in 1807, and died near Marietta, Fulton County, this 
State, in October, 1879. His wife, Joanna (Ewing) 
Lybarger, with whom he was united in 1834, died 



LAJ 



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. y . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^-H^ 



311 



Aug. 8, 1885. They were the parents of it chil- 
dren, nine living and two dead, namely : Louis A , 
born June 24, 1834; Elizabeth F., Feb. 4, 1837; 
Lilburn W., Dec. 23, 1839; Milton C, June 28, 1842; 
George H. (deceased). July 23, 1845; Joseph D. 
(deceased), Oct. 20, 1847; James A., Feb. i, 1850; 
Mary A., March 22, 1852; Sarah J., Nov. 20, 1854; 
Hester E., Dec. 15, 1858, and John R., Oct. 15, 
1861. 

Mr. Perry is pleasantly located on 80 acres of 
good farm land, situated on section 30, all of which 
is under an advanced state of cultivation. In politics, 
he votes and endorses the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party. He is a consistanl member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 




4 



^^ 



: homas J. Morris, owning more than 400 
acres of excellent farm land in Roseville 
P* Township, and one of the pushing farmers, 
as well as a gentleman of more than ordinary 
business ability, residing on section 12, was 
born in Greene Co., Pa., Nov. 28, 1825. The 
parents of Mr. Morris, Levi and Lucretia (Stephens) 
Morris, were natives of Pennsylvania and New Jer- 
sey respectively, and were " old settlers " of the Key- 
stone State. His father was quite an extensive 
farmer in that State, and of his marriage 1 1 children 
were born, all of whom lived to attain the age of 
manhood and womanhood. Their names were Mar- 
garet, Hannah, Louisa, Josephus, Jefferson and Wash- 
ington (twins), Franklin, Thomas J., James B., Al- 
pheus and Lucretia. The twree eldest girls are de- 
ceased, as are also Jefferson and Alfred. They all 
left families. The remainder are living, married and 
have families, and all reside in Pennsylvania. Two 
are engaged in mercantile pursuits, Washington and 
Franklin, and the others are farmers. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this biographical notice remained at home until he 
was 35 years old, but since attaining his majority has 
been doing for himself He came to this State in the 
spring of 1865, where he rented a farm on shares, 
the same adjoining the one on which he is at present 
residing. He continued to cultivate the rented farm 
for ten years, until 1875, when he purchased the 



place where he is at present living. He is to day 
the proprietor of a little more than 400 acres of land, 
and follows the vocation of farming and stock-rais- 
ing. 

The lady to whom Mr. Morris was united in mar- 
riage on Feb. 22, 1866, was Miss Sarah Way, the 
accomplished daughter of Gideon Way, of Monon- 
galia Co., W. Va , where Mrs. Morris was born. She 
has borne her husband three children, — Charles W., 
Ella J , and William \. In his politics, Mr. Morris 
always votes with the Republican |)arty. He has 
held different offices within the gift of the people of 
his township, and is a gentleman whose bond is ac- 
cepted no quicker than his word in the transactions 
of business. His success is indicative of that push, 
pluck and good judgment of which he is characteris- 
tic. The great grandfather of Mr. Morris, on his 
father's side, Mr. Corbry, was a Baptist preacher and 
lived in Western Pennsylvania. While on his way 
with his family to deliver a sermon, they were at- 
tacked by Indians and three of the children killed. 
One of the girls of the family hid in a tree-top, and, 
supposing the Indians had left, raised her head to 
look around, when one of the red devils saw her and 
threw his tomahawk at her head, taking off her 
her scalp. They left her for dead, but she survived, 
came to herself and lived to become the mother of a 
family. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

'jfjl f ;■ illiain O. Kidder, residing on his farm of 
117 acres on section 21, Swan Township, 
'i/Z"' was born in this county, Aug. 13, 1839, 
> and is a son of Larnard Kidder, born in 
Mansfield, Conn., March n, 1806, and who 
died Sept. 24, 1864, in this county (having em- 
igrated to Illinois in 1837), his remains being placed 
at rest in the Hammond Cemetery. 

The father was married to Miss Mary Ann Hois- 
ington, March 22, 1837, in Champaign Co., Ohio. 
She was born at Windsor, Vt., April 5, 1809, and was 
the daughter of Abisha and Lucinda (Hastings) 
Hoisington. Mary A., the mother of the subject of 
this notice, is at present (January, 1886) enjoying 
good health in her venerable old age. 

William O. Kidder, the subject of this biographical 




=S 



^ 



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3" 



WARREN COUNTY. 



notice, married Miss Mary C. Perry, Dec. 20, 1865. 
She was born Jan. 20, 1847, and was the daughter 
of Charles Perry, who was born in 1815, and married 
Miss Ehzabeth Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Kidder are the 
the parents of three children, — Nellie G., born Oct. 
3, 1866; Grant L., Sept. 2, i868; and Ross L., July 
30, 1885. Mr. Kidder has 117 acres of land in this 
count\', all well improved, on which he has a good 
dwelling and barn, 24 x 36 feet in dimensions, with 
16 feet posts. In addition to tlie cultivation of his 
land, he is engaged in the raising of stock of a high 
grade. 

Wm. O. Kidder's early education was acquired in 
the common schools, and was supplemented by a 
course of study at Lombard University, at which in- 
stitution he passed three winters. In 1861, he en- 
listed for the cause for the Union at Macomb, Mc- 
Donougli Co., this State, in Co. H, ad 111. Vol. Cav., 
and was mustered in at Springfield, Aug. 12, 1861. 
The first general engagement was at Union City, 

'Tenn. ; then at Jackson, La Grange, Memphis, St. 
Joseph, Baker's Creek and Vicksburg. Mr. Kidder 

'escaped the casualities of the war without receiving 

-' any wounds. He was on the Teche and Red River 

campaigns, under Gen. Banks, and was discharged 

at Baton Rouge, La., just three years after his en- 

'•listment. In politics, he is a Republican. 



4 



~vw vxtacjz/tS'jg^^ 



>«*.®|.S'Z'OT»\~'%/w^ 




avid Van Gilder, the present Assessor of 
,u, the township of Point Pleasant, was born 



in Hancock Co., Ind., Jan. 26,1824. He 
was 12 years of age when his parents emi- 
grated to Illinois and became pioneers of Knox 
County. The family removed hither with o.x- 
teams and brought all their personal property with 
them. They drove their stock and camped and 
cooked in the style of gipsies. The journey was 
lone; and tedious and was made across the trackless 
country that intervened, and when they were beyond 
the limits of civilization the streams were destitute 
of bridges and all the annoyances increased in pro- 
portion. To the unaccustomed people of the East 
the sloughs were something terrible. 

The father bought land in Knox County ai;d the 
family resided some time in Knoxville, until the head 



of it could get out the timber necessary to build a 
house and make things comfortable for them. The 
first dwelling was a log house and was covered with 
clapboards or "shakes." It had also a puncheon 
floor according to the fashion of those days. The 
furniture of the house was made by the father from 
hewed timber. The parents resided in that county 
until their deaths, the father in September, {857, 
and the mother about 1870. 

Mr. Van Gilder resided with his parents until he 
was 22, when he was married to Nancy L. Maxey. 
They lived the following year on the farm of the 
father-in-law in Knox Township, whence they re- 
moved to the northeast portion of the same county 
and bought a farm in the vicinity of La Fayette> 
Stark Co., 111. Mr. Van Gilder retained the posses- 
sion of that place 18 months and then sold out. He 
returned to the township of Knox, where he bought a 
farm and there resided until 1865. He again sold 
out and came thence to Warren County, where he 
located in what seemed to him the best township in 
the county. He established himself permanently by 
uniting his interests with those of the general public, 
buying land and proceeding to add his quota to the 
develop nent of the resources of his property. His 
farm is situated on the northwest quarter of section 
22, Point Pleasant Township, and is in advanced 
cultivation. The owner has planted a grove of shade- 
trees and a valuable orchard. The buildings are in 
every way suited to the piuii ).se5 of general farming 
and the place is well enclosed with hedges and is 
cross-fenced. The entire property is in a condition 
to compare favorably with the best farms in the 
county. 

The first wife of Mr. Van Gilder died in 1853, 
leaving four children. James M. lives in Point 
Pleasant Township. S. Annie is married to Alex- 
ander Strickler, of this township. Jonathan S. mar- 
ried and left one child, and Mary A. and Ellen are 
now dead. 

In 1858 Mr. Van Gilder was again married, to 
Mary L. Smith. Siiedied in 1864 and left one child, 
who was named Smith Van Gilder. He is a resident 
of Fremont Co., Iowa. In 1865 the subject of this 
sketch was a third time married, to Jennie Axtell, a 
native of Pennsylvania, but was a resident of War- 
ren County at the time of her marriage. She was 
the daughter of Joseph Axtell, who died while on his 
way here in 1840. Mrs. Axtell died here. Mr. and 



J 




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WARREN COUNTY. 



315 



Mrs. Van Gilder have four cliildren — Myitie, Charlie 
E., Nellie and Ray M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Van 
Gilder are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Politically, he is a Republican. 




" ' pr; 



eremiah Hoornbeek, residing "on section 

35, Hale Township, where he is engaged 

in the vocation of an agriculturist and 

stock-raiser, is a son of Benjamin and Esther 

(Wilkins) Hoornbeek, natives of New York. 

They were of Holland and English ancestry 

respectively. Mr. H. traces his family back to the 

1 6th century. His father (who was born in Ulster 

County) died Jan. ig, 1841, and ,his mother (born in 

Orange County) died Aug. 7, 1854. 

Jeremiah was also born in Ulster County, May 3, 
f 1824. He received a common-school education in 
his native State and their resided until 1855. In 
December, of that year, Mr. Hoornbeek came to this 
State and located in Hale Township, this county, on 
a farm which he had purchased, consisting of 160 
acres. He at once engaged actively and energetic- 
ally in the improvement and development of his 
land. To-day he has it under an advanced state of 
cultivation^and enhanced in value by the erection of 
good, substantial buildings, and where ^he still con- 
tinues to follow the vocation of his life. 

The marriage'of Mr. Hoornbeek took place in 
Ulster County, N. Y., April 2, 185 1, at which time 
Miss Elizabeth Bruyn became his wife. She was a 
daughter of Nathaniel and Cornelia(LeFevre) Bruyn. 

The Bruyn family are of Norwegian descent. Ja- 
cobus Bruyn was the first of that name in this coun- 
try, lie came from jNorway and settled in New 
York about 1660. The LeFevres are of French ex- 
traction and came to this "country about 1670 and 
settled in Ulster County, New York. 

She was born in Ulster County, N. Y., Dec. 23, 
1827, and of the children she has borne Mr. Hoorn- 
beek si.x are living, namely : Esther, Nathaniel B., 
Adelia C, Emeline D., John W. and Catherine B. 
Esther is the wife of Ira Dean, a resident of Nebras- 
ka, and they , have two ^children, Ralph S. and Ho- 
mer H. Nathaniel B. is a physician, engaged in 
practice at Youngstown, this county. He has two 
^ -A 



children, viz. : Lillian and Clyde. The other chil- 
_ dren reside at home. 

Mr. Hoornbeek has held the office of School Di- 
rector and Overseer of Highways, and he and his 
wife and children are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. The parents of Mr. Hoornbeek both died 
in Ulster County. The parents of Mrs. H. came to 
this county in 1853, and are at present residing in 
Tompkins Township. In politics, Mr. Hoornbeek 
affiliates with the Democratic party. 

Mr. Hoornbeek is a raiser of fine Durham cattle, 
and has one of the finest herds in the State. Victor, 
recorded in vol. 24, Short-horn Record, is at the 
head of the herd. He took first premium at the War- 
ren County Fair. Fannie Snowden stands at the 
head in the cow line. She is recorded in vol. 13, 
page 591, Short-horn Herd Book, and has taken the 
sweepstakes premium for a number of years. The 
herd took premiums at the Warren County Fair in 
the years 1884-5. An excellent view of Mr. Hoorn- 
beek 's farm residence and fine stock, and also Mr. ' 
Hoornbeek 's portrait, accompanies this sketch. 



keWitt Phelps, w ho is the possessor of a 

JIL clear title 10400 acres of good farm land, 

IfifV- located on section 26, Tompkins Town- 
Y^ ship (and the adjoining section) and where 
^ he resides, following the vocation of an agricul- 
S turist, was born Jan. 6, 1836, in New York. The 
parents of Mr. Phelps, Porter and Mary (Reese) 
Phelps, were natives of the same State in which their 
son, DeWitt, was born. They moved therefrom to 
Knox County, III, in 1836, but in 1837 settled in 
Roseville Township, Warren County, and were con- 
sequently among the pioneer settlers who laid the 
corner-stone of the grandest commonwealth that now 
reflects the brilliancy of our Union's diadem. The 
father there purchased 80 acres of land, which he af- 
terwards increased to 320 acres, residing upon the 
same, engaged in its improvement and cultivation for 
10 years. He then sold his land and moved to Len- 
ox Township, where he purchased 320 acres, on 
which he moved with his family and has since re- 
sided there, following his avocation as a farn.er until 
the present time with satisfactory success. 



rr 



^ 



316 



WARREN COUNTY. 



t* 



The gentleman whose name we phice at the head 
of this notice was an inmate of his father's family for 
25 years. His younger years were spent in acquir- 
ing an education at the common schools and in labor 
on the farm. After attaining the age mentioned, he 
went to California and was there engaged in mining 
and farming for five years. While a resident in the 
far West, he also visited Idalto, and was engaged in 
the livery business. He returned to this Stale in 
1867, and the following year purchased 240 acres of 
unimprovetl prairie land, on section 26, Tompkins 
Township, where he has resided until the present 
time. He is engaged in stock raising and general 
farming, and in his chosen vocation is meeting with 
success. He has a fine residence on his farm, to- 
gether with good barns, fences, etc., and the place is 
greatly beautified by the numerous fruit and orna- 
mental trees which have been made to flourish under 
his careful husbandry. 

The marriage of Mr. I'helps with Miss Mary .\. 
f Lewis, a native of this State, was solemnized in r 872, 
and of tlieir union four children, Kathrine L., Mary 
^P., Hennelh G., a\\<X (ilharles E., have been 
^born. Mr. Phelps is a Democrat in his political af- 
filiations, and holds the position of School Director 
in his township. He is also a stockholder in the 
First National Bank of Kirkwood, and is one of the 
leading representative farmers of Tompkins 'I'own- 
ship. 




^amuel M. Hamilton, M. D., Coroner of 
Warren County. This talented physician 

SK^ and surgeon of Monmouth, a native of 
'j)X^ Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., and son of Sam- 

Y^ uel and Arabella W. (Scroggs) Hamilton, of 
I the same State, was born Oct. 23, 1829. At 
the age of 21 years, James Hamilton came from the 
North of Ireland to America, in the first ship that 
landed at Boston after the close of the Revolutionary 
War. He afterward married a young lady that came 
over in the same shij), made his home in Beaver Co., 
Pa., and tiicre reared 15 ( hildren. Samuel, one of 
the ten sons, married Miss Aarabella Scroggs, in 
Beaver Co., Pa., where their four sons and five 
daughters were born, two of the former liying in 



childhood, the rest growing to man and womanhcKjd. 
The old gentleman, when about 60 years of age, re- 
moved to Lawrence ('o., Pa., and there died in 1872, 
at llie age of about 73 years. His widow at this 
writing (September, 1S85) is living at New Castle, 
Pa., His son Lieut. -Col. Thos. L Hamilton, of the 
tooth Pa. Vol. Inf., was killed July i, 1864, during 
the e.vplosion of the mine in front of Petersburg. 

The subject of our sketch was educated at the 
common and high schools of Darlington. When he 
was 16 years of age he was taken out of school on 
account of failing health. He thereupon learned the 
trade of saddler and harness-maker in his father's 
shop in Darlington, and continued in the business 
for nearly four years. He then returned to school 
and completed his studies. He began the study of 
medicine, soon after reaching l^is majority, under 
Dr. Daniel Leasure, of Westmoreland Co., Pa., at 
New Castle. Entering Jefferson Medical College in 
i85i,he graduated in 1853, and returned to New 
Castle, and the following six years was in pariner- 
shi|) with his old preceptor. In 1858, he reached 
Monmouth, where he at once took rank with the 
foremost of his profession. When the war cloud 
burst upon the country in 1861, he became Assistant 
Surgeon of the Ninth III. Regt., raised under the 
three months call for volunteers, but was regularly 
l)ronioted to the position of Brigade Surgeon of U. 
S. .\. Volunteeis (commissioned at Pittsburg Land- 
ing in Novcm!)er of the same year), and saw service 
at Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Tuscumbia, 
Nashville, and was ten months in charge of hospitals 
at (jalhitin, 'I'cnn. In November, 1863, on account 
of loss of health, he resigned, returned to Monmouth, 
and tlic year following to New Castle, Pa., where 
he ren)ained two and a half years, nnd then again 
returned to Monmouth, where he has continued in 
the practice of his ])rofession to the present. 

The Doctor has been for many years an ardent 
member of the Republican party ; in fact he was a 
delegate from New Castle to the Convention at Pitts- 
burg, Pa., in 1856, that nominated John C. Fremont 
for the Presidency and laid the foundation for the 
future greatness of the party. But, while taking an 
active part in politics, he is not a politician seeking 
office. He is devoted to his profession ; belongs to 
the various medical societies of the American Med- 
ical Association and of the Slate and county, and 



*ir 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



317 




contributes largely to different journals and periodi- 
cals upon various subjects. 

He was married at Philadelphia, Dec. 25, 1856, to 
Miss Eliza Starrett, native of Maine and daughter of 
the late Rev. David Starrett, of the Congregational 
Church. Their only child, born in 1859, died in 
infancy. 



lohn H. Frantz is a settler of A\'arren 
County of 1857. His farm located on sec- 
lion 22, Spring Grove Township, is one 

of the most attractive in the county. He 
it was born Feb. 20, 1836, in Alleghany Co., Md. 

John Frantz, his grandfather, was a native of 
Germany, and settled in the State of Maryland on 
emigrating to .'\merica. His father, Solomon Frantz, 
was born in that State, and there married Jane Mc- 
Elroy. A sketch of his life will be found included 
in the biography of Mr. VV. H. Frantz. His wife 
was born in Virginia. When the subject of the pres- 
ent notice was 13 years old his father and inother re- 
moved with their family to Perry Co., Ohio. He 
remained under the parental roof-tree until he reahed 
the age of legal independence when he made his way 
to Warren County. He rented a farm in Spring 
Grove Township, upon which he remained until he 
went to California in r864. Going to New York in 
February, of that year, from thence by water to Pan- 
ama, he crossed tiie isthmus and continued by vessel 
to San Francisco. He made but a brief stay m the 
city of the Golden Gate, and turning his face east- 
. ward, stopped at Virginia City, Nev. He made his 
headquarters there wliile operating in the wood busi- 
ness on Carson River. He remained there until 
August, r866, wlien he turned his face homeward, 
coming back by the Nicaragua route, and via New 
York, arriving at home on the i5th day of Septem- 
lier. As soon as he had become again acclimated, 
he bought So acres of land in Warren County, 
which has remained in his possession ever since, and 
which constituted the nucleus of his present farm. 
Entering at once upon the work of improvement, he 
has added to his real estate until he is now the 
owner of 240 acres of land, all of which is fenced 
and under cultivation. For the past five years Mr. 



Frantz has been engaged in the breeding of thor- 
oughbred Short-horns, and is now the owner of some 
of the finest specimens of this stock in the coun- 
try. He is earnestly giving his attention to the 
propagation of fine stock, having determined to make 
it a specialty in the future operation of his farm work. 
He is a breeder of thoroughbred Clydesdale horses 
and has now about 35 head of horses and colts of 
superior grade, owning also some fine specimens of 
Morgan stock. He proposes to give his attention 
very soon to the breeding of Norman horses. An ex- 
cellent view of Mr. Frantz's homestead appears on 
page 258. 

In political connection Mr. Frantz remains, as he 
has always been, a Republican. 

His marriage to Annie M. Porter took place Sept. 
23, i860. She was born in the township within the 
borders of which she has, all her life, lived, and is 
the daugliter of Joshua and Mary (Tinkham) Porter. 
Her birth occurred March 10, 1838. The children 
now living, that have been born to Mr. and Mrs.' 
Frantz are Jessie A., Annie G., Virgie H. and Lillie 
May. They have buried a son, Thatcher Ellsworth, 
and three daughters, Jennie L., Rosa Belle and Bertha 
May. Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Christian Church. He is also a member of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows. 




O Carr, Jr., one of Warren County's most 
energetic and prosperous farmers as well 
as respected and representative citizens, 
resides on section 13, Roseville Township, and 
jf is a son of Otho and Nancy (Claycomb) Carr, 
having l)een born on the place where he now 
resides, Sept. 22, 1841. His parents were natives of 
Breckenridge Co., Ky., the date of the birth of the 
father being Feb. 14, 1805, and the mother, Jan. 14, 
1805. They were among the early settlers here. 
Mr. Carr, Sr., moved to Perry Co., Ind., where he 
married and remained about five years, and then 
came West to this county. The trip was made in 
wagons across the country. He entered 320 acres 
of land here. The cabin Mr. Carr built in 1835 was 
located one-half mile east of the present homestead 
and here he lived until the present farm residence 



^- 



V 



■4- 



3i8 



' . . , .y^ : — . — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



was built, where Mrs. Lucy J. Harris lives. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Harris were for 40 years members of the 
Christian Cluircli. of Roseville Township. Mr. Carr 
remained on the above place until his death, wliich 
occurred in r883, his wife having preceded him to 
the land of eternal hap[)iness two years previously. 
Of their union were born six children, three of whom 
survive, — Redmond, Lucy J. and J. O., the subject 
of tliis notice. 

J. O. Carr remained at home and was in partner- 
ship with his father and brother until 1875, and his 
success as a farmer and stock-raiser has been more 
than ordinary. Mr. Carr's close attention to busi- 
ness, being accompanied by industry and economy, 
has aided him in obtaining a competency. He is 
the ix)ssessor of 360 acres of excellent land in this 
township, and is engaged in raising horses, cattle 
and swine. His farm is valued at $40 per acre. 

Mr. J. O. Carr and Miss Mary E. Cox were united 
in marriage, Dec. 31, 1869. She was born March 
■15, 1848, in Ellison Township, this county. Her 
parents were John and Fannelia (Lewis) Cox, na- 
tives of Illinois and New Jersey respectively, and 
('>-in 1837 they settled in Ellison Township, where 
they made a purchase of 160 acres of land. Both 
died in this county. 

Mr. and Mis. Carr have had their home bright- 
ened by tlie birth of five children, three daughters 
and two sons, as follows: Fannelia N., Nettie L. 
and William O. James K. and Mary E. are at 
home. Mr. Carr is a Democrat in political opinion, 
and with his wife and two daughters belongs to the 
Christian Church. Mr. Carr is one of the substan- 
tial and representative men of Warren County. 



^'Hl, mos B. Billings. Among the well known 
^^.W, and prosperous farmers, wlio in their early 
^(^^ years entered actively and energetically 
,j(}}ik in the [jursuit of tilling the soil, and thereby 
1^ accumulated sufficient of this world's goods to 
I enable them to spend the sunset of their 
lives in peace and comfort, is Mr. Amos B. Billings. 
He is a resident of Kirkwood and is a son of Justis 
and .Sarah (Alice) Billings, and was born in 
Lewis County, the Empire State, Jan. 10, 181 1. His 
l)arents were natives of (Connecticut, and in the year 



1804 moved to New York and located in Lewis 
County, where they remained, having purchased 
land, until their death, occurring respectively on the 
last day of July and the i ith of August, in the year 
1847. • 

Amos B. made the liome of his ])arents his abid- 
ing place until he reached majority, then worked out 
by the month for six years, at the expiration of which 
time he again resided on his father's farm and took 
charge of the same, also caring for his parents until 
the hand of death severed them. During his early 
life he had acquired a good English education and 
when op))ortunity presented itself, his father hadhiin 
assist in the duties of the farm, so our subject was 
thoroughly initiated in the life of an agriculturist 
when left to earn his own living. He was, there- 
fore, well prepared for entering upon the task of the 
improvement of his farm of 160 acres, which he had 
purchased in Illinois, having sold his father's home- 
stead in 1864, and emigrated westward. His tract 
was located on section 1 1, Tompkins Township, his 
present site, and upon this he has erected all neces- 
sary farm outbuildings and improved the same until 
at the present time it is in an advanced state of cul- 
tivation. He resided there until 1879, when he re- 
tired from his farm and bought a house and lot in 
Kirkwood village, where he has since resided. 

Miss Eleanor Mott, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., 
and a daughter of Elias and Lucretia (Shear) Molt, 
was married to Mr. Amos B. Billings in 1840. Her 
parents were natives of New Jersey and Massachu- 
setts respectively. Mr. and Mrs. B.'s family comprise 
the following named children : Amelia A. was born 
March 16, 1841 ; Ellen J., born Sept. 4, 1842 ; Em- 
ily L., born .Xug. 10, 1844; Mary L., born Dec. 15,, 
1845 ; Tiieodore J., born Aug. 13, 1847; Alfred E., 
born June 7, 1853. Emily L. is now deceased, hav- 
ing died Feb 8, 1880. Amelia A. married William" 
Starr, Marcli 16, 1864. Six cliildren was tlie result 
of this marriage, — Emory, Susan E. and Elmer. Ma- 
tilda E., Chaney A. and Harriet are deceased. Mr. 
Starr died Nov. 14, 1874. Mrs. .S, was again mar- 
ried Oct. 6, 1 88 1, to Ferine Holman. One child has 
blessed this union, .\lida. Mr. and Mrs. H. are 
now living in this township. Ellen J. married James 
L. Perkins, Dec. 24, 1862, and is now living in Gales- 
burg. Emily L. married Jesse E. Lamphere, Dec. 
14, 1865. They had two children, Ralph and Grant. 



1^ 




Residence of JACOB SHAWLER .SEC. 12 , LENOX TOWNSHIP. 




U I C T O K 



B EHUXV 



fmnnie: snowden 



CLEVELrtNO 







Residence of Jeremiah Hoornbee k Sec, 35, hale Township, 



■4 



■y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



-^^^r^ 



321 



Mary L. married Peter Burns, March 14, 1872, and 
is now living at Monmouth. Theodore J. married 
Sophrona Lampherej Oct. 6, 1870. One child has 
been the result of this marriage, Minnie. Alfred E. 
married Emma Yeomans, Jan. 11, 1877. Two chil- 
dren have been born to them, Jennie and Cliarles. 
Jennie is now deceased. 

Mr. B. with his wife belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and is regarded as one of the 
leading and substantial men of Warren County. In 
his political affiliations, he is a Republican. 



-..:;j,^|j^acob Shawler. Among the early settlers 
of Warren County, having come here in 
the year 1847, is Mr. Jacob Shawler, an 



energetic, prosperous and representative citizen 
of this county, where, on section 12, Lenox 
Township, he is engaged extensively in agri- 
cultural pursuits. The date of his birth is Dec. 16, 
,1826, and he is a native of Edmonson Co., Ky. 
James B. and Eva (Duvall) Shawler, his parents, 
were natives of Kentucky, where his mother died. 
,To them five children were born, all of whom reached 
the age of maturity. All are now deceased except 
Jacob and one sister. His father afterward removed 
to Warren County and settled in Floyd Township, 
having re-marridd before he left Kentucky. His 
second union was blessed with a family of 11 chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living. He subsequently 
removed to Swan Township, where he died. 

Jacob was the second of a family of five children, 
and came to this county in the autumn of 1847. Fo"" 
three years he made his home in Floyd Township, 
when he sold his property there and moved into 
Lenox Township, where he has since remained and 
is one of the most highly respected and influential 
men in the township. In his business enterprises 
he has experienced an unusual degree of prosperity, 
and to-day owns 500 acres of land in Warren County 
and 200 acres in Kansas. He has erected upon the 
home farm an excellent class of buildings specially 
adapted to agricultural pursuits. The barn is a very 
commodious structure and a model building of its 
kind. 

On March i, 1852, after Mr. Shawler had moved 



into Lenox Township, he was married there to Julia 
A. Ray, who was also a native of Kentucky, where 
she was born June .30, 1833. Five sons have risen 
to bless their home, all of whom are living. Thomp- 
son B., married, resides in Lenox Township; John 
O. and Algernon S. H. live in Swan Township; 
Philemon and Jesse are with their parents. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Baptist Church 
at Union. In his political belief, Mr. S. is a holder 
of independent views. 

<')ur subject now ranks among the large stock 
raisers and feeders of the township. When he first 
settled in this county he could claim but little of this 
world's goods, and he is able to point with pride to 
his present possessions as the result of well applied 
industry and sound judgment. He to-day enjoys a 
very comfortable competence and is properly recog- 
nized as one of the public-spirited citizens of the 
community. A view of his elegant and commodious 
homestead is one of our i)ictorial features, and will 
be found page 320. 




K. K. Cummings, retired from a life of mer- 
^F cantile pursuits, and spending the closing 



yeais of his life in peace and quiet at Kirk- 
wood, is a native of Scotland, having been born 
in that country July 4, 1813. The parents of 
Mr. Cimimings, Israel W. and Susanna (Kerr) 
Cummings, were natives of Massachusetts and Scot- 
land respectively. The father was a sailor in his 
younger years, and from his native country he went 
to Scotland, where he was married and ivhere the 
subject of this notice was born. In 1S28, the father 
with his family came to the United States, and for 
a time resided in the father's native State, Massa- 
chusetts. He then moved his family to Maine, 
where for ten years he was engaged in farming. In 
1837, the father sold his landed possessions in the 
latter State and with his family came to this State, 
locating in Fulton County, where the father pur- 
chased 192 acres of land. He moved on the land 
with his family and at once engaged in the laborious 
task of improving it, by cultivation, the erection of a 
residence, the setting out of trees, etc., and 



if 



there I 1 

4^ 



—>" 



322 



WARREN COUNTY. 



continued to reside until iiis death, which event 
took place in 1854. 

The gentleman whose name we give at the begin- 
ning of this biographical notice, was an inmate of 
the parental household until. he attained the age of 
20 years, having received a fair education in tlie 
district schools. At this age in life he engaged to 
learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served ap- 
prenticeship of three years, fully and completely 
mastering the same, after which he followed iiis 
trade in Fulton County from 1838 to 1856, a period 
of 18 years. 

Mr. Cummings came to Warren County in 1855 
and in 1856 moved to Kirkwood. In 1859, he en- 
gaged in the grocery business at that place, and was 
thus occupied for 12 years. He then sold out and 
began the hardware business and followed that for 
five years, wh»;n, in 1878, he sold the same, and 
since that time has lived a life of comparative retire- 
ment, doing nothing except a little insurance busi- 
ness. He is the proprietor of a farm of 162 acres, 
one mile and a lialf from Kirkwood, and is enjoying 
the comforts which a life of business activity coupled 
with energy has acquired. 

In 1836, Mr. Cummings married Miss Mary Eve- 
leth in Kennebec Co., Maine, she being tlie daughter 
of Joseph and Eunice (Jennings) Eveleth, four chil- 
dren being the result of this union, — Susan Jane and 
James H., Melissa E. and Eunice A., who are de- 
ceased. Mrs. C. died in the year of 1878. Mr. 
Cummings again formed a matrimonial alliance witli 
Miss Eliza Bowen in 1879, a native of Ohio. 

In politics, Mr. Cummings votes with the Repub- 
lican party. He has held the offices of Assessor and 
Collector of Tompkins Township, and is one of the 
honored and respected citizens of Warren County. 



9<x:x>e 




fames W. Van Tasell, farmer on section 13, 
^- of Lenox Townsliij), is a son of Isaac and 
--^*^ Phebe D. (Corgill) Van Tasell. (See sketch 
of Isaac Van Tasell in this volume.) James W. 
was born in Kendall Co., Ill, Nov. 6, 1855. 
He received a good common-school education 
and has all his life been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. He was about four years of age when his par 




ents came to Warren County. His marriage occurred 
in Lenox Township, Sept. 9, 1880, to Catherine Ball. 
She is the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth 
(Wurgler) Ball, natives of Germany. The family 
emigrated to Canada, where the father died. His 
widow survives. Mrs. Van Tasell was the third of a 
family of five children born to them. She was born 
in Canada, Apiil 4, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. VanTasell 
are the parents of one child, Loui I. Mr. Van Tasell 
in political affairs is a Republican. 



.arrison Meachum, a farmer pursuing his 
vocation on section 33, Berwick Township, 
was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., March 
23, 1818, and is a son of Calvin Meachum, who 
was likewise born in York State, in 1790, and 
I who received his death from being thrown from 
a spirited horse. He lived some 24 hours after the- 
accident, and at the date of his demise was 40 years 
old. The father was united in marriage to Miss- 
Sally Huntley in 181 2. She was born in New York ' 
in 1792, and died in 1876, in Livingston Co., N. Y.' 
They were the parents of eiglit children, four sons 
and four daughters, and who were named Enos,. 
Porter, Harrison, George, Sally, Hannah, Mary and 
Eliza. The latter married Mr. Ferris, a resident of 
Kansas City, and died at Mt. Morris, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., in 1078. 

Harrison Meachum, the subject of this sketch, 
came to this State in 1854, and located in Floyd 
Township, this county, where he remained for four 
years, until 1858, when he removed to Berwick 
Township and there bought 112 acres of good land, 
with a number of small improvements upon the 
same. He located upon his land and at once en- 
gaged upon the arduous task of its improvement and 
cultivation, and liy energy and economy has added 
to his original [Kircliase until lie is the proprietor of 
260 acres. 

The life of Mr. Meachum has been one of activity 
and he now has his fine farm under an advanced 
state of cultivation, and is also devoting considerable 
of his time to the raising of stock. He has some 40 
head of cattle on his place, with room for 60 head, 
and makes the Jerseys a specialty. 

The marriage of Mr. Meachum to Miss Cornelia 



*+* 



V 



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. ^ ]! ^ . 

. WARREN CO UNT Y. 



-— ^ 



323 



Lando.i, took place April i, 1840. She was born 
May r6, i82i,in New Jersey, and moved to York 
State in 1831, where she resided until her marriage. 
The issue of their union has been six children, — 
John, William, Harrison S., Mary, Lydia and Bertie. 
Lydia became the wife of Andy Willard, and died in 
1875; Bertie married Martin Simmons, and died in 
1881 ; Mary was married to Harry Murphy, who re- 
sides in Avon. 

Ebenezer Landon, father of Mrs. Meachum, vvas 
born in New York in 1793, and died in 1877. He 
married Miss Lettie Rich, a native of Halifa.v, in 
1816. She was born in 1800 and came to the State 
of New York when quite small. The father of Eb- 
enezer Landon, John Landon, served in the War of 
1812. Mrs. Meachum's mother is still living, and 
resides in Berwick village. Her parents' family con- 
sisted of six children, namely. Henry, Joseph, 
Frederick, John, Lettie and Martha, and of her 

' marriage with Ebenezer Landon nine children were 
•born as follows : Cornelia, Mary, Martin, Susan, 
John, Martha, Thomas, Isaac and Elizabeth, only 
■four of whom are at present living. 

'^ Mr. and Mrs. Meachum have the following grand- 
children : Frederick, John Riley, Perly, Lucina, 
Laura Belle, John, Allie, Cornelia, Cloy and John 
I Willard. 

' Mr. Meacham, in his political opinions, favors the 
principles advocated by the Greenback party. In 
days past he belonged to the old line Whig, then 
voted with the Republican party, but since the 
former party sprung into existence, has voted with it. 



^^ 




f^jltenjamin T. Kettering, a resident of this 
county since 1853 and one of the large 
land-owners of Monmouth Township, re- 
sides on section 27. He was born in Cum- 
berland Co., Pa., April 16, 1820. The father 
of Mr. Kettering was a native of the same 
.State as his son and was of German parentage. He 
was married in his native State to Mary Thompson, 
a lady of American parentage and Scotch descent. 
After their marriage, they resided in Chambersburg, 
Franklin Co., Pa., for a time, when they moved to 
Cumberland County, that State. Their family con- 
sisted of eight children. 

Mr. Kettering was ne.xt to the youngest in order 



of his parents' children. He lived on the parental 
homestead, attending the common schools and work- 
ing on the farm, thereby assisting in the mainten- 
ance of his family and acquiring a fair English 
education, until he attained the age of 24 years. In 
1853, he came West and located in Warren County, 
since which time he has continued to reside here. 
The parents came to this county soon after^vard and 
remained until their death. On arriving in this 
county, Mr. Kettering, of this sketch, first began to 
work as a general laborer. His capital at the 
time amounted to the sum of $2.50, and he was con- 
sequently compelled to engage in work for a living. 
Prior to attaining his majority Mr. K. had learned 
the trade of his father, that of shoemaking, but on 
coming to this State and county, he chose a differ- 
ent vocation, that of farming, which he has followed 
until the present time. 

Feb. 8, 1858, five years after his arrival in this 
county, Mr. Kettering was united in marriage to 
Mrs. Melinda Murphy, «^d' Clacomb. She was a na- 
tive of Kentucky, in which State she was born Dec. 
5, 1825, and came herewith her mother and brother, 
her father having died in Kentucky. She continued 
to reside with her mother in this county, assisting her 
in the household duties and attending the com- 
mon schools, until her marriage to Mr. Murphy. 
He died a few years after that event, leaving two 
children to the care of his wife, both of whom have 
since died, namely : T. Frantz Murphy and Ella O., 
whose demise occurred when she was a young lady. 
Of the later union, three children have been born: 
Hattie B.; Milton A., who resides o-. a farm near 
Kirkwood, this county; Philo E. was married to Sina 
Frantz, and follows the occupation of farming in this 
township. 

After tlieir marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kettering lo- 
cated on the homestead which Mrs. Kettering owned 
previous to their marriage, consisting of a little more 
than 100 acres, on which they are residing at the 
present time. 

Mr. Kettering, by energetic labor and economy, 
coupled with good judgment and perseverance, has 
since added to the original homestead until at pres- 
ent the same consists of 400 acres of as good farm 
land as can be found in Warren County. It is all 
adjoined and has thereon a good residence, barn and 
substantial outbuildings, and is regarded as one of 
the best farms, not only in Monmouth Township, but 



-< 



*t 



'ZIJM 



r 



4- 



A T > 



324 



WARREN COUNTY. 



in the county. In his chosen vocation, agriculture, 
Mr. Kettering has met with more than ordinary suc- 
cess, and the same is attributable to his indomitable 
energy and perseverance, coupled with the active co- 
operation of his good helpmeet. Ill addition to the 
cultivation of his land he has been and is devoting 
considerable time to the raising of stock, in which 
department of his vocation he is also meeting with 
success. He and his wife are consistent and active 
members of the Christian Church. Mr. K. is a 
Trustee and Deacon of that Church at Momouth, 
and has been Treasurer of it for some time. In a 
political sense, Mr. Kettering votes with, and believes 
in the principles advocated by, the Republican party. 



Jl^yrus G. Rankin, one of the large lantl- 
I owners of Tompkins Townsliip, as well as 

sW^ successful farmers of Henderson County, 



fe residing in retirement at his home on section 
ft* 25, Tompkins Township, is a native of Sulli- 



van Co., Ind., where he was born in 1S32. 
William and Elizabeth (Gross) Rankin, liis parents, 
were natives of Pennsylvania and South Carolina 
respectively. After their marriage, in 1830, they 
emigrated to this State and located in Henderson 
County, where the father purchased r, 000 acres of 
land, and resided on the same for 40 years. He 
then moved to Monmouth, Warren County, and 
there passed his remaining days in ])eace and quiet, 
retired from the active labors of life, and where he 
died in t873. Three years later his beloved wife, 
who had accompanied him through all the trials of 
the past, followed him to tliat better land, lier de- 
mise occurring in 1876. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the begin- 
ning of this biographical notice, remained with his 
parents until he attained his majority, in the mean- 
time receiving an education in the common schools. 
On becoming his own man, he began to trade in 
stock and land, and was thus occupied until he be- 
came 24 years of age, wlien he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss M. T. Reynolds, a native of Oliio. 
Before his marriage, he purchased 240 acres of land 
in Olena Township, Henderson County, on which he 
moved with his family and was occupied in its im- 
provement and cultivation for 17 years. During 



these years, by hard labor and economy, he accum- 
ulated sufficient to enable him to add 620 acres to 
his original purchase. He then, in 1873, came to 
this county and for two years resided at Monmouth, 
where he had purchased a residence and lot. In 
1S74, he purchased 480 acres of land in Tompkins 
Townshij), where he removed in 1875, and has re- 
sided on the same until the present time. He has 
a $5, 000 residence on his farm, together with three 
barns and good, substantial outbuildings, and the 
farm presents an appearance indicative of energy 
and perseverance on the part of its proprietor. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rankin, five in 
number, are named Elizabeth A., born July 27, 1857 ; 
Reynolds P., Aug. 10, 1863; Elijah A., Oct. 22, 
1865 ; Minnie A., Feb. 18, 1869; Edith O., Feb. 13, 
1878. Elizabeth was united in marriage with K. D. 
Bridenthal, and they have become the parents of 
one child — -Cyrus W. Elijah A. married Miss Ada 
Beers, and they have one son, named Earl. 

Mr. Rankin is a believer in and a supporter of the 
principles of the Republican party. In religious be- 
lief, he and his wife both endorse the tenets of the 
United Presbyterian Church, to which denomination *^ 
they belong. Mr. Rankin, truly speaking, is one of 
the leading representative men of his line of busi- 
ness in Warren County, and his success as an agri- 
culturist and trader is indicative of his own good 
good judgment and energy. 



-■^HJ- 



-S«- 




avid S. Billingsley, owning 80 acres of 
land in Berwick Township, ami residing at 
ii^iS& ' Berwick village, where he is engaged in 
*$v hotel business, and also to some extent in 
dealing in fine horses and roadsters. He was 
born in Monongalia Co., W. Va., Sept. 28, 
181 2, and is a son of Samuel Billingsley, who was 
born near Baltimore, Md., in 1778. The latter 
moved to Virginia, when he was 12 years of age, 
and there, in Monongalia County, resided, follow- 
ing the vocation of an agriculturist until his death, 
which occurred in 1850. He was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Snider, a native of Virginia. She bore her 
husband 13 children, whose names were John, Sias, 
Tobitha, Maria, Samuel, David, Thornton, Louisa, 



*+ 



^ 



*t 



- . .Y. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^--X> 



327 



Warren, Eugene, Malinda, Mary and Morgan. The 
wife and mother died in her native State, in 1862. 

David KilHngsley, of whom we write, came West 
April II, 1855, and located in Warren County. He 
was married to Elizabeth Barrick, March 16, 1836, 
in Virginia, Rev. Wood, of the Baptist Church, oflfi- 
ciating. She was born Sept. 8, 18 14, in Hampshire 
Co., and bore her husband nine children, four of 
whom are living. The record of tlieir births are as 
follows: Eliza Ann, born Feb. 15, 1837; Louisa, 
born April 15, 1839; Henry F., April 15, 1841 ; 
David Lutlier, Oct. 23, 1843; Mary, Jan. 14, 1845; 
Martha, June 9, 1847; Samuel, in August, 1840; 
Louisa, in 1852; Jane, June 27, 1855. 

The father of Mrs. Billingsley, Henry Barrick, 
was born in Hancock Co., Va , in 1787, and married 
Miss Catherine Wetzel about 1812. She was born 
in 1795, in Maryland, and she and her husband were 
both of German descent. Their family comprised 
ten children^Elizabeth M., Anna, Peter S.,' Henry, 
■ Isaiah, James M., John W., George and Mary. The 
father died in 1865, in Virginia, and tlie mother in 
. October, 1868. 

^ Mr. Billingsley is engaged in the hotel business at 
Berwick village, as above stated. He is an admirer 
of fine horses, and has done much to develop this 
noble animal in this part of the county. He also 
cultivates his farm, and as a business man and genial 
landlord, is regarded as one of the foremost men not 
only in Berwick village but also of the county. 




^ 



ohn C. Turnbull, a retired farmer, pass- 
f ing the declining years of his life in quiet 
ease and retirement at Roseville, this 
county, is a native of Maryland, having been 
born near Baltimore, Nov. 18, 1812. Mr. 
Turnbull removed with his parents to New 
Albany, Ind., wlien about six years of age (or in 
1818). His father, John Turnbull, was born in 
Maryland, Dec. j;, 1780, and died in Jackson Co., 
Ind., March 28, 1840, in his 60th year. His mother, 
Mary (Tonahill) Turnbull, was horn in Virginia, Jan. 
14, 1777, and died March 29, 1820, near New Al- 
bany, Floyd Co., Ind. They were married July 12, 
1801, and of their union five children were born, 
only two of wliom at present survive, — Mrs. Gossett 
and John C, the subject of this notice. 



The gentleman, whose life's history is herein 
briefly summarized, was an inmate of the parental 
household until 17 years of age, having received 
what education he acquired in the common schools. 
After leaving home he worked out by the day and 
month until the spring of 1835. He then rented a 
farm in Jackson Co., Ind., which he cultivated until 
1850, when he purchased 7io acres of land and was 
engaged in its cultivation until Sept. 19, 1865. At 
this date he came to Illinois and located in Warren 
County, where he purchased 480 acres of land on 
sections 20 and 21, Roseville Township, and con- 
tinued to reside upon the same until 1872. He then 
moved into Roseville, and purchased a lot, erecting 
there on a fine residence, in which he has since 
continued to reside. 

In politics, Mr. Turnbull is a Republican. Reli- 
giously, he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church. 
He is a gentleman wliose accumulation of this 
world's goods has been ac([uired through his own 
energy, perseverance and good judgment, and is one ■ 
of the respected and influential citizens of Warren 
County. Mr. Turnbull has been sadly unfortunate 
in his married relations, having lost by death two 
companions. The maiden name of his present wife 
was Elizabeth Crane, a native of Jackson Co., Ind., 
their marriage occurring Oct. 19, 1865. His first , 
wife, to whom he was married in Jackson Co., Ind., 
Jan. ri, 1835, was a Miss Rhoda Ann K. Crane, a 
native of New York State. She died in July, 1859. 
By this wife he became the father of an only son, 
John C, born Aug. 29, 1841, in Jackson Co., Ind., 
who, in 1870, married Susan Gordley, of Brown Co., 
111., by whom he has two children — Warren and 
Franklin. 



-1^.- 



JlE^^p-arah J. Chatterton, owning 120 acres of 
^^L good farm land, located on section 25, 
illVn ' Greenbush Township, where she resides, 
is the widow of Lewis R. Chatterton, who was 
born in New York, .\pril 30, 1827, and came 
to this State in 1836 with his parents and lo- 
cated with them two miles east of Avon, in Fulton 
County. He was the son of Cornelius and Lucy 
(Ball) Chatterton, natives of New York, but of English 
extraction. The father was a farmer by occupation. 
Lewis B. was educated at the common schools of 



¥ 



-e4U: 



.V8 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



^ 



Galesburg, 111. When the " California gold fever " 
became epidemic, he was one of the first to yield to its 
seductive influence, and forthwith hastened to tiiat 
auriferous country, where he remained five years. 
A portion of his time while there was occupied in 
farming. He was united in marriage with Miss 
Sarah J. W'ellS; Aug. 20, 1857, Rev. Reed, of Peoria, 
officiating. She was born Nov. 25, 1838, in Fulton 
County, 111., (near Avon), being the daughter of 
James a. d Roxanna (Stowell) Wells, natives of New- 
York. Mrs. Chatterton's parents died while she was 
was very young. Siie bore unto her husband nine 
children, namely: Freddie, born Sept. 20, 1859; 
Chester J., born Feb. 16, 1861 ; Bessie E., June 2, 
1863; Harry L., Nov. 2, 1865; George W., Aug. 25, 
1877; Willie, June 10, 1870; Carrie L., Oct. 25, 
1871; Henry K., July 25, 1884; Clarence O., Dec. 
5, 1876. Bessie E. married J. W. Kinross. They 
are living in Avon, Fulton County, tliis Slate, and 
are the parents of one child, Nealy W. Kinross. 

Mrs. Chatterton, since the death of her husband, 
continues to reside on the home farm, which is under 
an advanced state of cultivation, and with the as- 
sistance of her children, is conducting the same with 
marked ability and with well merited success. Her 
place is well supplied with good farm iiuildings, and 
last year she disposed of $1,000 worth of stock. Her 
husband was a Republican in politics, and in relig- 
ion, a member of the Universalist Ciiurch, as is 
likewise Mrs. Chatterton. Her husband died May 
19, 1884, on the old homestead. 

A portrait of Mr. Chatterton appears on page 326. 



|>=f=f=Ci- 



on. Azro Patterson, deceased. The Mon- 
mouth Weekly Review on Friday morning, 
June 30, 1782, contained the following fit- 
A ting obituary of one who was for many years 
^ one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this 
county: "Azro Patterson died at his residence 
in this city, of Bright's disease of the kidneys, Satur- 
day evening, June 24, t882, at 7:15 o'clock, aged 63 
years, 5 months." 

No death has occurred in Monmouth in the last 
quarter of a century that has caused such universal 




sorrow among all classes of citizens — high and low, 
rich and poor, young and old — as the decease of Azro 
Patterson, and none will be more keenly missed from 
our midst, particularly by the poor and unfortunate, 
whose fast friend he was at all times and under all 
circumstances. 

Mr. Patterson was born in Stowe, Vt., Feb. 11, 
1819. At the age of six years, with his father's 
family, he moved from Vermont to Ashtabula, Ohio, 
where he resided till he was 19 years old, when, in 
company with a young man named Williams, and 
about the same age, he started for the West to work 
out his own fortunes and way through the world. He 
reached Monmouth in 1837, and as there was no 
railroad and but few facilities for travel in this coun- 
try at that early day, he walked all the way from 
Ashtabula to Monmouth, carrying his scanty pos- 
sessions in a bundle on his back, and stopped with 
his brother-in-law, R. N. Allen, who lived in an old 
log house where his present residence stands. Dur- 
ing the winter of 1837 he clerked in a dry goods 
store in a little frame house on the northwest corner 
of the square, under what was known as the " old 
Cottonwood tree," for General McAUe.i. The next 
summer he worked in a brick-yard for Erastus Rice, 
whom the early settlers well remember, and helped 
make the brick of which our old court house is built., 
Then he taught school at " Allen's Grove," in Ber- 
wick township, and was very popular as a teacher 
among the scholars and old settlers. In 1839 he 
went into tlie employ of S. S. Phelps, of Oquawka, 
and had charge of the Indian trading store not far 
from Iowa City, Iowa, and remained in the employ of 
Mr. Phelps for a number of years. 

In 1845 he was married to Miss Harriet Strong, at 
Ashtabula, Ohio, and returned to Monmouth with his 
bride. Her health failing her here, he started back 
to her home with her, but she died at Beaver, Pa., 
on the journey. She lived only seven months after 
their marriage. 

In 1848, and while residing at Oquawka, he was 
elected State Senator from the 17th district. Gilbert 
TurnbuU, of Henderson, and A. C. Harding, of War- 
ren, were the members of the lower house. In 1850 
he was elected a member of the lower house of the 
Illinois Legislature from Henderson and Warren 
Counties. He was elected on the Democratic ticket, 
the contest being between Democrats and Whigs. 
He was never a candidate for any public position 



A ■ 



V 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^^ 



329 



"T" 



after thai, although entreated times without number 
by his political and personal friends to allow the use 
of his name for important public trusts. 

In October, 1849, ''^ was married to the accom- 
plished Christian lady. Miss Mary Babcock, daugh- 
ter of an old and valued citizen, E. C. Babcock (see 
sketch). 

To Azro and Mary Patterson four children were 
born — three of whom died in infancy — and but one 
son, Henry, survives. He is endowed with the ster- 
ling qualities of his parents. 

After serving in the legislature, Mr. P. located per- 
manently in Monmouth, and formed a partnership 
with C. L. Armsby and Jerry Massie in the dry goods 
trade. They occupied the old frame building that 
stood north of the Monmouth National Bank building, 
and afterwards moved to the building now occupied 
by George Babcock, which was built by Mr. Massie. 
In 1853 lie formed a partnership with his brother- 
in-law, R. N. Allen, in the dry goods trade, which 
continued two years. Mr. Allen then retired from 
business, and Mr. Patterson continued the trade in a 
frame building that stood on the corner of Broadway 
and East streets, where the Second National Bank 
now stands. Some time after Mr. Patterson sold his 
stock of goods to Major Holt, who continued the 
business a short time. He again formed a partner- 
ship with N. A. Rankin and L. S. Wallace, arid car- 
ried on the dry goods trade in the building now oc- 
cupied by the Spriggs Bros., as a dt;ug store, on the 
south side of the square. This partnership continued 
some time, when Mr. Patterson permanently retired 
from the dry goods trade, and devoted himself more 
particularly to real estate transactions. 

Of Mr. Patterson's father's family there survive 
him his only brother, Edwin Patterson, and Mrs. R. 
N. Allen, of Monmouth, and Mrs. S. S. Phelps, Mrs. 
Dr. Park, Mrs. Asa Smith, of Oquawka, all of whom 
were present at the funeral except Mrs. Phelps. 

The large throng who were present at the funeral 
from the town and county and from neighboring 
places, who met around his coffin to pay their last 
tribute of love and homage to his memory, but feebly 
express the veneration in which Azro Patterson was 
held in this community, where he liad spent the 
prime of his manhood, and had accomplished so 
much good. His whole life, his noble deeds, are a 
model for young men, particularly in humble circum- 
stances, to pattern after and emulate. 

k ■ 'A 



In the proper adjustment of estates, in the settle- 
ment of differences between man and man, and 
" pulling men through," as it were, who had become 
cramped and unfortunate in business transactions, 
he perhaps did more than any other man in the 
county. His sound judgment and advice was sought 
by many, yea, scores of men in Monmouth and through- 
out the county, in their hours of misfortune and 
trouble, and they never failed of his tender sympathy, 
his generous heart, his open hand. 

He was ever the steadfast friend of the unfortun- 
ate, the poor and the needy, and to him they went 
as to a father. He visited the widow and the father- 
less in their afflictions, he fed the hungry, he clothed 
the naked, he bound up the wounds of the broken- 
hearted and disconsolate, he buried the dead, he ac- 
complished all the good for his fellowmen that he 
could— what more could mortal man do.' 

He was very decided in his political and religious 
views, and entertained them honestly and fearlessly, 
and though others differed with him on these mat- 
ters, they honored him for the steadfastness with 
which he clung to what he thought was right. 

In his death this community has suffered a loss 
that connot be supplied. As a citizen he was inter- 
ested in all public affairs, and brought to their con- 
sideration an intelligence, coupled with a judgment 
of such native accuracy, as rarely permitted the pos- 
sibility of error. As a business man his character 
was integrity itself, and to himself, and to all who 
knew him, his word was as good as his bond. In 
matters of public spirit, his heart and purse were 
open and generous, and enterprises of worth and 
character never sought his aid in vain. As a bene- 
factor of the poor and distressed, his reputation is 
enviable indeed, as many who received his assistance 
will rejoice to remember. Not a few who thought 
their business affairs hopelessly entangled, and them- 
selves and fatiiilies ruined, sought and received his 
aid, and through his rare business qualities found 
themselves relieved from embarassment, and the 
possessors still of home and shelter. All these things 
he did from pure, charitable motives, and not for re- 
muneration. .\s a friend he was true as the needle 
to the pole; generous, unselfish and abiding. As a 
husband and father, he was as affectionate and ten- 
der as a child, and will be missed from his pleasant 
home beyond words to express. 

Mr. Patterson began life a poor boy, but long be- 






^ 



*4u 



33° 



, ^Y . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



— ^ 



fore his death, lie was able to retire from active 
business with a handsome and fixed income. His 
parents, Lewis P. and Lucy (Bushiiell) Patterson de- 
scended respectively from Irish and Scotch ancestry. 
His early education was limited to such as could be 
acquired at the common schools of his day, but he 
suffer*d not from that account. Those who knew 
him in his mature manhood knew hiui as an educat- 
ed man, for from the variety of his opportunity and 
experience he had learned much. 



~^/v^- -\<iiaa'©-Jg* 



^J>*S5-S''Z'OT»\.~'w\^ 



*ii^i'° ^^ Brent, owning 200 acres of land on 
ll EJai l: section 8, Ellison Township, and one of the 
ll^ successful farmers as well as respected and 
ijb J honored citizens of Warren County, is a native 
yiv ^^ Virginia, having been burn in Lancaster 
Co., that State, June 5, 1831. The father of 
Mr. Brent of this notice, Kenner Brent, Sr., was a 
native of Virginia, where he was engaged in farming, 
and where he was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Brent, also a native Virginian. They came 
West in 1836, and settled in Ellison Townshii), this 
county, when the same was in its natural condition 
and the hand of civilization was hardly visible. He 
nevertheless procured some land on which lie located 
and at once set about breaking and improving the 
same, and at one time owned more than 400 a( les. 
He continued to reside in Ellison I'ownship, follow- 
ing his chosen vocation, until Nov. 27, rSyS, when 
he passed to the land of the hereafter. His wife had 
preceded him, in 1854. 

Paul Brent, the gentleman of u liom He write, is 
one of 14 children born to his parents. He resided 
with thein until his marriage, which occurred in 
Monmouth, this county, Aug. 13, 1857. The lady 
who became his wife was Miss Phebe Moore, 
daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Cleckner) Moore, 
natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a carpen- 
ter by trade. 

Mrs. Brent was born Oct. 9, 1836, in Ohio, to 
which State her parents had moved soon after their 
marriage. They came West in 1842, to Ellison 
Township, this county, where, a few weeks after ar- 
rival (Dec, j8, 1842), her father died. Her mother 



was a second time married, the name of her hus- 
band being John Brown, a native of South Carolina, 
and an uncle of (ien. Burnside. Her step-father 
and mother lived in Ellison Township until their 
death, Mrs. Brenl, wife of the subject of this notice, 
living with them. Mr. and Mrs. Brenthave become 
the parents of 12 children, seven of whom are liv- 
ing. The living are: Ida A., Vesper M., Elias G., 
Eva G., Jessie C, Paul, Jr. and Harry. The 
names of the deceased are: Oreo E., Marvin M., 
David L., Minnie and Edwin. 

After Mr. and Mrs. Brent were married, they set- 
tled on a farm of 40 acres of raw prairie land, and by 
their united labors and economy, they have increased 
their landed possessions in Ellison Township until 
they at present own 200 acres of well improved land 
and ten acres of timber. They are living on their 
farm, enjoying the sweets of life after having tasted 
of the bitter during their years of toil in the past. 
Mr. Brent also devotes considerable of his tiirie to 
the raising of stock, Poland China hogs and Short- I 
horn cattle. He and his wife, together with some of I , 
his children, are members of the Methodist Epis- 1 
copal Church. In politics, Mr. B. casts his vote with IJ 
the Republican party. J ' 



-{G= 



\ i 



&r- 




TT 



.amuel E. Grooms, a resident of this county 
since 1855, and the proprietor of 280 acres 
of as good tillable land as can be found in 
Lenox Township, where, on section 20, he re- 
sides, is a son of Brice and Margaret (Jack- 
son) Grooms, natives of Pennsylvania. The 
parents died in their native State and the children 
born of their union were seven in number, namely: 
Hamilton, Mary M., Samuel E., Martha A., Leroy 
W., Elizabeth and William H. 

Samuel E. Grooms, whose name heads this bio- 
grai)hical notice, was born in Greene Co., Pa., July 
7, 1835, where he lived until about 20 years of age, 
in the meantime attending school in the acquisition 
of an English education and assisting his father on 
the farm. In the year 1855-, Samuel E. came to 
Warren County, and later, in 1864, removed to 
Lenox Township, where he has since resided, mak- 



¥ 




Farivi property of d. J. Shaw, Spring GroveTownsmip. 




Residence OF J. T. Porter, Sec. 26., Spring GroveTownship 



■ cT_i 



, -Y. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



±^H- 



333 



ing the same his permanent home. His farm of 280 
acres, as stated above, has all been put under excel- 
ent cultivation, through his energy and industry, and 
he has erected all the necessary farm buildings 
thereon, which, in all, presents the appearance of 
thrift and energy. 

Samuel E. Grooms was married to Catherine J. 
Miller, daughter of Henry and May Miller, on the 
9th of October, 1859, the ceremony taking place in 
Berwick Township. Her parents were natives of 
Virginia and came to Warren County in 1856, re- 
siding there until the spring of 1885, when tliey re- 
moved to Nebraska. Of their union were born ten 
children, the following being their names: George S., 
Catherine J., James C, Elizabeth H., Henry I., 
Hiram C, Mary C, John W., Peach S. and Martha 
V. Catherine J., our subject's " better half," was 
born in West Virginia, Feb. 5, 1838, and with her 
husband has become the parent of three children, — 
Leroy L., Mary A. and William H. Mary A. is the 
• wife of Perry D. White and resides in Lenox Town- 
ship, having one child, — Lottie M. ; Leroy and Will- 
iam reside at home. Mr. Grooms has been School 
^ Director in his township, and witli his wife belongs 
\ to the United Brethren Church. Politically, his 
affiliations are with the Republican party. 




oshua Porter, now deceased, was a pioneer 
of Warren County of 1835. He was born 
in Athens, Windham Co., Vt., in 1803. 
He was the son of a farmer and passed his 
1^ youth and grew to manhood in the county 
i where he was born. The years of his boy- 
hood were spent in the school-room and aiding in 
the labors of the farm. 

He was married there to Mary Tinkham, Dec. 
10, 183 1, who was also a native of the same county. 
Mr. Porter, after his marriage, returned, to the 
State of New York, locating near Schenectady, 
where he lived until the year in which he became one 
of the early settlers in this portion of the State of 
Illinois. He, with his wife, crossed the intervening 
country with a horse team and brought with them 



their only child, Mary C, now the wife of W. J. Miller. 
Their experiences on the route were similar to those 
that have been so often related in the accounts of 
those who set out with all the paraphernalia of 
housekeeping with them in their wagons and who 
kept up the routine of domestic duties on the road. 
Their first year in Warren County was passed at 
Center Grove, near Kirk wood, and in 1836 they set- 
tled in the township of Spring Grove, where they 
made a permanent location. Mr. Porter entered a 
claim on the southeast quarter of section 26, where 
he built a log house for the accommodation of his 
household, which was constructed in the manner 
common with the settlers in a new country, where 
all the appurtenances of modern carpentry were 
lacking. Mr. Porter rived clapboards from logs 
for covering the roof of his cabin, but in this the 
family found comfort, health and contentment. 
Later, when prosperous times warranted, Mr. Porter 
erected more commodious and convenient buildings 
for the abode of the household and for farming pur- " 
poses. He improved the entire acreage and lived 
upon the estate until his death, which event trans- 
pired Sept. 5, 1874. His wife survived until April ' 
10, 1881. The following is the record of their seven 
children : Mary C. is the wife of William Jackson 
Miller, of Spring Grcve Township. Ann M. is mar- • 
ried to John Frantz, a sketch of whom is given in 
another part of this work. William E. lives in Spring 
Grove Township, as does Thatcher J. M. Constance 
is the wife of Elias Smith, also of Spring Grove 
Township. AHce is the wife of Edwin R. Rose, of 
Kelly Township. Albert resides in Spring Grove 
Township and is the twin-brother of the sister last 
named. His residence is on the old Porter homestead. 
The children are all living and are honored and re- 
spected members of society. 

Thatcher J. the second son of Joshua and Mary 
(Tinkham) Porter, was born in Spring Grove Tp., July 
25, 1 84 1. He grew to manhood in that township 
and attended the common schools of the neighbor- 
hood. He was just 20 when the Civil War broke out, 
and in its second year he entered the service of his 
country to defend the old flag and the integrity of 
the Union. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, io2d 111. Vol. Inf., and continued in the 
military service until March, 1863. He received his 
discharge on account of disability, and returned to 
his home. He passed the first year after his return 



^ 



lA^ 



h 



^*--t?: 



334 



■ rzz=:, — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•*r^h-^ 






in seeking to restore his health, and in 1865 be- 
gan the work of improvement of the farm upon 
which he has since lived. It is situated on the north- 
east quarter of section 26, in the township of Spring 
Grove. When it became his property a log house 
had been built on the place and in this his family re- 
sided a few years, or until time and circumstances 
permitted the construction of a more suitable and 
satisfactory structure. The estate of Mr. Porter con- 
tains 360 acres and is all under improvement and 
enclosed. It comprises the varieties of land which 
make a farm in Illinois valuable and desirable. 
There is a grove of native timber of about 50 acres 
on the place; most of the place, however, is prairie 
land. A view of his present residence and farm 
buildings are siiown on page 332. 

The marriage of Mr. Porter to Kate E. McCoy 
took place Dec. i, 1864. She was born in Washing- 
ton Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Thomas and 
' Margaret (Newlaiid) McCoy. Thomas McCoy was 
I r a native of Washington CJo., Penn., and was born 
j Dec. 6, 1803. He was of Scotch parentage, Angus 
^. and Catherine (Monroe) McCoy, his fatiier and 
(^ mother, both having come from Scotland. They 
I settled in Pennsylvania, where tliey were married. 
Thomas McCoy grew to manhood in Washington 
County, where he was married, and where he was 
engaged in farming. In the spring of 1854, he came 
to Warren County, first locating in Sumner 'I'own- 
ship. He remained here, however, but about three 
months, when he bought a" farm on section 27, 
Spring Grove Township, where he lived until liis 
de.ith, which occurred Sept. 19, 1873. His widow is 
still living and resides on the old homestead with 
her son, Angus. They had a family of four children, 
Mary and John M., the eldest, two both died when 
they were just blooming into manhood and woman- 
hood. Angus and Mrs. Porter are the other two. 
Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, after coming to Warren 
County, connected themselves witii the United Pres- 
byterian Church. Subsetpiently, Mrs. McCoy be- 
came a member of tiie Christian Ciuirch. In politics 
the elder McCoy was a life-long Democrat. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Porter arc three in 
number and are named Ada F., Alvin A. and T. 
Lee. The parents are giving their children the 
benefits of a good education, affording them far 
greater advantages in this respect than either of 
them ever enjoyed. Politically, Mr. Porter is a 



Democrat. He is an excellent citizen and is con- 
sidered a leading farmer of the county. His i^lace is 
justly rated as one of the most valuable in Warren 
County. 



^*H^^I^^ 




rick Thompson, farmer, residing on sec- 
tion 4, Berwick Township, was born Feb. 
21, 1824, in the southern part of Sweden. 
He emigrated to the " land of possibilities" in 

I 1856, landing in New York Aug. 14, of that 

{ year. On arrival in New York city Mr* 
Thompson looked around and came to the conclu- 
sion that his opportunities to establish a home in 
that thriving metropolis with his meager means were 
not encouraging, and he consequently concluded to 
push farther west. He, therefore, soon after his ar- 
rival there, came to Galesburg, Knox Co., this State, 
from which place he came to Cameron, this county, ■ 
where he remained until the spring of 1857. He 
then worked by the month at various occupations 
for three years. 

Dec. 4, 1 86 1, Mr. Thompson enlisted in the War / 
for the Union, joining the 58th 111. Vol. Inf. under 
Capt. Fuller, and was mustered into the service at . 
Chicago. He participated in the battle of Fort 
Donelson, was in the three days' fight and at the bat- 
tle of Pittsburg Landing, April 2, 1862, was taken 
prisoner, and conveyed to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he 
remained 52 days, when he was taken to that " hell- 
hole," Andersonville Prison, and was there confined 
for ten months and four days. He was detailed while 
at Andersonville to dig graves for Union soldiers 
who had died in that horrible den, and in the 
months of June, July and August, Mr. Thompson as- 
sisted in digging graves for 8,610 Union soldiers who 
had died inside the walls of that filthy and inhuman 
prison. He was taken, in September, 1864, to Flor- 
ence, S. C, and there confined in another rebel 
prison, where lie remained until the latter part of De- 
cember, when he was transferred to Charleston, S. C, 
and the 7th day of February, 1865, he received his 
discharge and was mustered out at Chicago. 

The marriage of Mr. Thompson to Mrs. Phebe 
Charles took place Oct. 25, i860. She was born 
May 6, 1827, in Ohio, and died March 10, 1883. 
By her former marriage she became the mother of 



V 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



335 



f 



four children. Of her union with Mr. Thompson, 
the following children were born, namely : Hannah 
E., born Oct. 28, 1861; Almira J., Oct. 3, 1863; 
James A., Nov. 3, 1868; Laura M., April 26, 1870. 
James A. died Nov. 18, 1879. 

Mr. Thompson is the proprietor of 58 acres of 
land where he resides; has a good residence upon 
his place, and is engaged in general farming, meeting 
with success in his vocation. He and his family 
are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. 
Thompson, as long as he remembers the terrible trial 
he passed through while a prisoner in rebel prisons, 
will never fail to vote the Republican ticket. 



->^. 




■ esse Riggs, owning 364 acres of good 
farm land under excellent cultivation, lo- 
cated on section 2, Roseville Township, 
where he resides and is engaged in farming 
jU and stock-raising, was born in Tennessee, Jan. 
13, 1808, his parents being Reuben and 
Catherine (Sailing) Riggs, natives of North CaroHna. 
The parents of Mr. Riggs, of this sketch, in 1818, 
ten years after the birth of Jesse, moved from Ten- 
nessee to Missouri and there purchased 160 acres of 
land. They remained on the same for ten years, 
where his father was engaE;ed in its cultivation. In 
1828 his father sold his farm in Missouri and came 
to this State, locating in Morgan County, where he 
became owner by purchase of 120 acres, on which he 
resided for a number of years, when they came to 
live with their son, the subject of this notice, with 
whom they resided during the remainder of their 
lives and were buried in Berwick Seminary. Their 
family consisted of 12 children, 11 of whom lived 
to become men and women, and three of whom yet 
survive. 

Jesse Riggs, whose biography we write, is the 
sixth child in order of birth of his parent's family of 
12 children. He remained at home assisting in the 
maintenance of the family until 28 years of age. 
From the age of his majority until 28, he took charge 
of and cultivated his father's farm on shares. After 
leaving home, Mr. Riggs came to Warren County, in 



1834, and for TT years followed farming on rented 
land. At the expiration of that time he purchased 
80 acres in Lenox Township and resided thereon, 
engaged in its cultivation six years, when, by ad- 
ditional purchase, he added 50 acres to the same. 
He then sold the entire tract and purchased 220 
acres in Berwick Township. On this tract he moved 
with his family and engaged in farming until 1864, 
when he sold it and purchased 1 60 acres in Lenox 
Township, which, after working two years, he also 
sold. He then purchased 174 acres in the same 
township and lived on that place for six years, when 
he closed out his landed interests in that section by 
sale and bought the property on which he at present 
resides, which consists of 364 acres. 

Mr. Riggs lost his first two companions. By his 
first wife he had three children, — Martha E., John 
T. and Jonathan P. The issue of the second union 
was four children, who are living, as follows: James 
O., Mary E., Henry H. and Eliza J. Mr. Riggs 
married the third time in 1865, the lady chosen to 
share his joys and sorrows, successes and reverses, 
being Miss Emeline Vandeveere, a native of War-_ 
ren Co., 111., and she has borne to her husband four^ 
children, — Frank, Florence H., Bertie M. and Willis. 

Mr. Riggs is a Democrat and has held various 
offices of his township and county, and with his wife 
is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Riggs is 
considered one of the solid and substantial men of 
Warren County. 



«£C;©^' 



K4— x'^^J'SZTOv* 



f?'f*fli^ illiam H. Cable, engaged as an aericul- 
^^^|i^ tunst, residmg upon section 29, Floyd 
'i^i''^'" Township, was born April 6, 1835, his 
V parents being Henry and Olive (Kingsley) 
Cable. His father was born Sept. 8, 1795 
in Columbia Co., N. Y., and came to Floyd 
Township, Nov. i, 1835, where he resided until April, 
1867, when he moved to Monmouth, in which place 
he resided until his death. He was six weeks on the 
journey from his native State, coming down the Ohio 
to Cairo, and from that place to St. Louis, finally 
landing at Yellow Banks, now called Oquawka. At 
the latter place he started with teams to Monmouth, 



*+ 




— y^ 



i36 



WARREN COUNTY. 



where he found but one frame building in the city. 
His marriage was celebrated on the 28th of April, 
1816, in New York, with Miss Olive Kingsley, 
mother of our subject, she having been born in Con- 
necticut, April 16, 1792. To use Mr. Cable's own 
language (expressed with a pride which reflects credit 
upon him as a son), his mother was a " genuine Con- 
necticut Yankee," who " spun the yarn from which 
his father's wedding suit of clothes were made." Her 
demise occurred Feb. 23, 1876, at the age of 83 years, 
10 months and 7 days. Mr. Henry Cable died after a 
life of hard work, on the 8th of March, 1878. Their 
family consisted of Mary, born April i, 1819; Ezra, 
Feb. II, 1821; George C, April i, 1823; Chancy 
M., May 19, 1825 ; Elizabeth A , Dec. 19, 1828, and 
William H., of whom we write this biographical no- 
tice. 

Miss Mary A. Chaffee was the lady chosen to 
share the joys and sorrows, successes and reverses of 
Mr. William H. Cable, their marriage occurring Aug. 

• 25, 1858. She was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., 
July 24, 1839, and of her union with Mr. Cable, five 
children were born, all surviving. Charles H., born 

.July 31, i860; Francis E., June 17, 1862; Henry 
G., April 24, 1864; Eddy L)., April 6, 1866; Albert 
B., April 20, 187O. Henry, the third in order of 

.birth, was severely injured when 16 years of age by 
the bursting of a circular saw operated for the pur- 
pose of sawing stove wood at his father's door. While 
the lad stood throwing away the blocks as they fell 
from the machine, he was struck by a piece of the 
bursted saw (measuring 16 x 28 inches) at the edge 
of the hair over the left eye, tearing away a piece 
from the skull 2^ x 3J4 inches. The scalp wound 
was 13 inches in circumference, but the wound 
healed without any artificial appliance, and to-day he 
is in a sound physical condition, and with mental 
faculties unimpaired and of the brightest order. He is 
now residing in Minneapolis, Minn,, holding a posi- 
tion as Clerk in the Security Bank of Minnesota. He 
is 2 1 years of age. 

Mr. William H. Cable came lo Illinois with his 
parents wh:n but six months old, in 1835. He has 
160 acres of good land under excellent cultivation 
and improvement. Upon it he has erected a dwel- 
ling 30 X 34 feet in dimensions, with a fine grove of 
forest trees surrounding it. He has a herd of about 
25 head of Short-horn cattle highly graded, and his 
horses are of the Hambletonian and Bashaw grades. 



He is also the owner of a pair of Clydesdale colts of 
very fine breed. Mr. Cable is now serving as Jus- 
tice of the Peace in this township, having served as 
School Director for 12 or 14 years. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
having belonged to this denomination for over 31 
years. Politically, he is identified with the Republi- 
can party. The Cable family originated from Ger- 
many. Their great-grandfather emigrated to this 
country in the early part of the 17 th century. 




ww^ 



\\ obert B. Woodward. One of the exten- 
sive farmers of Roseville Township and 
/JKSa'^' ^^''g^ land-owners of the county, is Mr. R. 
JINteT B. Woodward. He is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and was born in Fayette Co., Oct. 14, 
1829, his parents being Davis and Mary 
(Boyd) Woodward, also natives of the Keystone 
State. By occupation, the father, Davis, was en- 
gaged ill farming. He was married in 1828, and to 
that union 13 children were born, 12 of whom grew 
to maturity, and 1 1 survive their parents. The fam- 
ily were from Cumberland County and moved West 
to Fayette County. 

Robert B. was the eldest child of his parents' 
family, receiving at their hands a good common- 
school education and assisting them whenever it was 
possible until he attained the age of majority, when 
he went out to earn his own livelihood, wholly de- 
pendent upon himself. He rented a farm, which he 
continued for two years, having had fair success, and 
March 31, 1853, came to Illinois and located in 
Roseville Township, this county, where he purciiased 
187 acres of land uixdu section 30, 20 acres of which 
was timber. Upon this tract of land he remained, 
engaged in its cultivation and improvement, until he 
has increased his landed interests to 561 acres. He 
is extensively engaged in the stock business and is 
meeting with success. 

Dec. 5, 1850, tlie marriage of Mr. Robert B. 
Woodward and Miss Sarah A. Work, native of Penn- 
sylvania, was solemnized. She was the daughter of 
Andrew and Amy (Harris) Work, also natives of 
that State. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have had their 



-^ 




. V~ . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



!?-r?-3^ 



339 -> 



home circle blessed with the birth of six children, all 
of whom survive, and of whom the following is a brief 
memorandum: Mary, Davis A., Andrew D., Seth, 
Jacob H. and Viola. Mary, wife of Charles Steward, 
resides in Franklin Co., Kan. ; Davis A. married 
Annie Wilson, a resident of Roseville Township; 
Andrew D. married Priscilla Boyd, and is a farmer 
in Point Pleasant Township ; Seth married Ida 
Lippe and is an occupant of the home farm ; Jacob 
H. and Viola are still at home. 

Mr. Woodward is a Democrat in political affilia- 
tion, and, socially, belongs to the Select Knights and 
is a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a director 
and stockholder in the Roseville Union Bank, and is 
one of the prominent and substantial men of Warren 
County. Mrs. Woodward is a member of the Con- 
gregational Church. 



-0-5- 



-Ej-o- 




■^ 



ohn B. Sofield, of the firm of Sofield & 
'~ Schussler, successors to D. Harvey, dealer 
'* in hardware, stoves, tinware and agricul- 
tural implements, at Monmouth, was born at 
If Lawrenceville, Tioga Co., Pa., March 26, 1833. 
His parents, John and Julia A. (Grant) Sofield, 
natives of New Jersey and Connecticut respectively, 
and dating their early ancestry back to old England, 
were married in the State of New York, where two 
of their childrei were born. The rest of their four 
sons and five daughters were born in Pennsylvania. 
The senior Mr. Sofield, who was for many years in 
the hardware business at Wellsborough, Pa., died at 
that place in x86o, aged about 58 years His widow 
survived him eight years, and died at the age of ()t,. 
Their eldest son, Alfred J. Sofield, was a Captain in 
the Union Army and lost his life at Gettysburg. His 
Company was attached to the celel)rated " Buck 
Tails," 149th Pa. Vol. Inf. 

John B. Sofield was educated at the public schools 
and at Wellsborough Academy. When between 16 
and 17 years of age, he began learning the tinner's 
trade, and in about a year and a half went into the 
stove and tinware business at Wellsborough, which 
he followed nine years. He then removed to Iowa 



and a few months later to Osawatomie, Kan., where 
he spent three years in the hardware business. In 
i860 he came to Warren County, where his principal 
business has been in dealing in hardware, stoves, 
tinware, etc. He was permanently located 20 years 
at Kirkwood, coming to Monmouth in 1880. He 
retained his interest, however, at Kirkwood, until 
1883. He was appointed Postmaster at Kirkwood, 
in 1879, but held the office only a few months, find- 
ing the position irksome and militating to too great 
an extent against the interests of his private busi- 
ness. While at Kirkwood, he was several terms a 
member of the Common Council of that city, a posi- 
tion that has also been thrust upon him since coming 
to Monmouth. 

Aside from his mercantile business, Mr. Sofield is 
largely interested in banking, to which he has given 
considerable attention. He is emmently a business 
man, full of energy and activity and possessed of a 
high order of e.vecutive ability. 

At Galesburg, this State, Mr. Sofield was married 
Oct. 18, 1859, to Miss Helen M. Smalley, native of 
Madison Co., N. Y. They have one child, a daugh- 
ter. Mr. Sofield is ever an active Republican in 
politics, but his religion is liberal and broad. Both 
he and Mrs. Sofield are members of the Universalist 
Church. 



ii^s^^- 



. 



"WW 



lexander Hamilton Swain, editor and 
_,^^^ , proprietor of the Monmouth Review., a 
■y'^^ history of which paper, see elsewhere in 
^jlW this work, was born in Fayette Co., Pa., Oct. 
!i^ 13, 1828. His father was Wilson Swain, a 
I native of Pennsylvania and descended from 
the German ; and his mother was Rebecca Mc- 
Cracken, daughter of Rev Alex. McCracken, a pion- 
eer Methodist preacher of Ohio, but a native of 
Ireland, dating his ancestry back to the Scotch who 
fled into Ireland at the time of the Romish persecu- 
tion. Wilson Swain and Miss McCracken were mar- 
ried in Fayette Co., Pa., where their five sons and 
one daughter were born, and there the two old peo- 
ple spent their lives. Mr. Swain died in 1845, aged 
60 years, and his widow, in 1852, aged 68 years. 
Alexander Hamilton Swain, whose name would in- 



i/_: 



i- 



-t4-:!?^ 



34® 



.v^ ; — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•^-^ 






dicate that the senior Swain leaned rather to the 
Federal than to the Republican party of that time, 
was the youngest of the five sons. The eldest, John, 
developed into a river man (Steam-boat Captain), 
and died in 1845 ; the second son, William T., be- 
came a merchant and subsequently a soldier. He 
was Captain of Co. H, 12th 111. Vol. Inf., and was 
killed at Shiloh; the third son, Andrew J , grew into 
a preacher in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and tiie fourth son, Wilson, learned to be a blacksmith, 
and died at Uniontown, Pa., in 1850; the daugher, 
Rebecca, married a Mr. T. A. Stone, and died in 
1864, at Uniontown. 

Alexander Swain, subject of this notice, was at 
Uniontown College when his father died and from 
that day he had to shift for himself. The Gftiius of 
Liberty, a Democratic paper, was established at 
Uniontown, in 1805, and through all the various 
changes of eight decades, it has stood by its colors; 
demonstrating the appropriateness of its title and is a 
flourishing Democratic paper, a. d. 1886. In the office 
of this paper, young Swain began to be a printer, and 
here he worked for several years. In 1853, lie land- 
ed at Tiskilwa, Bureau County, this Sta'.e, and there 
worked about nine months for his mercliant brother. 
He next took employment as a printer on the Knox- 
■■ ville Journal, coming from there to Monmouth, in 
1855. Friday, Dec. 28, 1855, the Monmouth Re- 
7'iew made its first appearance, and though its editor 
and proprietor possessed but a very limited cash 
fund when he struck the town, his paper has ap- 
l)eared regularly every Friday, from that day to this 
— a period covering near a third of a century — each 
succeeding issue presenting a more promising indica- 
tion of perpetual existence. That its many readers 
may know that its Democracy, pure as it is to-day, is 
but the embodiment of the time honored principles 
of that great party, untarnished and unchanged by 
the wear and tear of ages, we reproduce here, the 
salient points set forth in Mr. Swain's salutatory of 
over 30 years ago. 

" In commencing the Monmouth Review we feel 
called ujjon to make a short statement to the pub- 
lic of our views and intentions in the future publica- 
tion of this pajjer. Our movement in the present 
instance has not been promised by any spirit of con- 
tention or desire to assail those who may differ with 
us in opinion, but from the evident demands of the 
growth and improvement of the country, and the 



party whose principles we wish to advocate. The 
Democratic party in this section of the .State appears 
to require an organ which should express their views, 
uphold Democratic principles and seek to extend the 
influences of Democracy among the people. How 
far we shall succeed in performing this oner- 
ous task il is not for us to say, more than that we 
shall set ourselves with all our abilities to its per- 
formance. The Democratic party at this time occu- 
pies a singular position before the country ; beset by 
all the difTerent factions and organizations of the day 
whose policy for the time is to drop minor differences 
and unite for the defeat of that one party, which has 
ever maintained its part as a barrier against section- 
alism on the one hand and lawlessness on the 
other. In reference to the important and exciting 
issues which divide and excite the people, we stand 
on the broad National pliilform of tlie Democracy of 
the whole Union which allows the people of the sev- 
eral States and Territories to regulate their domestic 
concerns in their own way, which extends to the . 
needy of every country and clime the rights and 
privileges we so bountifully enjoy, irrespective of 
their religious and political opinion or place of 1^ 
birth." 

The files of the Review attest the adherence of its 
editor to the principles he has honestly thought 
right. Though many have differed and will continue 
to differ witii him, none have ever doubted his sin- 
cerity. His paper has always championed the weak 
as against the strong, has always advocated the ad- 
vancement of public interest and in no instance has 
it groveled in the slum of personal abuse unaccom- 
panied by public duty. Mr. Swain was one of the 
original 12 to organize the Warren County Library 
and that greatest of all the city's public institutions, 
owes much of its success to the influences wielded 
by Editor Swain and his paper. Personally, Mr. Swain 
has been but little in politics. He was a candidate 
for Circuit Clerk in 1864, and defeated by methods 
that woukl never be tolerated when the country was 
at peace. In 1869-70, he was Journal Clerk of the 
Constitutional Convention, and as such wrote the 
present Constitution of Illinois. 

Mr. Swain is a 32d degree Mason ; served 14 
years as High Priest in Chapter, and some years as 
illustrious (}rand Master of Council. June 9, 1856, 
at Knoxville, III., Mr. .Swain was married to Miss 
Mary Louisa Brewer, cousin of Dr. Brewer, whose 




■e 4 ^± 



X 



*T 



WARREN COUNTY. 



341 



biography is presented in another part of this vol- 
ume. Their only daughter, Mary Rebecca, is mar- 
ried to E. C. Babcock, of Butte City, M. T. 

A portrait of Mr. Swain accompanies this sketch 
of his life. 




Ifndrew J. Reid is a resident on section 4 
____J [ of the township of Spring'Grove. He was 
iJK^ " born in the town of Greenwich, Washington 
Co , N. Y., and is the son of Peter'and Phebe 
(Hutchins) Reid. His parents were both born 
in the same county where their son first saw 
the light of day. His birth occurred July 9, 1833. 
Alexander Reid, his paternal grandfather, was also 
a native of the State of New York and was a Lieu- 
tenant in the Continental Army. He was a partici- 
pant in the battle of Hubbardton in Rutland Co., 
Vt., the only authenticated'battlefield of the Revo- 
lution in the Green Mountain State. John Reid, 
the great-grandfather, was a native of Scotland, and 
he was one of the earliest settlers of Washington 
Co., N. Y., where he settled on a tract of land known 
as the " Argyle Patent." The maternal grandmother 
was a native of Nova Scotia. In her girlhood, she 
was Eunice Campbell. Her father was of the 
Campbell clan. 

The father of Mr. Reid of this sketch was 
reared on the home farm and became quite famous 
as a naturalist. He was one of those who classified 
and arranged the flora of the Empire State. He 
was well known through his writings for the Spirit 
0/ The Times. His death took place in Greenwich, 
Washington Co., N. Y.. in September, 1878, at the 
age of 83 years and two months. The mother died 
in 1878, aged 76. Si.\ of 11 children of whom they 
became the parents, are still living. Alexander H. 
resides in De Kalb Co., 111. ; Andrew J. is the next 
in order; Jane E. is the wife of John Wellman, of 
Greenwich, N. Y. ; Catherine is married to H. L. 
Pratt, of Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; Margaret 
is the wife of Edward Orcutt, of Cambridge, Wash- 
ington Co., N. Y. ; Emily A, is married to William T. 
Creighton, of Harper City, Kan. 

Mr. Reid grew to the age and condition of man- 
hood in the county where he was born, and received 



the training of a farmer's son. He obtained a de- 
gree of learning which enabled him to engage in 
teaching, and for a time he vvas occupied in that 
pursuit. In 1857 he came to Illinois. He passed 
three years in farming in Mercer County, and in 
i860 came to Warren County and followed the same 
pursuit in the summer seasons and taught school 
winters until he decided to enter the military service 
of the United States. He enlisted Sept. 30, 1861, 
in Co. G, 30th 111. Vol. Inf , and continued to dis- 
charge military duty until he received an honorable 
discharge, Dec. 21, 1862, for disability. He was in 
the actions at Fort Donelson and Britton's Lane, 
near Denmark. After his return to Warren County, 
he located upon the farm where he now resides. It 
was unimproved at the time, but under his skillful 
management it was soon placed in proper condition 
for prosperous agriculture. In 1872 he engaged in 
mercantile business at Norwood, in which pursuit he 
continued for seven years, when he again resumed 
farming. In political relations, he is a Republican. 
His marriage to Selinda E. Boggs took place June 
3, 1863. She was born in Huntingdon Co., Pa., 
and is the mother of two children,— Gertrude and 
Eva May. 

4— 



I. Field. Among the energetic and pros- 
perous agriculturists of Warren County, is 
Mr. Field of this notice, who is a resident 
on section 15, Tompkins Township, and a na- 
'%Z tive of the Buckeye State, having been born 
! there in the year 1819. Jacob and Martha 
(Inman) Field, the parents of Mr. J. I. Field of this 
writing, were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, 
coming to Ohio from the latter State in the year 
18 18. The father, Jacob, resided in Ohio until 
1854 (the mothers demise having occurred in 1849), 
when he came to the State of Illinois, and located in 
Henderson County, where he purchased land and 
engaged in farming until his death, in 1875. 

J. I. Field remained with his parents until he at- 
tained the age of 30 years, or the year in which the 
death of his mother occurred. He attended the com- 
mon schools and at the age of 15 years engaged un- 
der his father's instruction ]to learn the blacksmith's 



^ 




•JKl 



-y- 



-€-^ 



t* 



342 



WARREN COUNTY. 



trade, at which he worked for 15 years in his father's 
shop. He then came to tiiis State and purchased 
160 acres of raw prairie land in Wahuit drove Town- 
shi|j, Henderson CoLinty, upon whicli he moved and 
engaged in the laborious task of its miprovement 
and cultivation, and to which, by a subsequent pur- 
chase, he added 80 acres. He continued to reside 
on this land until 1876, when he sold out and moved 
into the village of Kirk«ood, there purchasing a lot 
and residence, in which he resided for 18 months. 
He then sold 1 is village property and bought [60 
acres of land, located upon sections 10 and 15- On 
this land he moved his family and once more engag- 
ed in the vocation of an agriculturist, whicli he has 
successfully continued until the present time. He 
has an excellent farm, with good residence and out- 
buildings, and its general appearance and actual 
condition is highly indicative of that thrift and ener- 
gy which its owner possessses. 

In 1857 Mr. Field was married to Miss Jane Math- 
ews, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, and who 
bore him three children, — Martha J., William E.and 
Joseph F. The wife and mother, after accompany- 
ing her husband through the trials of 17 years, pass- 
ed to the land of the hereafter, her death occurring 
in 1874. In his political views, Mr. Field coincides 
with the principles of the Republican party. His 
religion is the same as that of the United Presbyter- 
ian Church, of which denomination at Kirkwood, he 
is a member. 



-f3=f==f=<j 



S^j^^JfTo^"^ Bennet, who, after the many struggles 
'^m^ which he has encountered'in his more than 
* ■ four score years, is now able to sit in the 
midst of peace and jjlenty, while viewing the 
golden sunset of life in the domestic qui- 
etude of his farm, on section 16, Tompkins 
Township. He was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., 
July 13, 180U, his parents being fames and Hannah 
(Sharp) Bennett, natives of South Caiohna and New 
York respectively. 

Mr. Bennett of this iiutice was an inmate of the 
the [larental household until 20 years of age. He re- 



)i. midst 
\ thegc 



ceived such education as was to be acquired at the 
district schools, and in 1824, after leaving the home 
of his parents, he purchased a tract of farm land on 
lime, which, however, owing to reverses, he was un- 
able to pay for. After this first bitter experience 
with the " tips and downs " of life, he was occui)ied 
until 1854 in agricultural pursuits on rented land in 
his native State. In 1854 Mr. Bennett came to Il- 
linois and purchased a farm of 80 acres in Warren 
County, located on section 16, Tompkins Township, 
on which he established a home for his family, and 
for eight years he continued to reside thereon, dilli- 
genlly cultivating the soil. In 1865 he sold his 80- 
acre tract and purchased the farm upon which he 
has since residetl. His improvements are of the 
best ([uality and his farm is indicatiue of that push 
and energy wliich has characterized the life of Mr. 
Bennett. 

Mr. Bennett has been twice married. His first 
marriage was to Miss Lydia Thorp, January, 1821, 
and by whom he had two children. Miss Melinda 
Thorp became his second wife. In politics Mr. Ben- 
nett is a strong advocate of the principles of the Re- 
publican party. In religion he and his wife are both - 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. \ 

I. ugh Martin, deceased, was a pioneer of 
Warren County and came hither in 1832, 
in which year he located in that part of the 
county now inchided in the township of Sum- 
ner. He was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa. 
It is a tradition that his father was an Indian 
captive 12 years. Mr. Martin was married in his 
native county to Margaret Brown, who was born in 
Ireland. She came to this country at the age of 14. 
On the route the vessel was captured by pirates. Half 
of the crew from the fieebooter was placed on lioard, 
and one-half of the captured crew transferred to 
l)irate vessel. In the course of the storm that soon 
after arose, the vessels became separated and that 
portion of the captured crew left on board their own 
ship, mutined (if such a term can properly apply) 
and retook their ship. They made the port of New 
York in safety and the owners of the vessel refunded 
the passage money to the passengers. Mrs. Martin 




"T 



'J^L 



'^ 




JoYDOR Stud Farm , owned by John J.Ivey, 5Ec.,33.SuiviNERToVi'NSHiP. 






WARREN COUNTY. 



345 ? 



came in company with her brother and they located 
in Pennsylvania. Seven years later her mother and 
other members of the family came from the Green 
Isle to join them. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Martin went to Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio, being one of the earliest of its 
pioneer population. In 1829, in company with his 
wife and seven children, he set his face toward Illi- 
nois. He drove a four-horse team across the many 
intervening miles and made the tr'p in the Gipsy 
fashion. After six weeks travel they arrived in Ful- 
ton County. Mr. Martin bought a half-section of 
land for which he paid $200. He rented a few acres 
of timber which was in the vicinity of his pur- 
chase, on which a log-cabin had been erected, and 
tlie humble structure sheltered the family three 
years. At the end of that time another removal 
brought the household to Warren County. This was 
in the fall of 1832. Mr. Martin pre-empted a claim 
on section 28, in what became Sumner Township, 
when the work of county organization was com- 
pleted. He built a log house on his claim, which 
was his home until death. He was a hard-working, 
^honest man and was frugal in habits, and judicious 
in the management of his affairs. Before he died he 
was the owner of 600 acres of land which was dis- 
tributed among his children previous to his death. 
His second son, William, was the first of the family to 
reach the site of Sumner Township. He was mur- 
dered by the Indians in August, 1832. 



— I— <-j- 



-V>— J- 




44- 



■ ohn J. Ivey is a farmer and breeder of 
thoroughbred horses and trotting stock, 
and resides on section 33, of Sumner Town- 
_ ship. He is a native of Tennessee and is a 
yi descendant of parents who were born respect- 
ively in Virginia and Northern Tennessee. 
His father, David A. Ivey, was a native of Sussex 
Co., Va. He was old enough to take a part in the 
war of 1812, when that struggle broke out, and after- 
ward married a lady named Mourning Mason. She 
was the daughter of a "hard-shell" Baptist preacher, 
and her parents were natives of North Carolina. 
The marriage took place in Robertson Co., Tenn., 



where they lived about four years. They then went 
to Logan Co., Ky., where the father purchased a 
tract of timber three miles from the State line. He 
lived to clear a farm upon which he died in 1867, 
his wife following him in 1870. All their lives were 
passed in the prac'ice of the principles of Chris- 
tianity, and they were consistent members of the 
Methodist Church. They left a record which still 
exerts an influence on those to whom their careers of 
uprightness and integrity were well known. Six of 
their children grew to maturity. Carrie, the oldest, 
remained with her parents until their respective 
deaths. She now resides with her brother in Sum- 
ner Township. Virginia is also a member of the 
household of her brother. James A. is a preacher in 
the Methodist Church, and is now stationed at New 
Orleans. Joseph died on the homestead in Kentucky. 
Ellen is the wife of the Rev. James A. Lewis, of 
Kentucky. 

Mr. Ivey was born Dec. 6, 1827, in Robertson Co., 
Tenn. He was but a few months old when his par- 
ents removed to Kentucky, where he was brought 
up on the farm of his father. The residence was in 
Logan County and the boy passed his time inostly in 
farm labor, with the exception of the winter seasons 
which were spent in obtaining an education in the 
select schools. His first engagement in active life 
was as a clerk in a store in Keysburg, where he 
operated three years and went thence to Clarksville, 
Tenn. At that place he continued in the same voca- 
tion in a wholesale and rei3.il establishment, where 
he continued three years. He then formed a part- 
nership vifith R. M. House, whereby he acquired an 
interest in the oldest grocery house in Clarksville. 
The relation continued until 1859 when it was ter- 
minated by the death of Mr. House. After an ex- 
perience alone, of about the duration of a year, he 
sold out and went to that part of Steward County, 
Tennessee, which is now included in Houston 
County, and there bought a farm and milling prop- 
erty — the latter including a saw and flour mill. He 
superintended these interests until interrupted by 
circumstances growing out of the bitter internecine 
war. He was a slave-holder and withal a Union 
man of decided and declared opinions. Unfortu- 
nately, his ideas were not ihose that generally pre- 
vailed theieand he soon found himself in incoaenial 
quarters. His life was unsafe and eventually the 
fate that overwhelmed all who had the smallest re- 



V 



346 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



spect for an integral Union, overtook him. His 
property was confiscated and lie became a fugitive 
in the woods of the State where he had added to the 
general prosperity without the privilege of cherishing 
his own views of his rights as a man. After the fall 
of Fort Donelson the Union commander removed the 
family of Mr. Ivey under a guard of protection to the 
home of his father in Kentucky. The Union forces 
were under obligations to him for services for which 
his knowledge of the surrounding country especially 
fitted, and he acted as a scout and guide for tl".e 

I soldiers. He was chiefly identified with tlic 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf. In consequence of these important ser- 
vices his interests received special attention at the 
hands of the victors at Fort Donelson, and his family 
was removed to safe quarters, and provided for. His 
services to the Union cause, having rendered him 
peculiarly unpopular among the people of Stewart 
Co., Tenn., a return to his home in that section, 

I after the close of the war would have been, to say 
r the least, an unwise movement. He therefore con- 

, eluded to cast his fortunes with that part of the 
Union whose side he had espoused in the course of 

r- the conflict. As many of those with whom he had 
become acquainted in^ the army were from War- 
ren Co., 111., tliat fact determined his future and he 
■ came hither. He arrived at Oquawka, July 4, 1865, 
and came directly to Sumner Township. He had al- 
ready Iwught 200 acres of land in that township, or. 
sections 29 and t,-x„ and on his arrival he took pos- 
session of the property. His family removed to a 
small frame house wliich had been built previous to 
his purchase. All the structures on the place, in- 
cluding the fences, were in a state of dilapidation 
and he at once set about the work of jnitting every- 
thing into presentable conditition. He has erected a 
fine large farmhouse and an excellent barn, beside 
other buildings. He has also added 60 acres addi- 
tional to the farm and the whole place is in the best 
possible condition for profitable fanning. The place 
is thus thoroughly well adapted to all the uses of 
agriculture. It is supplied with running water, tim- 
ber and building stone of a good quality. For a time 
Mr. Ivey directed his attention to the breeding of 
mules and operated with success in that line, until 
1 881, when he commenced to raise thoroughbred 
Kentucky horses for the track. At present he has 
eight of them in training, six of the number having 
made a reconl at the agricultural exhibitions in the 



adjoining counties in tiie autumn of 1885. An ex- 
cellent view of Mr. Ivey's fine homestead is presented 
elsewhere. 

Mr. Ivey is a firm adherent of the Republican 
[)arty in his political views and connections. He is 
a man of ability and one who is awake to all issues 
that can affect the general welfare. He is thor- 
oughly versed in the current news of the day, and 
abreast of the advancement of tlie period. He is a 
thoroughly domestic man with all the excellences of 
character that mark men of like proclivities. He 
has served two years as Supervisor of Sumner Town- 
ship. 

His marriage to Miss Columbia House took place 
Aug. 26, 1856. She is the daughter of Robert M. 
and Mary R. (Barnes) House, and was born in 
Wdliamson Co., Tenn., and was of German descent, 
his ancestors having been early settlers in Virginia. 
Her mother is of Scotch descent. The first whole- 
sale grocery business established at Clarksville, was 
started by her father. He died Feb. i, 1859, leaving . I 
to a family of five children, a priceless heritage, a | 
good name. j 

Mr. and Mrs. Ivey have only two children living. I- 
They are daughters and are named Mary Virginia ] 
and Emma F. Their first born was a daughter who 
died in infancy. John J., the only son was born in J , 
Stewart Co., in 1862, and died in Dallas, Texas, Nov. I 
23, 1883. 



Jh- 




arvin Perry, a farmer ofTompkins Town- 
ship residing on sec. 25, was born in Put- 
nam Valley, Putnam Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 
1830, his parents being Reuben and l.,orin- 
da (Pratt) Perry, natives of New York and Con- 
necticut respectively. The gentleman whose 
name stands at the head of this biographical notice 
lived with his parents until he attained the age of 20 
years, receiving at their hands a good, common- 
school education. Leaving home at that age of life, 
he worked at various occupations by the month for 
several years. In 1857 he came to Warren County, 
this State, and settled near Cameron, where for three 
years he followed the vocation of an agriculturist on 
rented land. In 1861, when the news flashedacross 



LAr 




iT_i. 



!?^!^4-*^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



M7 




the country tliat the Southern States had seceded 
and Rebel shot and shell were being thundered 
against the walls of Sumter, Mr. Perry was one of 
the first to respond to the call of our martyred Pres- 
ident for brave hearts and strong arms to defend the 
country's flag. He enlisted in Co. H, 45th 111. Vol. 
Inf., and served for three years. He was Corporal 
and then promoted Sergeant, and participated in the 
battles of Fort Donelson, and many others of smaller 
import. After being a member of the 45th Regi- 
ment for a year and a half, he received an honorable 
discharge, by special order, and immediately enlisted 
in the Mississippi River Marine Brigade, and served 
in the same until he received an honorable discharge 
by reason of the disbandment of the Brigade. Re- 
turning home, he again rented land for three years 
and engaged in his former occupation. At the expi- 
ration of that time, he purchased 70 acres of land, 
where he at present resides, engaging actively and 
energetically in its improvement and cultivation. 

Mr. Perry was united in marriage with Miss Eliz- 
abeth F. Brown, a native of Indiana, Feb. 22, 1865, 
and of their union two children. Villa May and Lo- 
rinda D., have been born. In politics, Mr. Perry is 
a strong supporter and active worker for the princi- 
ples advocated by the Prohibition party. In religion, 
he and his \vife are members of the Protestant Meth- 
odist Church. 



-^m^m* 



ohn Simcock, one of the highly esteemed 
citizens of the township of Spring Grove, 
where he has resided for many years, is a 
j^ native of England and was born in Stafford- 
t shire Dec. 27, 1829. He was a son of a miner 
and, according to the custom in England, pre- 
pared to follow the vocation of his ancestors. When 
he was seven years of age he entered the mines to 
assist in the variety of labor that can be performed 
by the children of the miners, and which is in many 
instances quite important, as tlie maintenance of the 
family is thereby much enhanced. He was engaged 
in the capacity of a door-tender and his duty was to 
open the doors leading to various portions of the 




mine before the passage of the cars which contained 
the results of the labors of those who worked the 
veins of coal. As he grew older he was | romoted to 
other kinds of labor of a more advanced character 
until he could wield all the tools of a bona-fide miner. 
He continued 10 reside in his native country until 
185 r. In that year, during the month of May, he 
left Liverpool on a sailing vessel for the United 
States, and landed at the port of New York after an 
ocean passage of six weeks and three days. He pro- 
ceeded to Mahoning Co., Ohio, and was occupied 
in the mines there until the month of October fol- 
lowing. 

During the month last mentioned he came to 
Illinois, and after a delay of a short time in LaSalle 
County he came, in the spring of 1852, to Warren 
County. He engaged in his old vocation here until 
the spring of 1853, when he returned to the land of 
his birth. He passed a year on his native island 
and in the spring of 1855 he returned to the home 
of his adoption. He then went to the same county 
in the Buckeye State where he had at first found 
employment on coming to America, and in the fall of 
the same year came again to La Salle County. He 
passed a year in the mines there and then went to 
St. Louis. A year was passed in the State of Mis- 
souri and in 1856 he came again to Warren County 
with the intent to pass his remaining life within its 
limits. 

He then first entered into the business of a farmer 
in good earnest, and rejited land in the township of 
Spring Grove. He operated there a few years and 
then became an independent landholder in the town- 
ship of Cold Brook. The tract contained coal and 
he opened the hidden treasures and operated as a 
miner until 1861. In tlie fall of that year he went 
thence to Pike's Peak. He drove an ox team and 
passed two months on the way to his destination in 
the mountains. .'Vfter reacliing there he engaged in 
gold-mining two months, and, not finding the results 
of his labors satisfactory, he returned to Warren 
County. He passed the first year after his return in 
the township of Cold Brook and then rented a coal- 
bank on section 14, SpringS^rove Township. 

In 1864 he bouglit a tract of land situated on the 
northeast quarter of section 14, and, as it contained 
a vein of coal, he proceeded to open it for the pur- 
pose of carrying on the same business with which he 
was familiar. It did not prove a sjccess, and not 



Jljr::. 



-<; 



i> 






348 



WARREN COUNTY. 



long after he exchanged the land for the same quan- 
tity on the southeast ciuarter of the same section. 
There he opened a coal-bank, whicii he has since 
continued to operate with success. In 1872 lie put 
in the shaft and it is the only one in the township. 
The output of the bank is between 40,000 and 60,- 
000 bushels annually. A view of Mr. Simcock's 
residence and coal-bank is given on page 344. 

Mr. Simcock was married April 26, 1859, to Jiinet 
McKelvie. She was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, 
April 16, 1842, and is the mother of 13 children, 12 
of whom are living. Elizabeth is the wife of Enoch 
Wilson, of Spring (irove Township; Matilda married 
Lincoln Bailey of the same townshi|). Those who 
are unmarried are Margaret J., John, Janet, Thomas, 
Aaron, Annie, Kdiih, Bertha, Charles and Richard. 
Mr. and Mrs. Simcock are members of the Church 
of God, at Spring Grove. In politics, he has always 
been a strong supporter of the principles of the Re- 
publican party. 



■vwv-.»«jiijei2/©t@^-^^fe>''^^l'^'3Tr'^ 




illiam Crosby became a citizen of wliat is 
now Kelly Township in 1848. He was 
^^^' '^°''" '" 1815, in Augusta County, Va., and 
Jj^^^l. is the son of George Oosby, a native of 
Pennsylvania. The latter was born in 1862, 
and settled in the "Old Djminion " in 1804. 
He bought a farm in Augusta County and was its 
owner and occupant tnrough the remainder of his 
life. He was by trade a blacksmith, and during the 
second contest with Great Britain he made horse- 
shoes for the use of the soldiers of the .\merican 
army. His wife was a nalive of the county where 
her son was born. He was reared on the farm and 
was a pupil in wh.it was called the "subscription 
school." He gre.v to the age of manhood in Virginia 
and married Maria Wagner, in September, 1839. She 
was born in Augusta County, in 1817. 

For the next eight years Mr. and Mrs. Crosby re- 
mained on the homestead of his father and in 1847 
started to find a home in the West. They traveled 
to Harrison County, Ind., with two horses and a 
wagon, and lived there about a year. In March, 
1848, they again turned their faces toward the set- 



ting sun, setting out on the i6th of that month with 
the same outfit as that with which they had left Vir- 
ginia the year previous. Tiiey arrived in Warren 
County on the ad day of April, and took possession 
of a claim which the father had secured the fall pre- 
v ous. It consisted of 80 acres, and after a few years 
it was found that the title was defective and Mr. 
Crosby was obliged to pay for the property a second 
time. Since he secured himself in its ownership he 
has been a continuous resident on the place. He is 
at present tlte owner also of 80 acres on section i, in 
the same township, and 21 acres of timber on section 
13. He and his wife liave nine children living, — 
Ruth, May, Elizabeth, C>eorge, Sally, John, Benja- 
min, Melinda and Augustus. Mr. Crosby has been 
a life-long ndherent of the Democratic party. 




, iram IngersoU, a pioneer of Warren County, 
I' of 1835, was born Feb. 7, 1812, in Cortland 
Co,N. Y. His father, David IngersoU, ■ 
was a native of Massachusetts and the mother 
was born in Ireland. Her name before her 
marriage was Jane McCoy. The elder Inger- 
soU located with his family in Broome Co., N. Y., 
when his son was i 2 years of age. He was there 
resident until the fall of the year named, in which he 
determined to seek a home in the " far West." He 
removed from his home in tlie Empire State as far 
as Syracuse, where he took passage on a canal-boat 
for Buffalo. He crossed the lakes from that jilace to 
Chicago, and there hired a team wiiich brought him 
to Peoria. He came thence to Warren County on 
foot. His father liad settled in Kelly Township in 
1833, and in tiic fall of r335 Mr. IngersoU joined 
the family there. He engaged in farming on his fa- 
ther's estate. Ill the spring following he went to 
Knoxville and passed two months there working at 
his trade of carpentry. He returned to the home of 
his fatiier and pursued the same occupation in War- 
ren Count). In the spring of 1838 he went back to 
the State of his nativity and remained there about a 
year and a half In the autumn of 1839 he again 
came to Kelly Towns'iip, and lived wiiii the family 
of his father until the succeeding spring. In the 
course of that season he built a liouse for his father 



n- 



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!^-44- 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



35 1 



and got out the timber preparatory to the construc- 
tion of a saw-mill. He continued to follow the trade 
of carpentry for some years, as he had opportunity. 
In 1846 he was married, and bought a farm on sec- 
tion 22 of the same township in which his parents 
resided, and passing the intervening years between 
that time and 1875 in farming and working at his 
trade. In the year last mentioned he retired from 
the cares and responsibilities of active life and bought 
the place where he has since resided in that part of 
Alexis which is included in Henderson Township, in 
Mercer County. 

Jan. r, 1846, he was married to Cecilia Potter. 
She was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, March 14, 
1826, and is the daughter of Chester and Eliza (Cas- 
tle) Potter. Her parents were natives of Litchfield, 
Conn., and came to Fulton Co., 111., in 1831. After 
passing a winter there they came, in the spring of 
1832, to Warren County. They located at RockweU's 
Mills, where they resided at the time of the Black 
Hawk War. The family was in the block-house in 
the fort at the time of the murder of William Martin, 
. in 1832. An account of this affair will be found in 
•", various parts of this work in connection with the 
I sketches of those who were witnesses of the flight of 
I the savages with the scalp of their victim. In 1833 
Mr. Potter removed to Kelly Township, and in the 
same year he erected a grist-mill on Main Hender- 
son Creek. Soon after he built a saw-mill in con- 
nection with the mill already standing. Mr. and 
Mrs. Potter lived in Kelly Township until the events 
of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll had one 
child, which died at the age of nine months. 



=1 



javid J. Shaw is one of the prominent farm- 
■'- ers in the township of Spring Grove. His 
home farm is located on section 8, where 
he is the owner of 210 acres of excellent land 
in the best possible condition. He also owns 
a quarter section of the old homestead farm 
on section 4, Spring Grove Township. 

Mr. Shaw was born June 22, 1840. in Brown Co., 
Ohio. He is the oldest son of Robert and Lucinda 
(Stewart) Shaw. His father was a native of the 




State of Kentucky, but reared in Ohio, to which 
State his parents moved during his early childhood, 
they being among the first permanent settlers in 
Brown County. Robert Shaw was twice married, 
and of the four children left motherless by the death 
of his first wife, one only is now living, Ezra, who is 
a resident of the city of Chicago. Lucinda Stewart, 
the second wife and the mother of the gentleman 
who is the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio 
and was of English extraction. On the paternal 
side, the family is of Scotch origin. From the second 
marriage were born 12 children, of whom only six 
are now living. Ehzabeth removed to Toledo, Tama 
Co., Iowa; James is married and is a citizen of Dav- 
enport, in that State; John lives in the city of Chi- 
cago ; Catherine is the wife of Herman Loveridge, 
of Galesburg, 111.; Laura is living in Toledo, Tama 
Co., Iowa, with her sister. 

Mr. Shaw was 16 years of age when his parents 
came to Warren County. They located on section 
4, in Spring Grove Township, his father purchasing • 
a farm which contained 240 acres. The claim upon 
which the property was situated, was first settled by 
a man named Stewart, who was one of a body of 14 
pioneers who made the first settlement in the county. 
The original owner had placed 100 acres under cul- 
tivation, and there was a convenient and fairly good ' 
log house and stable on the place. The senior 
Shaw made a further purchase of 40 acres on section 
7, and was resident thereon for the remainder of his 
life, with the exception of two years passed in Mon- 
mouth. His death took place in September, 1874, 
his wife' following him in April, 1879. 

Mr. Shaw remained at home with his parents until 
his marriage. That event took place Oct. 3, 186 1, 
when he became the husband of Nancy Armstrong. 
She was born in Indiana Co., Pa., and was the 
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Johnson) Armstrong. 
Mr. Shaw and his wife located in Mercer County 
soon after their union, and one year later took pos- 
session of the place on which they are now living, 
where he is engaged in mixed husbandry. Mr. and 
Mrs. Shaw are the parents of six children — R. 
Thomas, Mary L., William, Clarence, Delia and 
George. Their eldest son occupies the old home- 
stead farm located on section 4. Mary L. is mar- 
ried to Alex. Pease, a farmer of Mercer County. 

Mrs. Shaw has for 25 years been a communicant 
of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Shaw is a Repub 



rrAj 



4^ 



4; 



t* 



3S« 



WARREN COUNTY. 



lican in his political views and connections, and cast 
his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. 

Two of the brothers of the subject of our sketch, 
Martin Luther and James, were soldiers in the late 
Rebellion. The former was a member of Co. F, 
17th Rpgt. 111. Vol. Inf. He took an active part in 
many engagements, participating in the battles of 
Shiloh, Fort Donelson and Vicksburg, among others, 
and during his service of three years was present at 
all the engagements in which his regiment took part. 
On his return home, he was appointed Deputy In- 
ternal Revenue Collector, continuing to fill that im- 
portant position until he received the appointment of 
ticket agent at Monmouth for the Rockford, Rock 
Island & St. Louis Railroad, on the completion of 
the line. About three weeks thereafter he was killed 
at the depot by a train. His death occurred in 
1872, a wife and two children surviving him, who 
are now living in Wilber, Neb. 

James Shaw was a member of the i02d Regt. 111. 
Vol. Inf. Going out during the latter part of the 
war, he served until the close of the great contest. 
Upon his return home, he engaged in farming, sub- 
sequently becoming a merchant at Alexis. He after- 
ward moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he is 
employed in the mercantile business. He is mar- 
ried and the father of several children. 

We present in this connection a portrait of David 
J. Shaw. There will also be found, on page 332, a 
view of his residence, and of the original Shaw 
homestead established by his father. 




eorge W. McMahill, farmer, residing on 
section 31, Greenbush Township, was 
born in 1826, in Kentufky, and is a son 
of John McMahill, a native of the Keystone 
State. The grandfallier of Mr. McMahill, of 
this notice, John McMahill, was kidnapped 
when a small lad by a Captain of a sailing vessel 
from off the coast of Ireland, and was brought to 
this country and settled in Philadelphia, where he 
remained until he was killed by the falling of a tree. 
George VV., of whom we write, was married to Miss 
Martha Jane McMahill, May 8, 1848, in Illinois. 



She was born in 1833. They have had no children. 
Mr. McMahill is the owner of some 3,000 acres of 
land, some of it being located in Missouri, some' in 
Iowa, and the remainder in McDonough and Warren 
Counties, this State. He is engaged in breeding 
full-blood Short-horn cattle, of which he has some 
40 head. He also has one Holstein cow. His 
horses are of the Norman and Clydesdale breed. In 
religion, he and his wife are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, and in politics, Mr. McMa- 
hill always votes the Democratic ticket. 



^•^ 




^ illiam J. Nieol, a well-to-do farmer of 
Sumner Township, residing on section 
„- 8, has been all his life an inhabitant of 
V Illinois, and a resident of Warren County 
since five years of age. He was born Sept. 
18, 1847, in Edgington Township, Rock Island 
Co., 111. James Nicol, his father, is a native of 
Preble, Co., Ohio, and came to Warren Co. before he 
was married. He passed a few years in Rock Isl- 
and County, where he was one of the first settlers. 
He bought land in the township which has been 
named as the one in which his son was born, but at 
that time it was designated by the number which 
was to be found on the charts of the surveyors. He 
remained there until 1852. In that year he removed 
to Warren County and settled in Spring Grove 
Township. After a residence there of five years, he 
sold the farm on which he had lived, and located in 
the township of Sumner. He became a landholder 
on sections 18 and 19 and continued the manage- 
ment of his property there until his decease, which 
transpired March 4, 1861. His wife, Susan (Giles) 
Nicol, was a native of Ohio, and died in 1869. They 
were the parents of four children, and the son who 
is the subject of this personal narration is the only 
survivor. It can justly be said of him that he has 
grown up with Warren County. He lived with his 
parents until their death. 

In 1883, Mr. Nicol was married to Sarah A. Mc- 
Cracken. She is the daughter of Frederick and 
Mary J. McCracken, and is a native of the county 
in which she lives. She was born Jan. 21, 1862. 



■< 



tp 



r 



-e^-*. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



!?=^4- 



353 



The young people located on the Nicol homestead, 
which is the property of the husband. In 1884, Mr. 
Nicol bought the farm which he now owns on section 
12, in the same township, which contains 160 acres. 
The homestead includes 175 acres, and the estate 
on section 19 comprises 105 acres, a total of 440 
acres. Mr. Nicol is engaged in mixed husbandry. 
He and his wife are the parents of one child, Will- 
iam Ira. 




^1 

||p§^[ H. Black, a gentleman of push and en- 
l[ ergy among the numerous citizens of his 
" vocation, that of a farmer, resides on sec- 
tion 14, Tompkins Township. He was born 
in Greene Co., Ohio, June 16, 1823, his par- 
ents being William and Elizabeth (George) 
Black, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respect- 
ively. The parents were married in Greene County, 
Ohio, and there the father followed the occupation of 
a farmer until 1838, when he came to this State and 
located at Monmouth, this county, and where he re- 
mained for about three years. He was consequently 
a pioneer of this county, and was here to see the 
broad and uncultivated prairie lands in their or- 
iginal condition. He remained at Monmouth 
for the time stated and then moved to Henderson 
County, where, near Olena, he purchased 80 acres 
of land. Here he located with his family and was 
engaged in his chosen vocation until his death, 
which occurred in 1858. His wife survived him until 
1885. Their family comprised nine children, five 
sons and four daughters. 

A. H. Black, whose name stands at the head of 
this notice, was the second in order of birth of his 
parents' children, and remained on the old home- 
stead, assisting his father in the labors of the farm, 
until he attained his 28th year. At this age in life, 
he left the parental roof-tree and went forth to bat- 
tle against the trials of life alone, hoping to procure 
a competency. He at first rented land, and for three 
years was engaged in farming in that manner, when 
he purchased a farm of his own, consisting of 80 
acres, in close proximity to the village of Olena. On 
this land he located and passed his years in labor 
until 1864. He then sold it and came to Kirkwood, 



and purchased a lot and residence there, where he 
resided for two years, when he sold his village prop- 
erty and bought 60 acres on section 14, Tompkins 
Township, on which he removed and there resided 
until 1880. During this year he rented his farm 
and again moved into Kirkwood, where he lived four 
years. At the expiration of that time he moved back 
on his farm and has resided there ever since. He is 
engaged in general farming, having been brought up 
to that calling, and following it the major portion of 
his life is consequently possessed of that knowledge 
of agriculture which enables him to make a success 
of it. 

The marriage of Mr. Black to Miss Martha Ran- 
kin took place Jan. 16, 185 1. She was a native of 
Indiana, where she was born, May 27, 1832. Her 
parents were Joseph and Lutitia (Brown) Rankin, 
natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. They 
came to this State in 1837 and purchased land in 
Henderson County, and lived there until the latter's 
death, in 1847. Mr. Rankin went to Kansas after 
his wife's death, and was there engaged in farming 
until Nov. 1, 1878, when he crossed the river to meet 
his companion in the land of the hereafter. 

In politics, Mr. Black is a strong advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party, with which party 
he always casts his vote. He and his wife are the 
parents of one child — Melissa, who is the wife of 
James Riggs, and by whom she has had four chil- 
dren, who have been named, Cora, Edna, Hugh O. 
and Albert G. Mrs. Black is a member of the Uni- 
ted Presbyterian Church, with which she united at 
the age of 18 years, and has since been a consistent 
member in good standing. She first united with 
that branch of the Church known as Seceders, but 
joined with the union of the Seceders and Associate 
Reformed when they united. 



''flfnH il^*°^ Stark, one of the leading business 
' I^Mlr men of Kirkwood and who is engaged in 



IJ 



j^Sfe-," the drug trade, is a native of Scotland. 
^^ His father, James Stark, came to America 
in 1835, and settled in Hancock Co., 111., 
where he died the following year. His mother^ 
Mary (Drown) Stark, died in Scotland. Williatn re- 



*X 



~T' 



^T > 



!?J^ 



3S4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



mained with his parents until their death, wiien, in 
company with his brother, and sister, he moved on 
the farm in Hancock County, where they lived until 
1849. At that time William engaged as a clerk in 
his brother's store at Augusta, 111., where he re- 
mained until 1856, when he went to Plymoutli, 
and clerked for three years. He then returned 
to the farm where he remained for two years 
longer, when we again find him in his brother's store 
at Augusta. He remained tiiere until 1862, when 
he enlisted in Co. K, 1 19th 111. Vol. Inf , and served 
for 14 months, most of which time was spent in a 
Rebel prison. He was captured at Rutherford, 
Tenn., and remained a prisoner nine months, when 
he was exchanged, and being sick, was honorably 
discharged. He returned to his home in Augusta, 
where he remained until 1867, when he came to 
Kirkwood and embarked in the drug business, and 
is now recognized as one of the most prominent 
business men and influential citizens of the place. 
He owns a fine brick store on Kirk street and 
carries the largest stock of drugs in the village. 
In 1866, the marriage of Mr. Stark and Miss Ellen 
> Douglass occurred. She is a native of Kentucky, 
and a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Eckels) 
Douglass. One child blessed this union, which died 
in infancy. Mr. Stark is a Republican in political 
faith and a member of the Christian Church, and 
also belongs to the G. A. R. 



—-«*•= 



I heodore C. Pearce, a farmer, residing on 
section 20, Berwick Township, was born in 
the same township of which he is at pres- 
ent a resident, March 9, 1843. He remained 
with his parents until he was 23 years old, 
working on his father's farm, attending the dis- 
trict schools and supplementing his education by an 
attendance of one year at Monmouth College, and a 
course of two years at Knox College. He is the son 
of Andrew G. Pearce, a native of Ohio, having been 
born in Champaign County, that State, Nov. 16, 
1816. The father came to this State in 1830, and 
located at Pekin, 111., where he remained one year, 
then came to this county, and located in Berwick 




Township, being one of the pioneer settlers of that 
township as well as one of the pioneers of Warren 
County. He married Miss Eliza Powers, May 28, 
1840. She was born Jan. 19, 1819, near Cincin- 
nati, the "Buckeye State." Her parents are both de- 
ceased, having died in Greenbush Township. 

The parents of our subject had a family compris- 
ing four children, as follows: Martha J., born 
March 28, 1841; Theodore C, of whom we write, 
Mary C, March 18, 1848, and (icorge T., July i, 
1855. Both of the girls are deceased. 

Mr. Pearce, of this notice, was united in marriage 
with Miss Susan Baldwin, who was likewise born in 
this township, Dec. 13, 1848. Her parents were A. 
N. Baldwin, born in New York, July 20, 1822, and 
Phebe A. (Lewis) Baldwin, born July 9, 1826. Her 
father died Dec. 2, 1873. He was married in 1844, 
and his wife still survives him. Their children were 
12 in number, — Mary Ann, Arthur N., Susan A., 
Aletta A., Sarah E., Mary I., Charles L., Lennettie, 
Phebe J., John, Minnie A. and Anna G. Five of the 
above are deceased, namely: Mary A., Arthur N., 
Aletta A., Sarah E. and John M. 

The date of the marriage of Mr. Pearce and Miss 'J 
Baldwin was Dec. 19, 1866, Rev. F. Smith, of the J 
Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating, and of 
their union eight children have been horn, of which 
the following is a record,— Alice M., born May 27, 
1868; Ida G., July 1 1, 1870; May A., May 2, 1872 ; 
Arthur E., Feb. 16, 1874; Eva L., Aug. 11, 1876; 
Fred G., March 9, 1879; Ralph E., June 11, i88i and 
Bessie, May 29, 1883, all of whom are living. Mr. 
Pearce has 160 acres of good farm land in this 
county, on which is a good dwelling, 66 x 24 feet in 
dimensions and two stories in height. Its interior is 
handsomely finished, while its exterior surroundings 
are of a character which constitute it an exceedingly 
charming place of residence. His substantial barn is 
40 X 42 feet with 18-foot posts, the entire farm 
being enclosed with a good wire and board fence. 
His stock is kept in first-class condition and two 
roadsters which he owns are of a very fine strain. 

Socially, Mr. Pearce is a member of the A. F. and 
A. M., belonging to ('ameron Lodge, No. 625, to 
to which he has belonged for some 15 years, and in 
which order he has held many of the important offices. 
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., belong- 
ing to Lodge No. 185, Abingdon. Religiously, he 
and Iris wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 



*% 



v" 



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. ^ Y , , ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^±Jf^ 



357 



pal Church. In polilics, Mr. Pearce affiliates with 
the Republican party. 

Eliphalet Lewis, the grandfather of Mrs. Pearce, 
was born in New Jersey, May ii, 1799, and during 
his early life engaged in the occupation of oyster- 
fishing near Amboy. He came to Illinois in 1837, 
and for a few years resided near Springfield. He 
then located in Warren County, and made the first 
improvements on the farm now occupied by Mr. 
Pearce, and upon which he continued to reside until 
his death, June 25, 1867. He married Miss Mary 
A. Mills, May 24, 1823. She was born July 21, 
1806, and bore her husband five children, viz.: 
Henry, born in February, 1824; Phebe A., July 9, 
1826; Mary A., July 3, 1838; Susan E., Oct. 12, 
1841, and Thomas P., Aug. 12, 1843, all of whom 
are living. 




-.^-S- 



-G-^- 



: obert W. Gerlaw, one of the largest land- 
_>":R^i^ owners in Warren County and a prominent 



^< 






example of what may be accomplished by 
(. ' iW ^ straightforward, energetic and determined 
man, is the founder of the village of Gerlaw, 
near where he resides. He is a native of 
Greene Co., Ohio, where he was born on the 4th of 
March, 1817. Adam and Catherine (Haines) Ger- 
law, his parents, had a family of ten children, of 
whom Robert W. was the fifth child in order of birth. 
Adam Gerlaw was born in Washington Co., Md., 
about the year 1781. His father's name was also 
Adam, who was a native of Germany. He caine to 
this country and settled in the Colony of South 
Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War. He eii- 
listed in the service of his adopted country in that 
heroic conflict for American liberty, and bore an 
honorable part in aiding to establish our independ- 
ence and laying the foundations of the splendid in- 
stitutions that we now enjoy. At the close of that 
war he removed to Maryland, and about the year 
1808, with his family, became pioneers of Greene 
Co., Ohio. Here he died about 182 1. To him is 
due the credit of establishing this branch of the Ger- 
law family on American soil. No language can pic- 
ture the hardships and suffering of the pioneer of 



that early period, which was the price paid for the 
blessings we enjoy to-day in this country. His wife, 
the grandmother of Robert W., was for a short time 
a prisoner in the hands of the Indians, but was lib- 
erated after the treaty of Greenville. 

Adam Gerlaw, Jr., as was observed, was born in 
Maryland, where he was married, and with his father 
removed to Greene Co., Ohio, and, like the elder 
Gerlaw, became a prominent pioneer of that section. 
Here the family cleared a patch of ground, built the 
accustomed log cabin and engaged in farming in a 
crude way. They likewise endured such privations 
and hardships as were incident to life in a new coun- 
try of that day. The Gerlaws have always been an 
energetic and industrious people. Adam became, 
for that period, a very successful farmer and stock- 
raiser. He was a man of a kind heart and sterling 
character, and greatly beloved by his family. The 
following incident will illustrate their attachment for 
him: His first seven children were sons, and they 
all remained with him, aiding him in his farming 
and other operations till all of them attained the 
years of manhood, and it was in a large measure ow- 
ing to their united efforts that he acquired his wealth. 
He continued to own his property, both personal 
and real, until his death, when it was inherited by 
his children. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and in that struggle nobly did his part in upholding 
the national honor which his father had fought to 
attain. Politically, he was a Whig, and always op- 
posed to the institutions of slavery. He was a 
member of the German Lutheran Church, and his 
wife, Catherine Haines, who was also descended 
from German parentage, worshiped with him. They 
had ten children, all of whom reached the years of 
maturity, and eight of whom are living at this writing 
(January, 1886). Those deceased are David and 
Adam. Those living are Jacob, Otho, Robert W., 
Arthur, Jonathan, Francis- Catherine (wife of Benja- 
min Clark), Henry Harrison, and Jane, wife of 
Emanuel Hawker. Mrs. Gerlaw, mother of Robert 
W., died in 1852, at their residence in Greene Co., 
Ohio. Her husband died while on a vist to his son, 
Robert W., in this county, in 1857. 

Robert W., the subject of this sketch, was edu- 
cated in the log school house in the neighborhood 
where his parents resided. Such educational advant- 
ages, as we might infer, were very meager. He has, 
however, supplemented them by careful reading and 



la: 



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358 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



study, so that to-day we find him to be a gentlemen 
well versed on the important questions of the hour. 
In conversation he is most interesting, with a vein 
of humor pervading his remarks which makes them 
piquant and pleasing to listen to. In the autumn of 
1850 he came to Warren County, and for about 16 
months worked on a farm. He was then married to 
Marj' Jane Black, who was the daughter of Jonathan 
and Abagail Black, who were both natives of Penn 
sylvania and of Irish extraction. The above named 
union took place March 16, 1852, and the August 
following they moved upon the farm where they now 
reside. Mr. G. had previously erected a house 
there, which is on section 34, Spring Grove Town- 
ship. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gerlaw have had born to them five 
children namely: Robert Dayton (deceased), Ella 
M., Mary Abagail, Sarah and Frank L. Those liv- 
ing all reside at home. Mr. Gerlaw lias given them 
the advantages of a good education and many priv- 
ileges which he did not enjoy. His wife is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

In politics, Mr. Gerlaw was first a Whig, and on 
the formation of the Republican party became iden- 
tified with it, since which time he has been a sup- 
porter of its principles. He voted both times for 
Abraham Lincoln, with whom he was well ac- 
quainted, and twice for Grant. During the late 
Slave-holders' Rebellion, he was a staunch Union 
man. He was elected several terms Supervisor for 
Spring Grove Township, and during the war acted as 
agent in selling the township bonds to raise money 
to pay the bounty for the soldiers required to fill its 
quota. He also went to Quincy, where he hired a 
number of substitutes. 

Mr. Gerlaw began life with but little of this world's 
goods, in fact, about all he did possess was his 
strong arms and abundance of energy, and thus 
equipped, he set out, witJi the help of his good wife, 
to carve out that success which has since crowned 
their efforts. By dint of good jugment in making in- 
vestments, he has succeeded in accumulating for 
himself and family a very handsome competency. 
Later in life upon the death of his father, he inher- 
ited $10,000, which he invested in a judicious man- 
ner. He also owns a fine farm of 1,300 acres in 
Nemaha Co., Neb., which is fenced and well stocked 
with good graded cattle and supplied with comfort- 
able buildings. 



'In May, 187 i, Mr. Gerlaw laid out the town which 
is named in his honor, and which is situated on a 
portion of the home farm and on the line of the 
Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, now 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The 
village is in a growing condition, enjoys considerable 
trade and is a place from which a great deal of slock 
is annually shipped. It is well supplied with schools 
and churches and is quite prosperous. A fine bird's- 
eye-view of the town, as well as a view of the hand- 
some residence and surroundings of Mr. Gerlaw's 
home, is shown by a well executed engraving on an 
adjoining page. The act of founding this village 
will cause the name of Robert Gerlaw to be long re- 
membered by the people of this county, and he de- 
servedly merits the respect in which he is held by 
his fellow citizens. 



-K- 



-€3- 



uben Holeman, engaged in farming on sec- 
tion 32, Roseville Township, was born in 
■ Indiana, Jan. 20, 1817. His parents, Isaac 
}y^ and Nancy (Cleghorn) Holeman, were natives 

e? of North Carolina, and the mothers 's demise 
occurred while in Jackson Co., Ind. The 
father came to Illinois in 1848 and settled in Swan 
Township, where he engaged ([uite extensively in 
agricultural pursuits, and became the father of eight 
children, seven of whom still survive. 

Ruben Holeman remained at home assisting his 
father in the labors on the farm, and alternating his 
labors thereon by attendance at the common schools 
until he attained his 2 ist year. .\t that age in life 
he began farming for himself on a rented farm, which 
he continued for two years, and, in 1847, came to 
Illinois and settled in Geenbush Township, this 
county, then, in 1849, removed to Roseville Town- 
ship and purchased too acres on section 32, and 
lived on the same seven years. He then sold it and 
purchased 437 acres of land, some of it being located 
in Swan Township. He now resides on section 32 
Roseville Township, where he has erected a fine res- 
idence, with suitable outbuildings and made all his 
improvements. 

In 1844 he was married to Miss Susanna Crab, a 



*% 



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^?-:¥-^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



359 



native of Indiana and daughter of James and Pau- 
lina (Thelkeld) Crab, natives of Kentucky, who en- 
gaged in the occupation of farming in Indiana, where 
they resided until their death. The family of Mr. 
and Mrs. Holeman consists of eight children, all of 
whom are Jiving — John W., Daniel B., Uuriah C, 
Isaac A., Theodore, Albert A., Orville L. and Eliza 
Ann. Eliza A. is the wife of Isaac Perkins, and 
they are the parents of seven children ; Daniel B. 
married Harriet Smith, and they have become the 
parents of two children; John W. married Mary, 
Hosier and they have one child ; Uriah C. married 
Usitta Rowland, and they have a family of two 
children; Theodore married Ida Carr, and their 
family consists of two children.' 

Mr. Holeman has held the office of Assessor, 
Road Commissioner, Collector, and School Trustee. 
He and his wife are members of the Christian 
Church, and he is considered one of the solid and 
substantial men of Warren County. Politically he 
affiliates with the Democratic party. 




^^ 



|l|tephen Dixson, deceased, was formerly a 
resident of the township of Point Pleasant. 
He was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Dec. 21, 
1 814, and was the son of Eli and Rebecca 
(Hart) Dixson. His parents removed to In- 
diana when he was four years old and he 
there grew to the estate of manhood. He was trained 
in the pursuit of agriculture, and was married in the 
Hoosier State. The lady whom he married was the 
sister of the wife of his brother, Eli, and was Miss 
Amanda, the daughter of Drury B. and Rebecca 
(Hurd) Boyd. In 1854 her parents came from 
Greene County to Warren County, and located on 
section i, in Point Pleasant Township. The husband 
had previously purchased there a considerable tract 
of unimproved land, and made it his home until 
his death, which took place March i, 1879. His 
wife died May 3, 186 1. He was a man of industri- 
ous habits, and at the time of his decease was the 
owner of upwards of 600 acres of valuable farming 
lands. 

Three of their children lived to mature life. Eli 



B. is a resident of Bushnell, McDonough Co., 111. 
Margaret was born Oct. 27, 1855, and was the wife 
of Andrew L. Madison. She died in March, 1879, 
leaving two children. Elizabeth is the wife of Alex- 
ander Elston, and they reside in Kansas. 

Mr. Dixson was prominent in his defense of mo- 
rality and temperance and liberal in his religious 
views. He enjoyed the respect and esteem of his 
fellowmen in the community of which he was a mem- 
ber. 



.^VS*{— 






. > > — *s^«. 



^ 



JlJ 



^rury B. Boyd, a pioneer settler at Point 
, Pleasant Township, was born in the State 
IcS?-"^ of Virginia, May 12, 1780. He was the 
jM»x son of George and Jemima (Birge) Boyd, and 
^ was early orphaned by their deaths. He was 
S made an apprentice to a trade, and when still 
young went to the State of Georgia. There he was 
married to Elizabeth, the daughter of George and 
Nancy (Dean) Hurd. She was born in Georgia and 
soon after their marriage they weiit to Kentucky, 
where they located in Bath County and the husband 
utilized his good education in teaching and in the al- 
ternate seasons he worked at his trade. They lived 
there until 1822, when they went to Pulaski County, 
in the same State, and remained there until 1825. 
They removed thence to Greene Co., Ind., where 
they were among the earliest of the pioneer element. 
They located on land which was covered with heavy 
timber and their two sons were occupied with the 
work of clearing the farm, while the father worked at 
his trade. After a time he purchased a saw-mill. 
His wife died Aug. 14, 1835, and he was again mar- 
ried, about two years later, to Elizabeth Kelshaw. 

The children of George and Nancy (Dean) Hurd 
were Mary, George, Elizabeth and Nancy. Mary 
was married to Joseph Dixson and died in Greene 
Co., Ind. George is married and lives in Georgia. 
Elizabeth was the wife of Drury B. Boyd, subject of 
this sketch. Nancy became the wife of Sanford 
Raimy, and they live in Preble Co., Ohio. 

While living in Indiana he was twice elected to 
represent his District and served two terms in the 
Legislature of that State. After his removal to War- 
ren County, he located at Ellison and a few years 



V 



360 



*t 



. , . Y • . . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



later settled on section 2, of Point Pleasant Town- 
ship, where he died, Sept. 7, 1856. His wife was 
killed in the tornado at Ellison in 1858. Two of 
their children are still living. Mrs. Dixson is repre- 
sented elsewhere in this work, and it is through her 
interest in the preservation of the records of her fam- 
ily circle that these sketches of the members of the 
family haye been obtained. Her only sister is the 
wife of Elisha Hughen, of Point Pleasant Township, 
of whom a sketch is given in this work. 

Mr. Boyd and his family made the trip from Ken- 
tucky to Greene County with horse-teams. They 
settled in a small log house, of the most unpreten- 
tious style, until the father could clear a jilace, upon 
which he erected a double-hewed log house. 




P errine Holman, a farmer residing on sec- 

tion 2 [, Tompkins Township, where he is 

lif^'^ actively engaged in the labors of his voca- 
Wd ''°"' '^ '^ native of New Jersey, having been 
Jfl^ born in that State, Aug. 20, 181 9, of parents 
' named Kenneth and Sarah (Jamison) Holman, 
natives of the same State. Perrine Holman was an 
inmate of his father's household until he attained the 
age of 22 years, and received a good education in the 
common schools. Arriving at the age named, he 
set out to battle against the trials of life alone, with 
naught but strong arms and a firm determination to 
" get on " in the world. He first worked out by the 
month and was engaged in accumulating in that 
manner for five years. He then embarked in the 
oyster trade, and followed that for five years, when 
he rented a farm, which he cultivated for another 
period of five years. At the expiration of this time, 
in 1853, he came to this State and located in Hen- 
derson County, where he purchased 40 acres of land, 
on which he moved and was actively and laboriously 
engaged in its cultivation for four years. He then 
sold his land in Henderson County and moved to 
Tompkins Township, this county, where he pur- 
chased another 40-acre tract on which he moved his 
family and where lie is to-day residing, meeting with 
success in his vocation. 

His first marriage, with Mrs. Elizabeth Meech, 



took place in 1844. She was also a native of New 
Jersey. The second marriage of Mr. Holman was 
with Mrs. Annett Star, a native of New York State, 
and took place Oct. 6, 1881. She came West in 
1875. By her first marriage with Mr. Star six chil- 
dren were born, three of whom are living and three 
are dead. The living children are Emery A., Susan 
E. and Ehner R. Star, and by the latter union, one 
child, Alida M. Holman, was born. In politics, Mr. 
Holman is a Greenbacker, and isoneof the success- 
ful farmers of Tompkins Township. 



^OOOfe 



Vfl'^ 



(Jgi'^inery H. Crandall, Superintendent of the 
;t t^lj io' County Infirmary, located in Lenox Town- 



's J 

1. 



11^'"^ ship, Warren County, is a son of Richard t 
st^^ and Sybil (Armstrong) Crandall, natives of • 
New York and Wisconsin respectively. They 
married and settled in the Keystone State, and ■ 
in March, i860, came to Warren County, locating in " 
Lenox Township, but removed to Monmouth in the • 
fall of 187 I, where they still reside. Five children 
were born to them, as follows : Melvina J., Emery ' 
H., Martlia, Armstrong and Lydia A. 

Emery H., of whom this personal sketch is written, 
was born in Erie Co., Pa., Aug. 8, 1843, and re- 
mained at home, receiving a good common-school 
education and assisting his father on the farm, thus 
fully initiating him in the arts of agriculture, and 
accompanied his parents to Warren County. He 
has since been a resident of this county with the 
exception of about ten months spent in the army. 
He purchased land at different times until he is now 
the proprietor of 240 acres, which, through his ex- 
cellent knowledge of improving and cultivating, he 
has all under an advanced state of cultivation, and 
it is considered second to none in his township. 

July 26, 1862, Mr. Crandall enlisted in Co. C, 
83d 111. Vol. Inf., in which he served for about ten 
months, being discharged at Cairo, this State, on ac- , 
count of disability. He then returned to the more ! 
peaceful pursuit of agriculture. 1 

Mr. Emery H. Crandall and Miss Kate Williams | 
were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, at I 
Monmouth, on the 22d of November, 1865, she be- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



363 



inga native of Crawford Co., Pa., having been born 
there March 18, 1848. Her parents, Peter and 
Lamira (Woods) Williams, were both natives of the 
JCeystone State, and in the year 1856, emigrated 
westward to Warren County, this State, and located 
in Roseville Township. They afterward removed to 
Iowa and from there to Kansas, where the father, 
Mr. Williams, died, March 11, 1880. The mother 
still survives. They had become the parents of 11 
children, namely : Sarah L., Margaret E., William 
S., Cyrus, Kate (our subject's wife), Robert, Theo- 
dore, Alice, Carson, Chester and Estella. Mr. and 
Mrs. Emery H. Crandall's home has been blessed 
with the birth of four children, the names of whom 
are Archie, Minnie E., Francis E. and Maude G. 

Mr. Crandall has served his township as School 
Trustee for six years, also as School Director, and 
in December, 1884, was appointed to take charge of 
the County Infirmary in Lenox Township, in which 
are from 25 to 40 inmates. Mr. Crandall and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and, in politics, Mr. C. affiliates with the Republican 
party. 

i^hancy Hardin. Promment among the 
111' names of men who, by their energy, good 

•gyj ^ judgment and perseverance, laid broad 
Jp) and deep in her pioneer days, the foundation 

^ for the subsequent growth, development and 
material prosperity of Warren County, stands 
the name of Chancy Hardin.* Occupying as he has 
for the last 45 years, close business relations with 
the citizens of the county, and being conspicuouous 
among the few far-sighted men who early appreciated 
the importance of railroads in promoting the settle- 
ment of a new country, and the consequent benefits 
resulting therefrom, it is not, therefore a matter of 
comment to find Mr. Hardin one of the trio who 
were in the van of the railroad builders in this 
county. 

Mr. Hardin of this notice is the second son of 
Chancy and Anna (Gates) Hardin, and was born Jan. 
15, 1815, in Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y. He is de- 
scended from a long line of English ancestry, the 

*The father of Mr. Hardin used the "' g " in his name 
in the early part of hii? life, but left it off about the same 
time as his son Chancy did. The other son, Harry 6.. 
retains the " g." 




family being transplanted to America by Nathan 
Hardin, who landed at Cape Cod in the year 1640. 
His grandson, Chancy Hardin, was born at Middle 
Haddam, Conn., Jan. 8, 1775, and died at Iowa 
Falls, Dec. 11, 1876. His first wife, the mother of 
Chancy, the subject of this sketch, was also born at 
Middle Haddam, 1 1 years later than her husband, 
and died at Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., April 6, 
1819, whither they had previously removed. Of 
their union, there were only two sons who lived to 
attain the age of maturity, both of whom yet survive, 
Harry G. and Chancy. Some time after the death 
of his first wife, Mr. Hardin married Miss Sally 
Martin, who was born in Olsego Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 
1794, and who died at Iowa Falls, Iowa, in April, 
1885. By the last marriage, three daughters were 
born, — Mary Ann, wife of Justin Soule ; Fidelia, wife 
of A. E. Arnold ; Arzelia, wife of S. P. Smith, all of 
« honi are living. The elder Hardin came to Illi- 
nois in 1858; the next year moved to Iowa Falls, 
Iowa, where two of the daughters reside, and the 
other is living in Battle Creek, Mich. 

Chancy Hardin spent his boyhood days on his 
f.ither's farm, and his early education was acquired " 
in the common schools of the neighborhood. When 
about the age of 21, he began clerking in a store in 
Burlington Flats, Otsego Co., N. Y., and continued 
in that position about two and a half years. He 
served the first six months for his board; the second 
six months for board and $10 per month, after which 
he received $35 per month for his services. Desir- 
ing to better his financial condition in life, he con- 
cluded to come West, and soon started, landing 
at Monmouth, July 4, 1840. From his home in New 
York he went to Chicago, via the canal and lakes, 
and from the latter city his conveyance to this place 
was by means of a two-horse farm wagon, the time 
required to make the journey being three weeks. A 
few months after reaching Monmouth, he was em- 
ployed in the store of James E. Hogue at a salary of 
$35 per month. 

In August, 1840, Mr. Hardin and wife began 
housekeeping, and as it may be interesting to the 
reader of the present day to learn something in re- 
gard to the inconveniences and privations of the 
early settlers, we deem it appropos to give something 
in detail in regsrd to their early housekeeping. Mr. 
Hardin relates that their table consisted of a dry- 
goods box ; dry-goods boxes were used for stools and 



'T" 



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4 



3^4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^?=rJ^ 



one for a cupboard, with a curlain in front for doors. 
This will illustrate to some extent the prudent meth- 
ods of Mr. Hardin and wife when they began house- 
keeping. Though he had at tliat time $800 in 
currency, the careful economy tlius practiced and 
adhered to through a long life is no doubt the true 
reason of the success which has attended his efforts. 
After clerking for a time for Mr. Hogue, he sold out 
the remnant of the goods ot auction for his employer, 
after which he accepted the appointment of Deputy 
Sheriff and Constable for one year. 

In the spring of 1843, Mr. Hardin moved on a 
farm of 640 acres, located in Tompkins Township, a 
part of which he had previously purchased and the 
balance leased. By additional purchases lie in- 
creased his landed interests to 1,000 acres, and con- 
tinued farming, stock-raising and feeding until 1850, 
when he sold the land for $12 per acre on ten years' 
time at si-\ per cent, interest. In the fall of 1850, 
Mr. Hardin moved to Monmouth, where he has 
since resided. His business since that time iias 
almost e.xclusively been devoted to loaning money 
and dealing in real estate, in which he has been 
eminently successful. 

In 1853, in company with Gen. A. C. Harding 
and Judge Ivory Quinby, Mr. Hardin built the rail- 
road from Burlington to Kno.wille, and, after com- 
pleting and operating it for about six months, they 
sold it to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road Company. They took the contract originally 
to build and equip the road, that is, to make the bed, 
bridges, tie and iron it and to put in side-tracks, for 
$13,500 per mile. They carried out the contract, 
which seems a remarkably low figure, but the rail- 
road company failing to furnish the money to them 
as per estimates agreed upon, a second arrangement 
was entered into, by which the railroad company 
furnished the iron at the rate of $5,000 per mile, ex- 
cept the bottom division of seven and a half miles, 
which the contractors built at a cost of $18,400 per 
mile. Messrs. Hardin & Co.. knowing the route be- 
forehand that the road would take, purchased such 
tracts of land as were desircdjle for town sites, and 
thereby made considerable money by the laying out 
of towns and the sale of lots, and also on the land 
they owned lying adjacent to the town. They laid 
out the South .Addition to liie cil) of .Monmoutii, 
and were also the founders of the to«'ns of Kirkwood 
and Riggsville. The above comprises the railroad 



experience of Mr. Hardin, which important enter- 
prise gave to the county its first eastern and western 
outlet. 

In i860, Mr. Hardin and sons purchased a large 
hardware stock in Monmouth, and engaged in mer- 
chandising, which, under the firm style of C. Hardin 
& Sons, they conducted for seven years. After that 
Mr. Hardin established three banks, one at Dodge 
Center, one at VVasseca, Minn., in 1873, and the 
other at Eldora, Iowa, in 1877. The business of the 
banks was carried on by his sons and sons-in-law. 
Mr. Hardin has recently sold the bank at Dodge 
Center, and his sons liave returned to this county to 
assist in looking after their father's interests. The 
other banks are managed by J. D. K. Smith and A. 
P. Jamison, his sons-in-law. Mr. Hardin was one 
of the organizers of the Monmouth National Bank, in 
1870; was Vice-President and Director until the 
bank was sold to George F. Harding and others, in 
1874. In January, 1875, Mr. H., with his brother 
Harry G., and others, organized the Second National ■ 
Bank of Monmouth. With this bank he has since 
been identified as President and Director. Almost 
immediately upon its organization, the bank attained ■ 
prominence in financial circles, which it has ever ' 
maintained. This is largely due to the liberal yet 
conservative manner in which its business is trans- . 
acted. 

In addition to his other large enter[)rises, Mr. 
Hardin has for many years carried on farming upon 
an extensive scale, and at this writing he farms over 
2,000 acres in this county, besides 3,000 acres in 
Iowa and 3,000 acres in Minnesota. Tlie principal 
part of his farming is devoted to stock raising and 
feeding. It may be here stated, however, that the 
foundation of his fortune was laid i)y judicious in- 
vesf.nents in real estate. He has borne an honora- 
ble part in aiding to build up the city of Monmouth, 
aid several handsome and substantial blocks owe 
tl'eir erection to his enterprise. Since the founda- 
tion of Monmouth College, he has been a member of 
the Board of Trustees, and has been actively and 
liiominenlly identified with its success and growth. 

Mr. Hardin was married in the city of Chicago, 
Aug. 27, 1840, to Miss Harriet A. Gordon, a native 
of Richfield Springs, Otsego Co., N. Y. She was a 
daughter of Samuel S. and Rebecca (Lee) Gordon. 
Her father was a native of Connecticut, where he 
was born Dec. 13, 1783. His grandparents, Alex- 



^ 



V 



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rt^A^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



3«5 



ander Gordon, and Jane, his wife, left Ireland and 
arrived in Boston, Mass.. in r7i9. They subse- 
quently settled in the colony of Connecticut. They 
were both of Scotch-Irish parentage, and brought 
with them to this country five children. To them 
belong the credit of establishing that branch of the 
family in the United States and which has since be- 
come quite numerous. In religious belief, they were 
Presbyterians. The wife and mother, Jane Gordon, 
died May 14, 1774, and Alexander Gordon, the 
pioneer, died July 27, 1774, at the advanced age of 
103 years, both of their deaths taking place at their 
home in Connecticut. One of the sons of Al- 
exander, John Gordon, was married to Janet Carr, 
March 30, 1732, and they had a family of four chil- 
dren, of whom Samuel S. was the second child. His 
father, John Gordon, died in 1797, and his widow 
survived until her 82d year. 

Samuel S. Gordon, father of Mrs. Hardin, the 
wife of the subject of this notice, was by trade a 
clothier, and when he grew to manhood he moved 
to and settled in Otsego Co., N. Y. There he became 
acquainted with and married Rebecca Lee, their 
wedding taking place about 1807. She was of Eng- 
lish descent. Her parents were John and Anna 
Lee, and they were also residents in early life of 
Connecticut; afterwards removed to Otsego Co., N. 
Y., where Mrs. Gordon resided until her death, 
which took place about the year 1853. Mr. Gordon 
scbsequently came to this county and lived with Mr. 
and Mrs. Hardin, at whose home he died, Dec. i, 
r873, at the venerable age of 90 years. Two other 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had previously 
moved to this State, — -John L. Gordon and N. Maria, 
wife of Brainard Root. They are dead and both 
buried at Monmouth. Mary Ann, the other child, 
died in Michigan, and is also buried at Monmouth. 
This branch of the Lee family first settled in East- 
ern New York, and subsequently removed to the 
western part of the same State. Mr. and Mrs. Gor- 
don had a family of eight children, three sons and 
five daughters, of whom Mrs. Hardin was the fifth 
child in order of birth, and the only children now 
living are Mrs. Hardin and a brother, Daniel B. 
Gordon, of Oswego, N. Y. 

As the fruits of the above union, Mr. Hardin and 
wife had born to them six children. Arzelia, wife of 
A. P. Jamison, resident of Wasseca, Minn; Delavan 
S., who was married to Mary E. Parsons, a native of 



Northamptonshire, England, and is residing in Mon- 
mouth ; Nina is the wife of J. D. K. Smith, and their 
home is in Kldora, Iowa; Chancy Dewit married 
Clara V. Smith, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa ; Jennie be- 
came the wife of Frank Brownell, and they reside in 
Granville, N. Y. ; Dewane died in infancy. ,The two 
sons are managing Mr. H.'s farms in this county 
and are also partners with their father and sons-in- 
law in the banking business in Iowa and Minnesota, 
which is conducted under the name of C. Hardin & 
Sons. 

Since 1840, Mr. Hardin and wife have been mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During 
the late war, Mr. Hardin was a staunch Union man. 
His son Delavan S. was a soldier for about a year. 
Mr. Hardin's success in life may be attributed to hi» 
careful, conservative and methodical manner of do- 
ing things. His judgment on business and financial 
matters is regarded by his friends as being eminently 
sound, and he ranks as not only among the most 
prominent successful business men of Warren County, 
but also in this part of the State. 

Perhaps the portrait of no other man in Warren 
County will be looked upon with more interest, or 
be more appropriate in this Album, than that of Mr. 
Chancy Hardin, which the pubhshers take pleasure 
in giving in connection with this sketch. 



'/jf||» illiam P. Jones, owner of 165 acres of ex- 
lSsMI? cellent farm land, on section 22, Swan 



*r 



rrjvj 



J 



|^g>-^ Township, and one of the earliest pioneers 
'"W of Warren County, was born in Kentucey, 
Nov. rr, 1810. He was a son of Elijah 
Jones, born in Old Virginia, who married Miss 
Sarah Hamrock, about the year t8oi, the ceremony 
taking place in North Carolina. She was born in 
Virginia, in 1777, and of their union seven children 
were born: Susanna, born in 1802 ; Wyley, in 1804 ; 
Margaret, in 1809; William P., in r8io; Jessie, in 
1812; John, in 1814; and Elizabeth, in 1816. Mrs. 
Jones, mother of our subject, died in Illinois, in 
1857, the father in 1833, in Kentucky. 

William P. Jones, of whom we write, was married 
in 1829, to Miss Adora Strode, who was born in 



v 



366 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



u 



1810, in Kentucky, the ceremony being performed by 
tiie Rev. IWilliam Whitman. Of their union nine 
children have been born, namely : Mary A., born 
April 19, 1830; Sarah A., April 15, 1833; Cynthia 
A., Jan. 24,1834; Elijah, Jan. 29, 1836; Elizabeth, 
Sept. 8, 1838; Catherina, Oct. 12, 1841 ; Angelina, 
Sept. 6, 1845; William, May 4, 1848; and Peler, 
Nov. 7, 1850. Only five of the children still sur- 
vive. Mrs. Jones, wife of our subject, died April 7, 
1877. 

William P. Jones came to Illinois in 1835, and 
first located in Greenbush Township. He is a thor- 
oughly in formed, practical agriculturist, having pur- 
sued that avocation nearly all his life, and has been 
abundantly blessed with prosperity, which invarialily 
is the reward of the industrious and intelligent tiller 
of the soil. In political opinion, Mr. Jones is a 
Democrat, having voted for " Hickory " Jackson. He 
is a member of the Baptist Church, of which denom- 
ination his wife was also a member. Mr. Jones is 
now living with one of his sons, Peter B., who mar- 
ried Miss Ellen Threlkeld, Feb. 6, 1878. They have 
become the parents of five children, — Mary Grace, 
1^ Inez A., Glen A., Frank M. and Wilford. 



— iiSi- 



^avid DufiBeld, a successful farmer, owning 
a valuable farm, located on section 14, 
Berwick Township, was born Dec. 30, 
1837, in McHenry County, this State. His 
father, Nathan Duffield, was a native of Vir- 
ginia, where he was born, in 18 17. He 
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth P. 
Duffield, a farmer's daughter, of Virginia, and in 
which State she was born, in 1820, and who bore 
him ten children, and departed this life in ICS78. 
Their children were named David, Caroline, Jera- 
sha, John, Thomas M., Martha, Charles, Nathan, 
Jane and Alice. The father died Dec. 9, 1885. 

David Duffield, subject of this biographical notice, 
has p.issed the years of his life that are gone in ag- 
ricultural pursuits. He was reared on a farm and 
acquired an education in the common schools of his 
native State. Nov. 5, 1S69, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lydia A. Stafford, in Otsego Co., N. 





Y. She was born July 13, 1844. Of their union 
three children have been born, namely : Lalla E., 
born June 14, 1872; Arlie S., born Nov. 26, 1875 ; 
and Cyrus A., born Sept. 26, 1881. 

The parents of Mrs. Duffield, S. P. and Sarah 
(Smith) Stafford, were born in New York, in 1815 
and 1818, respectively. They had five children, — 
Maria, born 1841; Lydia A., in 1844; Joseph, in 
1847; Amanda, in 1853; and Sarah, in i86r. Mr. 
Duffield is at present pleasantly situated on 80 acres 
of good farm land, located on section 14, Berwick 
Township, which he owns, and is active engaged in 
his chosen vocation. He has been Township Col- 
lector for a number of years and School Director 
for quite a long time. Politically, he is a Jefferson- 
ian Democrat. Mrs. Duffield is a member of the 
Christian Church. 



-♦s* 



jl^enry Charles Parsons, a former citizen of 
the township of Sumner, was born in«> 
Wi^ **" Fletcher, Vt., in 1820, and was the son of 
Elder and Charlotte Parsons. In his early 
youth his mother was removed by death and he. 
became an inmate of the household of a man 
named George Buck, with whom he passed the re- 
maining years of his minority. He was brought up 
with a thorough knowledge of farming, and received 
such education as the common schools of that day 
afforded. 

The first prominent event of his adult life was his 
marriage to Abigail Buck, who became his wife Dec. 
25, 1846. She was the daughter of Murray and 
Polly (Thorp) Buck and her parents were natives of 
the Green Mountain State. In the maternal line of 
descent she was of Connecticut origin. Before mar- 
riage Mr. Parsons had bought a small farm in Buck 
Hollow, in Franklin Co , Vt., which became the 
home of himself and his bride. After living on the 
place two years, the sold out and came to Warren 
County, arriving in 1848. Their route of travel was 
via Lake Champlain, Champlain Canal and Erie 
Canal to Buffalo, and thence by the lakes to Chicago. 
In that city Mr. Parsons bought a pair of horses and 
set forth for his point of destination. One of the 
horses sickened and died on the road. The father 



"T" 










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OveToyynshi f^ 



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Residence- OF A.A.Chapman,Sec.,35.Spring GroveTownship 



■ CT^JL 



•^-T^ 



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*t 



WARREN COUNTY. 



369 



traded the remaining animal for another span and 
successfully compled the journey. He located in 
Hale Township on the farm owned by Murray Buck. 
After two years he bought 160 acres of land on sec- 
tion 33, in the same township. At first he built a 
small frame house, of whicli liis family took posses- 
sion, and then he turned his attention to the work of 
improving his land. Two years later the house was 
burned with all its contents. A good and substan- 
tial brick house replaced the primitive structure of 
the pioneer and was his home during tlie remaining 
years of his earthly course. He made subsequent 
purchases of land and at the time of his death was 
the owner of 240 acres, finely stocked and furnished 
with modern farming implements of the most np- 
proved patterns. His demise took place Nov. 1 6, 
1869. He was a Republican and a practical tem- 
perance man. Six of the children of which he and 
his wife became the parents are living. Wealthy is 
married to Marion Harrison of Sumner Townsliip. 
Mary is the wife of William Morrison. They setded 
at Atlantic, Iowa. Horace resides on the homestead. 
Henry and Grant are also residents thereon. Pearl 
is the youngest. 



li^W3 L lexander A. Chapman, a farmer on sec- 
^_^^Jr tion 35, in the township of Spring Grove, 
HW?i'-'^ like so many of the first settlers in this ])art 
of the United States, is the descendant of a 
family of New England origin. Ashbel Chap- 
man, his grandfather, was born in the section 
of this country first settled in the days of the Pil- 
grims, and removed thence to Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 
the beginning of the present century. At that period 
the Empire State was in its iufancy, the greater por- 
tion of it still covered with the primeval forest. The 
tract on which the elder Chapman located was in the 
same condition as when his ancestors landed U|)on 
the bleak Massachusetts coast nearly two centuries 
below. He went sturdily at the work of clearing the 
the wilderness, and in due time had reclaimed a --uf- 
ficient spotof ground and erected the first homestead. 
The, then, nearest point was the Mohawk River, some 
150 miles distant. With the breaking out of the dif- 
ficulties engendered by the second struggle between 




this country and England, our pioneer turned fioin 
his axe and plow to assist in the settlement of his 
rights and to aid in the defense of what had been 
secured by his forefathers. He continued to reside 
in New York till about 1836, when he removed to 
Ohio, locating in Sumiriit County, where he passed 
to his rest at the ripe age of 80 years. 

Orson C. Chapman, his son, married Rebecca 
Gifford, a native of the State of New York. He was 
born Feb. 26, 1801, previous to the removal of the 
family to Cayuga County. After marriage he oper- 
ated there as a business man until 1834, when he 
removed thence to Oswego County, in the same 
State, where he passed about ten years, and remov- 
ing later to Ohio, where he settled in the same por- 
tion of the State first chosen by his father, viz. ; Sum- 
mit County. After continuing there six years he 
returned to Oswego. In 1866 he made another 
transfer of his home and interests lo Noble Co., Ind., 
where his demise took place in 1871. His wife, the 
mother of the subject of tliis biography, still survives 
him. They were the parents of 12 children. 

Ale.xander A. Chapman is the fourth child of his" 
parents and was born in the town of Sennett, in 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1833. In 1856 he sev- 
ered his connections with the parental home and 
came to Warren County. He obtained employment^ 
as a farm hand and continued to work out until he 
finally chose a partner for life. His marriage to Ann 
M. Buck occurred Dec. 15, 1858. The parents of 
his wife, Norman and Maria Buck, were natives of 
Vermont, who had become settlers in this county in 
1848. Mrs. Chapman was born in Loraine Co,, 
Ohio, Nov. 5, 1834. After his union he settled' in 
Spring Grove Township, on the farm on which he 
has ever since made his home. This property for- 
merly belonged to the father of Mrs, Chapman and 
then contained only 80 acres improved land, 60 
acres of which was under cultivation. There was 
then only a small frame house on the place. The 
whole tract of 320 acres owned by Mr. Chapman in- 
cludes the east half of the southeast part of section 
35, and the west half of the southwest quarter of 
section 36. The place is improved with handsome, 
modern buildings, and with a fine lawn. A good idea 
of the homestead will be obtained from the accom- 
panying illustration. It is justly considered one of 
the most attractive homes in the county. 

The children of the household are three in num- 



lAj 



\ 



-64—- 



370 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4* 



l)er, two sons and one daughter. Norman Ward, the 
eldest, is a civil engineer, now pursuing his profes- 
sion in Nebraska. Isa and Frank reside at home, 
where they are receiving the benefits of a thorough 
education. In politics, the representative man, whose 
career we have outlined, is a staunch supporter of 
the principles of the Republican party, to which he 
has adhered since its organization. 




sF. M. B. Ray, one of the large land- 
owners of Lenox Township, a gentlen'an 
* of more than ordinary executive ability 
and a successful farmer, residing on section 
26, Lenox Township, is the son of Garland ^ind 
Sarah (I-ee) Ray, natives of Kentucky. 
His parents came to this county in 1835, and will 
consequently take rank among its pioneer settlers. 
They located in Roseville Township, where they 
continued to reside for about a year, when they re- 
moved to Lenox Township, where they lived until 
their death, the decease of Mr. Ray's mother taking 
place Feb. 24, 1868, and that of his father April 12, 
1881. Their children were ten in number, namely: 
Amelia A., Harriet E., Henrietta ^L, James W., 
M. B., Eletha, Clarinda J., Julia A., Susan A. and 
Nancy Elizabeth. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this notice was born in Edmonson Co., Ky., Feb. 6, 
1828, and had reached the age of nine years when 
he came with his parents to this county, where he 
has continued to reside until the present time. Mr. 
Ray ma) be said to have followed the vocation of an 
agriculturist from childhood, as he was brought up to 
that occupation and has made it the pursuit of his 
life. He is at present the owner of over 1,200 at res 
in this county, all of which, with the exception of 
30 acres of timberland, is under an advanced slate 
of cultivation, and with the exception of 210 acres in 
Roseville Township is all situated in Lenox Town- 
ship. He keeps upon his home farm, which com- 
prises 500 acres, about 100 head of cattle, 20 head 
of horses and colts, and fattens about 100 head of 
hogs annually. What of this world's goods he may 



possess, and the same, as will be readily seen is not 
small, has been accumulated through his own in- 
domitable energy, pluck and good judgment. 

The marriage of Mr. Ray, which occurred in 
Lenox Township, Seyt. 5, 1850, when Miss Nancy 
C. Ray became his wife, has been blessed by the 
birth of ten children. Mrs. Ray is the daughter of 
John and Sarah Ray, natives of Kentucky. Their 
children are Richard H., Emeline, Laura J., Letitia, 
John L., Theodosia, Mary, Hiram, Hattie and Mar- 
tha. Martha is deceased ; Richard resides in Lenox 
Township; Emeline is the wife of Tilford Rice and 
resides in Lenox Township; Laura J. married John 
Chapman, who resides m Iowa; Letitia became the 
wife of William Ken, also a resident of Iowa; John 
L. lives in Lenox Township ; Theodosia married 
William Parrish, also a resident of Lenox Township; 
Mary was united in marriage with Theo. C. Alexan- 
der, who is a farmer in Lenox Township; Hiram is 
also residing in Lenox Township; Hattie became ' 
the wife of Martin Landon, who is a farmer in Ber- " 
wick Township. 

Mr. Ray has held the office of Highway Coramis- \ 
sioner and Overseer of Highways. In politics, he "^ 
casts his vote with the Democratic party. Himself t 
and wife both belong to tlie Missionary Baptist 
Church. 

We present a fine view of Mr. Ray's substantial 
homestead on page 368. 



^«-^h*^ 



^rBs^rlando Randall, a successful farmer and 
^||^y|c highly respected citizen of Warren County, 
owning 330 acres of land in Tompkins 




Township, and residing on section 16, is a na- 
tive of Chenango Co., N. Y., where he was 
burn Jan. 28, 1827. The parents of Mr. Ran- 
dall — Roswell and Ciiarlotte (Page) Randall, were 
natives of New Hampshire and Vermont respect- 
ively. After marriage, in 1849, they emigrated 10 
this county, where the father became a citizen of 
Tompkins Township, locating on section 16, where 
he purchased 160 acres of land. The parents con- 
tinued to reside on their land in Tompkins Town- 
ship for 16 years, during which time the father was 



-Y 



■e T -j L 



. ,-r:^z — . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



A__- ? -» 



371 



laboriously engaged in its cultivation. At the ex- 
piration of that time, he, with his family moved into 
the village of Kirkwood, and there resided until the 
death of both heads of the household, which oc- 
curred in 1878 and 1879 respectively. 

The gentleman whose name we place at the be- 
ginning of this biographical sketch, was an inmate of 
the parental household, until he became 28 years of 
age. He then, in r856, purchased 80 acres of land 
on section 21, Tompkins Township, which, by subse- 
quent purchases, he increased to 330 acres of as 
good farm land as there is in the county. He is ac- 
tively engaged in the cultivation and improvement of 
his farm and is meeting with well merited success. 

In 1855, Mr. Randall was united in marriage with 
Miss Melissa Hall, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., 
and a daughter of Oliver and Rachel (Underhill) 
Hall. They have six children living, named Edgar 
H., Charles M., Allen C, Deliah R., Charlotte D., 
and Frank P. In politics, Mr. Randall votes with 
the Republican party. What of this world's goods 
he may possess, has been acquired through his own 
indomitable energy, perseverance and good judg- 
!»- ment, coupled with the active co-operation of his 
I good helpmeet, and is regarded he as one of the most 
substantial farmers of Tompkins Township. 




^kurton Godfrey, Road Commissioner, farm- 
|g er and stock-raiser, residing on section 27, 
Ellison Township, was born in Ross Co., 
^ Ohio, June 28, 1822. The father of Mr. 
Godfrey, Elisha Godfrey, was a native of 
Maryland, of New England parentage, and 
came to Ohio with his father and mother when a 
young man. The mother of Elisha died in Warren 
Co 111., and his father in Ohio. Elisha married Miss 
Dorcas Hill, a native of Virginia. She came to Ohio 
with her parents when quite young and they both 
died in Ross County that State., 

The gentleman whose sketch we write, resided 
with his parents until his marriage, receiving the ad- 
vantages afforded by the common schools, and as- 
sisting in the maintenance of the family, by labor on 
the farm. His parents came to this State in 1857. 



Burton Godfrey had preceded them, having arrived 
here in 1856, and settled in Ellison Township. His 
parents settled in Ellison, but after witnessing the ter- 
ril)le hurricane that passed through that village in the 
spring of 1858, returned to Ohio, where they resided 
five years and again returned to this county, where 
tiie father died in 1873, of heart disease. His wife, 
Burton's mother, soon afterward returned to Ohio, 
where, in 1881, she died. 

Burton Godfrey is the second in order of birth of 
I [ children. He lived with his parents in Ross Co., 
Ohio, until his marriage with Rebecca J. Penwell. 
She was born in the county where she was married, 
and was the daughter of an Ohio farmer. Their 
married life lasted for five years only, when the 
wife and mother died, leaving two children — 
Joseph M. and Mrs. Sarah Lozier. Mr. Godfrey 
was a second time married, in Pickaway Co., Ohio, 
April II, 1853, when Mrs. Sarah A. Graham, nee 
Grimes, became his wife. She was a daughter of 
Benjamin and Ruth (Chenoweth) Grimes, natives of 
Virginia and Ohio respectively, who were married 
ill the latter State and where they both died. They 
were well-to-do people, loving and kind parents, «-; 
obliging neighbors and respected by all who knew 
them. Mrs. Godfrey was the second in order of 
birth of a family of five children, born of the second 
marriage of her father, he having been married four 
times. The date of her birth was Aug. 16, 1824, 
and the place of her nativity Ross Co., Ohio. She 
was about ten years of age when her mother died, 
and afterward lived with her father and step-mother 
until her marriage to John W. Graham, a native of 
Pickaway Co.. Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. 
He died in that county June 14, 1847, leaving two 
children, Charles W. and Benjamin F., both of whom 
are married and engaged in farming — the former 
in Ellison Township and the latter in Iowa. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey, they 
lived on a farm in Ohio from 1853 until 1856. On 
coming to this State Mr. Godfrey purchased 80 acres 
of land in this county on section 27, Ellison Town- 
ship, on which he located and where he has since 
lived. By energetic labor and economy he has added 
240 acres to his original purchase, and is at present 
the proprietor of 320 acres of excellent farm land, 
under an advanced state of cultivation and ten acres 
of timber. 

He has a good residence on his farm, together with 



*t 



"T" 



^<-7^^ 



:^rH^ 



37 » 



WARREN COUNTY. 



barn and other outbuildings, and is one of the suc- 
cessful farmers of Warren County. His attention in 
addition to his farm labors has been directed to the 
raising of Short-horii cattle, in which he is meeting 
with success. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcojial Church, of which denomination 
Mr. G. is present trustee and steward. In politics 
Mr. Godfrey is a slaunch and active worker in the 
ranks of the Republican party. He has held the 
office of Collector, .Assessor, Road Commissioner, 
Overseer of the Poor and many of the minor offices 
within the gift of the people of his township. 



-^'#Uiii-^ 




eorge Thayer. Upon section 28, of Rose- 
ville Towiisliip, there resides an intelli- 
gent farmer in comfortable circumstances 
and well known throughout the comniunicy, by 
the name of George Thayer. He was born in 
New York State, and is the sou of Sabin 
'i'hayer, a native of that State. Tliere, the elder 
'I'hayer, met and married Miss Lovina Kingsbury, 
who was also born in the Empire State. They were 
living there in the quiet and peaceful occupation of 
farming, when their son, George, was born. His 
birth occurred Aug. 24, 1828. Here young Thayer 
lived until 1840, when his parents started with their 
family westward. They found a desirable location 
in Knox County, where the senior Thayer purchased 
80 acres of land, and began its improvement. He 
was however, not permitted to see tlie beautiful 
prairies develop to the high condition which they 
are in at present, for four years after iiis arrival here, 
he died. His wife lived 20 years longer, dying 
in 1864. 

George Thayer left home at a very early age, the 
death of his father compelling the mother to start 
him out to help make a living for the family. He 
worked out by the month until he was 23 years of 
age, and by economy he had accumulated a little 
money, and bouglit the place where he now lives. 
This consisted of but 60 acres at that time, 1863, 
but since success has crowned the hard labor and 
good business judgment of Mr. Thayer to a certain 
extent, we now find him the owner of 220 acres 



*t 



acres. He is now engaged in general farming, and 
is regarded in this community as a gentleman of 
good, sound business judgment, and a respected 
citizen. Politically he is a Republican, and together 
with his wife, belongs to the Baptist Church. 

In 1851, August 23, the wedding ceremony which 
united in marriage George Thayer and Miss Jean- 
nett White, occurred. Miss White was born in New 
York State, and was the daughter of Ephraim and 
S.illy (Crane) White, eaily and respected pioneers of 
H.mcock Co., III., her father and mother dying in 
tiiat county at a very early day, the death of the 
former occurring in 1845, and the latter in 1843. 
Mrs. Thayer is the mother of six children, namely : 
John W., Bion L., Charles A., Darwin N., Ida L. 
and Nettie. John W., married Mary Nisely, and 
their two children are named George and Mary. 
Bion L. selected for a wife, Stella Cunningham. 
Lovell and Malvin are the names of their children. 




^Ibert Rodgers is an energetic and respect- 
ed citizen of Lenox Township, where he is 
iH^^ypKx, cBo epgage(j in agricultural pursuits, on section 
27. He is a son of Clark and Nancy (Bar. 
rett) Rodgers, and was born in Pickaway 
County, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1840. His jjarents were 
na ives of the Buckeye State, and came to Illinois in 
1853, locating in McDonough County. They after- 
ward removed to Fulton County, the adjoining coun- 
ty, where they died, the father Oct. 4, 1880, and the 
mother Aug. it, 187 i. They had a family of ten 
cliildren — John B., James O., William H., Eliza A., 
Albert, May, Martha, Elvira, Scott, and Perry. 

Albert Rodgers was but 13 years of age when his 
parents- retiioved to the State of Illinois, and he con- 
tinued to live with them until he attained the age of 
22 years, when he worked out for awhile at farming 
and mining. He remained a resident of McDon- 
ough County until 187 I, when he came to Warren 
County, where he has since been engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits, having purchased 80 acres of land on 
section 27, his present location, in the year 1881, and 
engaged actively and energetically in its improve- 
ment and cultivation. 

He was married in Berwick Township, Warren 



V 




Cy Jc LM^iji^yf^ 



i%. 






-e4--^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



375 



f" 




C-junty, March 26, 1874, to Miss Martha, daughter 
of Greenbury and Mary (Moore) Ray, natives of 
Kentucky, who came to Warren County in 1844. 
They lived in Berwick Township, where they made 
their permanent abiding place until their deaths, the 
mother's demise occurring Dec. 28, 1871, and the 
father Jan. 24, 1879. Their family comprised the 
following named children : Martha, Lizzie, Willis, 
Mary, Wilbur, Jennie and two who died in infancy. 
Mrs. Rodgers was the eldest of her parents' family, 
and was born in Kentucky, April 25, 1848. Herself 
■ and husband are members of the Baptist Church, 
and the latter in politics casts his vote with the Dem- 
ocratic party. 

■ — ^>-S-*?^ — o-asMilSD-^^o — *— 5<— - 

||.on. Ivory Quinby, deceased, son of Asa 

and Mehitable Quinby, was born on the 

14th day of July, 1817, in Buxton, Maine, 

and died at Monmoutli, 111., Oct. 23, i8''9. 

j After completing his preparatory studies, he 

I entered the Freshman Class of Waterville Col- 
lege, Maine, in 1832, being then a little over 15 
years of age. While in college he ranked high as 
a student. His favorite study was natural science, 
and he was especially distinguished for his attain- 
ments in chemistry. He graduated with honor, his 
diploma bearing the date of Aug. 3, 1836, he being 
then a little over 19 years of age. 

After leaving college, he spent a short time in 
Parsonsfield, as an assistant teacher in the academy, 
then under the care of his uncle, the Rev. Hosea 
Quinby. He then went to Saco and entered the 
office of Judge Shepley, as a student of law. His 
health prevented him continuing here long, and in 
the fiiU of 1837, when not yet 21 years of age, he 
sought a liome in Illinois. He left Maine with 
S125, this being the sum total of his worldly goods. 

He landed first at Qaincy, where he made the 
acquaintance of Hon. O. H. Browning and John 
Mitchel, Esq. By the advice of Mr. Browning, he 
selected Monmouth, then an inconsiderable village, 
as his future home. He and Mr. Mitchel arranged 
a partnership and set out for the place of their 
choice. From Oquawka they came to Monmouth 
on foot, opened an office, and commenced business 
as attorneys and counsellors at law. 

On March 14, 1839, when between 22 and 



'JK. 



23 years of age, he married Miss Jane A. Allen. 
She died on the 7th of February, 1847. She was 
the mother of three children, all of whom died before 
their father. 

He does not appear to have continued long in 
Monmouth at that time. For some cause he aban- 
doned the practice of law, removed to Berwick and 
went into the mercantile business. 

On the 17th of February, 1848, he married Miss 
Mary E. Pearce, a native of Ohio and daugliter of 
Tnomas and Phebe (Little) Pearce, of Virginia and 
Nc'V Jersey respectively. Mr. Thomas Pearce was 
a soldier in the War of 18 r 2. He came to Tazewell 
County, this State, in the spring of 1830, removing 
thence into Warren County in the fall of 183 1. 
With his team Mr. Pearce hauled the first load of 
goods to Monmouth. In company with Hon. Sam- 
uel G. Morse, he laid out the town of Berwick, and 
resided there several years. He died in 1853, aged 
75 years. His widow lived to be 78 years of 
age, and died in 1869. By his second marriage. 
Judge Quinby had born to him eight children, only 
four of whom survived him — Jane (Mrs. Dr. A. F. 
Bucknam); George, a resident of Dakota where he. 
owns a large landed estate; Frank, an attorney-at- 
hiw at Monmouth ; and Ivory, a student. 

Soon after the opening of Monmouth College, he 
became one of its warmest friends, and was elected 
a member of the Board of Trustees. For a short 
time he held the office of Treasurer. He was a 
member of the committee entrusted with the erec- 
tion of the new college building. He was also a 
member of the Executive Committee, and for some 
yeirs President of the Board. Occupying these 
responsible positions, the interests of the college 
made large demands on his time ; yet it was cheer- 
fully given. He was punctual and regular in at- 
tending all meetings of the Committee and Board. 
The many reports, carefully prepared, on file in his 
handwriting, show that he gave the college much 
and careful thought. His colleagues uniformly paid 
the most profound respect to his opinion. It is be- 
lieved that no measure he favored was ever voted 
down. Li addition to the time and thought given, 
he also made frequent and large donations to the 
college in money, which amounted to over $8,000. 
Those bist acquainted with the history of the col- 
lege affirm that his assistance, in various ways, was 



r 



-e^U?! 



37« 



WAR HEN COUNTY. 



f 



> 



so timely and valuable, that without him the enter- 
prise could hardly have succeeded. 

Judge Quinby was distinguished for the soundness 
of his judgment and the candor with which he ex- 
pressed his opinions. It is doubtful whether there 
is a man in Monmouth whose opinion, on any ques- 
tion with which he was familiar, carried greater 
weight. Many a mooted point has he settled by 
simply stating his deliberate judgment. 

In appearance and manner he was somewhat 
austere, yet, in. fact, he was one of the most tender- 
hearted of men. There are many who can testify 
to substantial acts of kindness on his part, which 
they will be slow to forget. They are not a few who 
to-day bless his memory. 

.\t the same time, he was peculiarly modest and 
unostentatious. In giving money, he shrank from 
notoriety. He made many offers, to stimulate others 
to like liberality; but in all such cases he uniformly 
enjoined secrecy as to his name. When he gave 
alms, he did not sound a trumpet before him. He 
hardly let his left hand know what his right hand 
was doing. 

Above all, he was a Christian man. He early 
made a profession of faith in the Baptist Church, 
and on his death-bed he confessed, unsolicited, in 
the broadest and most unequivocal terms, his faith 
in Christ. 

All in all, in the death of Ivory Quinby, Mon- 
mouth lost one of the worthiest of her citizens. The 
vacancy will hardly be filled. Let those who survive 
imitate his virtues and follow his footsteps, while 
they revere his memory and lament his loss. 

At a meeting of the Warren County Bar, Oct. 26, 
1869, Mr. Delos Phelps read in open Court the fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

Whereas, Divine Providence, in His inscrutable 
dispensation, has removed from among us Ivory 
Quinby, long and well known to the citizens of our 
county, for many years a practicing attorney of ac- 
knowledged [trobity and ability, in our courts, and 
for a long time occupying a judicial station among 
us. Therefore be it 

Resolved, By the members of the Warren County 
Bar, assembled out of respect to the memory of our 
deceased brother, and to pay a proper tribute to a 
good man who has fallen in our midst, that in the 
loss of him who now " after life's fitful fever sleepeth 
well," the members of the legal profession have lost 
one wlio to the virtue of private life added tlie calm, 
dispassioned judgment and consistent uprightness of 



cliaracter, which rendered him, while in the prac- 
tice of law, an ornament to the profession, a guide to 
his brethren, and one who worthily illustrated the 
' exalted principles of enlightened jurisprudence. 

Resolved, That we willingly bear testimony to the 
i ability, sterling integrity, and great usefulness in his 
day, of our departed^ friend and brother. That we 
deplore his loss, as an important member of the com- 
munity at large, and sincerely symoathize with his 
wife and family in the irreparable loss sustained by 
them in the death of their husband and father. 

Resolved, That as members of the Bar of Warren 
Cuunty, we will attend his funeral in a Ixidy. That 
a copy of these resolutions be published in the city 
p.ipers, a copy sent to the family of the deceased, 
and a copy spread on the records of the County and 
Circuit Courts of Warren County at the next terms 
of the same. A. C. Harding, Chairman. 

J. J. Glenn, Secretary. 

Hon. A. C. Harding then said : 

" If the Court please, I move that these resolutions 
be unanimously adopted by the Bar of this county, 
and spread upon the records of this Court. They 
express the respectful and grateful feelings we all 
entertain for our friend and colleague. Ivory Quinby, 
Esq., who, since your last adjournment, has passed 
from the scenes of earthly usefulness to the bourne 
of the blessed. He went to the tomb with an escort 
of a multitude of people, who bedewed his grave 
with tears. The college and the pulpit pronounced 
and expressed eulogies upon his character, and im- 
mortalized his memory. No words or tears of mine 
can add to that homage which his noble life has 
earned and received. His connection with the 
courts as a lawyer and Judge has rendered honorable 
the profession of the law, and left impressions of 
res[)ect for judicial urbanity and integrity which will 
long remain upon the minds of his colleagues and 
the people. His long career at the Bar of this Court 
w.is never blotted by trick or chicanery; but at every 
step of his legal ])ractice he honored his profession 
by frank, manly, courteous and honest conduct. To 
hini the Bar of this county owes as much as to any 
of its members for the honorable character it bears. 
I refrain from entering the fields of eulogy which 
have been so abundantly harvested to the memory 
of Judge Quinby by the Rev. Doctors of Divinity, 
Matthews and Wallace, and by the Reverend and 
eloquent Wasmuth. But because his character was 
so peculiarly unostentatious and his charities secret, 
I deem it proper to add tliat while I knew him in the 
confidential relation of a partner in the practice of 
the law for more than 15 years, and for more than 
eight years in the construction of railways, I never 
knew him to violate the rule, ' Do unto others as ye 
would thev should do unto you.' In all distribu- 
tions of gains and losses he was liberal and just. 
\Vhile differing in political relations until the great 



I, 



*%~ 



v 



4 



^?-T> 



WARREN COUNTY. 



377 



Rebellion, no scenes of bitter strife between us is 
renie iibered to have ever existed, and we rallied 
together in the hour of the n.Uioa's trial with the 
good and the true of all parties to the rescue of our 
imperiled government. In one characteristic, our 
friend was not generally well known. From some 
consideration — it may have been that he dreaded the 
appearance of a desire to distinguish or aggrandize 
himself — he sedulously shrouded in secrecy his best 
charities and noblest acts. I know of some of liis 
charities to the destitute in past days that I never 
heard mentioned by him or others. His many acts 
of beneficence to the college of our cities, and his 
efforts to found a library, were all marked by modest 
retirement from public notice. After all busine-^s 
relations between us had been closed, I became en- 
dangered, and should have been pecuniarily ruined, 
but that my friend, Judge Quinby, almost unsolicited 
(for I felt the danger so great that I ought not en- 
danger him), became absolute security to pay a 
judgment of more than $300,000. Sir, few or none 
others could or would have done this from philan- 
thropic obligations only. But I forget. Pardon this 
digression. Let us cherish his memory and follow 
' his example, that like him, when we pass away, 
those who remain may strew words of kind remem- 
brance over our graves; and our names find a place 
on the pages of this Court, and be written above in 
the great Book of Eternal Life." 

At the same meeting, Mr. Strain, who had been 
intimately associated with Judge Quinby in the 
Board of College Trustees for many years, paid to 
his memory the following tribute : 

" In every emergency, we sought his aid and coun- 
cil, and it was always, when possible, given in his 
quiet, unassuming way. His ideas were always 
clothed in plain, simple and expressive language. 
In his benefactions there was no sounding of trum- 
pets, and the public but seldom knew the benefactor. 
In his almsgiving — which was liberal — his left hand 
knew not what his right hand did. And it is hiuh 
praise of him to be able to say that after a life of 
many years among us devoted to active business — 
to the discharge of professional duties ; to the per- 
formance of official trusts, and to the accumulation 
of a large estate — no tongue speaks but in his praise, 
and no breath of censure tarnishes his memory. 
Such a character is indeed a rich legacy to his family 
aud friends, and the community of which he was a 
member, and an example of greatest worth to each 
one of us." 

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees and Di- 
rectors of the Monmouth College, on Monday, Oct. 
25, 1869, the following action was taken: 

Resolved, By the Trustees and Directors of the 
Monmouth College ; 

I. That in the death of the Hon. I. Quinby, long 



a member and officer of the Board, we lost a col- 
league, who we ever found, in all our intercourse 
with him, an upright, courteous. Christian gentleman, 
and in whose counsel we have been accustomed to 
repose the utmost confidence. 

2. That we found him a fast, true and efficient 
friend of the college in the time of need ; by his able 
counsels, active services, liberal and timely dona- 
tions, he has placed the college under a debt of 
gratitude which can never be repaid. 

3. That we extend to the family of the deceased 
our sympathies, in this their hour of great affliction, 
and express the hope that the richest blessings of a 
covenant-keeping God may descend and rest upon 
them. 

4. That these resolutions be spread upon the 
records, publishedin the city papers and forwarded 
to the widow of the deceased. 

D. A. Wallace, Pres. 

John J. Glen'x, Sec'y. 

Thus, in arranging and compiling the accessible 
matter appertaining to a noble life, a bare recital of 
the generous acts whereof would alone fill a volume, 
the writer acknowledges his inability to do ample 
justice to the subject, and returns thanks to those 
from whose contributions he has so liberally drawn, 
and who, from their intimate relationship with Judge 
Quinby in his lifetime, were best calculated to speak 
advisedly of him. .A portrait of the Judge is shown 
on another page of this work. 

Mrs. Quinby 's second marriage took place on the 
ist of May, 1877, to Rev. R. Haney, a prominent 
clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



r^i+- 



Jij^^^l Imon Kidder, attorney-at-laW; Monmouth, 

|[ was born in Warren County, Feb. 27, 

Issa^ 1838, and was the son of Larnard and 




Mary (Hoisington) Kidder. The subject of 
this biographical notice was reared to man- 
hood on his father's farm, attending regularly 
the common schools, and in 1859 graduated from 
Lombard University, at Galesburg. Leaving col- 
lege, he began directly reading law with Philo Reed, 
at Monmouth, and, in October, 1862, was admitted 
to the Bar before the Supreme Court at Ottawa. His 
first practice was with James Strain as partner; later 
with William C. Norcross, and recently with Mr. 
Frank Quinby, son of the highly reputed Judge 



ZTLAJ 



r 



-4 



378 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Qiiinby, whose sketch is given in this work. At this 
writing (October, 1885), Mr. Kidder is unassociated 
with any one. Early in life he was an ardent Re- 
publican, but owing to the uncertain position of that 
party upon the question of the whiskey traffic, he 
abandoned it and politics altogether, and has since 
thrown his influence in favor of Prohibition. He has 
sought no office in any way, but in a spirit of duly 
has served the people in various minor places, such 
as School Director, Alderman and Justice of tlie 
Peace. 

The wife of Mr. Kidder, Anna C, daughter of 
John Jacobs, Esq., to whom he was married at Mon- 
mouth, May 30, 1865, died Aug. 31, 1882, leaving 
one child, Nina. His second marriage occurred at 
Moline, 111., Oct. 18, 1883, the lady being Mrs. Lucy 
E. Folger, nee Mapes, widow of Dr. Folger, of Youngs- 
town. Mr. Kidder devotes his time to his profes- 
sion, although he has various outside interests. He 
was one of the organizers of the Monmouth Home- 
■ stead and Loan Association, and in 1870 he found 
time to compile and sy.'itematize the Monmouth City 
Ordinances, a work vyell and satisfactorily done. He 
f^ is considered a close student, kn(5wn to be a sound 
lawyer, and, above all, a gentleman. 

Mr. Kidder has spent his leisure moments for tlie 
last ten years in collecting a genealogy of the Kid- 
der family, which has occasioned considerable corre- 
spondence and other labor. 



^~,^^^^~^. 




4 



; ames Bergen Van Arsdale is a farmer in 
the township of Point Pleasant. He was 
ji.,.', > \^Qxw in Somerset Co., N. J., Oct. 30, 1844. 
The family was originally of Holland origin, 
and in that country were respected members 
of society. The grandfatlier of Mr. Van 
Arsdale, of this narration, Abraham Van Arsdale, 
was born in the same county in New Jersey in whirh 
his descendants for several generations were also 
born. His farm was located near Harlingen, in 
Somerset County, and he was its occupant until his 
death. His decease took place June 22, 1836. He 
married Elizabeth Beekman, a lady likewise of Hol- 
land descent, who was born March 9, 1788, and died 



May 26, 1847. Their son William was born in 
Somerset County, Feb. 8, 1815. Sept. 14, 1836, he 
was married to Johanna V. Bergen. She was born 
June 7, 1813. For a time after their marriage ihey 
remained in Somerset County and rented land. Mr. 
Van Arsdale then purchased a farm near the home- 
stead and was there a resident until 1850, when he 
sold all his interests in the State of his nativity and 
came to Illinois. His wife and three children ac- 
companied him. They crossed the mountains of 
Pennsylvania in the stage and arrived at Wheeling, 
W. Va. At that point they took passage on the 
Ohio River and made the journey to Illinois on the 
Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. They landed 
at Copperas Creek, in Fulton County, and the father 
bought land near Fairview in that county. No im- 
provements had been made on it and the new pro- 
prietor erected a dwelling and other needed buildings 
of good style, and was tliere engaged in the busi- 
ness of a farmer until his removal to Henderson 
County in 1856. He sold the estate in Fulton 
County and made a purchase of land in the county 
to which he had removed. It was wholly unim- 
proved and was situated in the vicinity of Raritan. 
On this he repeated his pioneer experiences, and 
was there a resident until 1869. In that year he 
made an exchange for another farm and moved to 
Raritan, where he has since resided. Three of the 
five children born in their family are still living. 
Abraham, who was born March i, 1838, lives in 
Henderson County. Peter, born May 9, 1842, be- 
came a soldier in the service of the United States in 
the Civil War, in the 14th 111. Vol. Cav., and after a 
term of active military life of nearly three years re- 
ceived an honorable discharge. He now lives in 
Henderson County. 

Mr. Van Arsdale, of this narration, is the youngest 
child. He was hardly six years of age when his pa- 
rents removed to Illinois, and he reached manhood 
in Henderson County. He received the training coin- 
mon to the children of farmers and a common-school 
education. 

His mariiage to Anna M. Lewis occurred April 25, 
1868. She was born in Fulton County. July 5, 1849. 
She survived her marriage but a short time, and Dec. 
6, 187 1, Mr. Van Arsdale was again married, to 
Sarah M. Brokaw. She was born in Somerset Co., 
N. J., Nov. 3, 1848, and is the daughter of Henry A. 
and Mary S. (Baird) Brokaw. Her parents were both 



WARREN COUNTY. 






natives of the State of New Jersey, came to Illinois 
in 1857 and settled in Henderson County. In 1863 
her father entered the military service of the United 
States and died at Natchez, Miss. He was enrolled 
in the Fourth 111. Cav. Her mother is living, at 
Canton, Fulton Co., 111. 

Mr. and Mrs. Van Arsdale have had three chil- 
dren. Willie, the first-born, died at the age of seven 
weeks. Nellie was born May 20, 1876. Paul was 
born Sept. 26, 1879. 



*t 



fmos Burford, a man who occupies a thor- 
[ oughly representative position in the coni- 
Ij |a^ ola niunity, and whose success in life is the 
4^ outgrowth of his own energy and clear judg- 
M ment, is a resident on section 4, Monmouth 
\ Township. He was born in Donegal Town- 
■ ship, Lancaster Co., Pa.. Aug. 18,1829. 
>» His father, Jeremiah Burford, was also a native of 
the Keystone State, a farmer by occupation and the 
son of Robert Burford, an Englishman, who came to 
this country .when a young man and settled at his 
marriage in the State of Pennsylvania. He reared 
two sons, of whom Jeremiah, the father of the subject 
of this sketch, was the eldest. His father died be- 
fore he had attained the age of manhood. He was 
first married in Lancaster Co., Pa,, to Lyda Sterner, 
by whom he became the father of two, children, La- 
vina and Aaron, both of whom grew to maturity and 
were married (the former of whom has since died). 
Of the second marriage of Jeremiah, to Jane Mont- 
gomery, a native of Pennsylvania, eight children 
were born, of whom Amos, the subject of this noiice, 
was the third. Of these offsprings, Margaret beciime 
the wife of John Burton, at present a resident of 
Erie, Pa.; Ann was united in marriage to James E. 
McNair, who is living in Prairie City, Iowa, and has 
accumulated a coaipetency; Amos, the subject of 
this notice, was next in order of birth ; Samuel died 
at St. Joe, Mich., in the fall of rSSj; Mary J. formed 
a matrimonial alliance with Porter Freborn, who is 
at present residing in Avon, this State; she died in 
1868; Eliza was the wife of W. H. Smith, who fol- 
lows the vocation of a farmer in Kansas, and died 

- - - -— ^-X 



Aug. 17, 1885; Sarah J. is single and resides at 
Pittsburg, Pa., where she is engaged in clerking; 
William H. is deceased, and formerly resided in Bos- 
ton, Mass. He followed the occupation of a railroad 
conductor. 

The gentleman whose name heads our sketch, re- 
ceived a common-school education and resided at 
home with his parents, assisting in the maintenance 
of the family, until he attained the age of 28 years. 
Arrived at that age, he left the parental homestead 
and came West, his journey terminating in Kansas, 
which was then the scene of free-soil agitation. He 
homesteaded 160 acres of land in Anderson County, 
but owing to the pressure of hard times, he removed 
to Illinois in July, 1858, and located east of Avon, in 
Fulton County, where he rented a farmland lived 
on it about three years, and in 1861 rented the farm 
where he now resides, the old Kendall homestead. 
He finally disposed of his interests in Kansas in 
1873. His marriage took place in this county, Oct. 
17, i86o, the lady who became his wife being Miss 
Margaret Kendall, the daughter of Robert and Ann 
(McNair) Kendall, natives of Pennsylvania. They J i 
were of Scotch extraction, hsr father being a farmer k. 
who removed to this county when Mrs. Burford was 
a young lady of 15 years. The parental family at 
that time consisted of six children, of whom Mrs. 
Burl'ord was the third. Her parents on coming to 
this county purchased a partly improved farm of 250 
acres, upon which they continued to reside until 
their death, the demise of the former occurring Jan. 
17, 1882, while in his 82d year, and that of the lat- 
ter Feb. 14, 187 I, in her 7 t St year, both parents hav- 
ing been born in the first year of the present century. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burford are the parents of five chil- 
dren, two of whom are deceased. Anna J. became 
the wife of George Williams, to whom she bore two 
children, and departed this life in Monmouth Town- 
ship, in February, 1884. Mr. Williams at present 
resides in Columbus, Kansas, his daughters, Stella 
and Maggie B., living with their grandparents. Park 
M., their first born son, lives on the homestead, 
which he assists in cultivating. William R. and 
Frank A. are also living at home, 'i'he fifth child 
died in infancy. Upon their union Mr. Burford and 
his wife settled on the old Kendall homestead, in 
this county. Our subject first became a landed pro- 
prietor in 1870, and he has since added to his orig- 
inal purchase until he is now the owner of 450 acres, 



-^ 



38» 



WARREN COUNTY. 



all lying in the township of Monmouth and under an 
advanced state of cultivation. There are two good 
residences on the place and the farm is divided into 
three parts, each of which is well improved. Mr. 
Barford, in addition to the cultivation of his large 
farm, is extensively engaged in the breeding of Nor- 
man horses and other stock of high grades. He is 
at present Commissioner of Highways, which office 
he has held consecutively for 15 years. He has also 
held the position of Assistant Supervisor, and in pul- 
itics votes with and advocates the principles of the 
Republican party. His wife is a member of the Uni- 
ted Presbyterian Church, at Gerlaw, in this county. 
We present a view of the fine home of Mr. Burford 
on another page. 




-f3=H=' 



=f"e^ 



-i~ 



jiss Desire E. Mather, a retired school 
teacher, residin;; in Greenbush, was born 
& '^ July 23, 1810, in Brownsville, Jeffeison 
Co., N. Y. She acquired a good education 
in the district schools of her native State; ma- 
triculated at Belleville College and followed the 
entire curriculum of that college from which she 
graduated with honors. 

From her native State, Miss Mather moved to 
Ohio, where, in the vicinity of Sandusky, at the early 
age of 14 years, she first began the profession which 
she followed for so many years and with such suc- 
cess. For 16 years she taught in that section of 
Ohio, and tiien removed to Illinois, coming to Green- 
bush, this county, Sept. 8, 1850, where she taught 
nine terms of school. She then went to Polk City, 
Polk Co., Iowa, and there taught three terms. In 
fact. Miss Mather has spent her life time in the in- 
terest of education and as late as 1863 followed her 
profession, two miles west of Greenbush. 

Miss Mather is a lineal descendant of the old and 
highly respected Mather family of the city of London, 
out of which sprang the Mathers famous in the enrly 
history of this country. Rev. Richard Mather, who 
was born in 1596, in Lowton, Lancastershire, England, 
and whose old residence in that ancient town still re- 
mains intact, was the first of the name to emigrate to 
America, coming to Boston in the ship " James," in 



1635. Timothy, the son of the Rev. Richard Mather, 
had a son, Arthur, who in turn had a son named 
Richard, who was the father of Cotton Mather, of the 
seventh generation, who died at Bridgewater, where 
his son, Horace Mather, who was the father of the 
subject of this notice. Miss Desire Mather, was born 

in '77S- 

Horace Mather was first married in 1803, to Miss 
Desire Emerson, who, in 1807, passed to the land of 
tlie hereafter/ Mr. Horace Mather was again mar- 
ried, Oct. I, 1809, to Miss Hulda Smith, of Sackett's 
Harbor. She was born in February, 1786, and died 
of quick consumption at Sackett's Harbor, in 1836. 
Mr. Mather died Aug. 2, 1825. Of his two marri- 
ages, the following named children were born : 
Thomas M., Feb. 2, 1804; Horace S., July 22, 1805 ; 
Zylla, May 4, 1807, died May 6, 1807 ; Desire E., 
born July 23, tSio; Charles W., June 4, 1812; Min- 
erva, July 25, 1814, died, aged 19 months; Jane, 
born March i, 1816; Hulda, .\pril 3, 1818; Sylvia 
M., Jan. 29, 1820; Dr. David C, April 3, 1823; 
Sarah Ann, Aug. 2, 1824, died Nov. 4, 1846. Mr. 
Hor.ace Mather was a man of very superior mental 
capacity, and, though a farmer by occupation, during 
the last ten years of life he filled several offices of 
public trust with great credit to Jiimself and to the 
satisfaction of the community at large. There was 
universal mourning throughout JeflTerson Co., N. Y., 
at his death. 



vr 




klement Pierce, who is retired from active 
ercantile pursuits a»id a pioneer of the 
l^p^ county, is a resident of Roseville, at which 
^[^ place he was engaged as a merchant for some 
years. He was born in Poultney, Rutland 
H Co., Vt. Sept. 24, 181 3. Amos and Mary 
(Sandford) Pierce, his parents, were also natives of 
the Green Mountain State, and came to Ohio from 
Vermont, in 1823, and remained there engaged in 
agricultural pursuits until 1834. He then came to 
this State and purchased with his son, the gentleman 
whose name heads this personal sketch, 160 acres of 
land in Greenbush Township, Warren County, upon 
which he remained, engaged in its cultivation and 
improvement for nearly three years. He then re- 




^4^: 



WARREN COUNTY. 



_j__ 4 3 " 



383 



1 1 res: 



turned to Ohio, and brought his wife and family 
to this State. They settled upon the farm which he 
had began so hard and industriously to cultivate. 
Here he remained farming and also blacksraithing 
until 1864. The death of the father occurred July 
20, 1872, and that of the mother Sept. 30, 1845. 

Clement remained with his parents until 1834, 
and received a common-shool education while under 
the parental roof-tree, also assisted his parents in 
the duties of the farm. Then leaving home, he came 
to Illinois and in September, 1834, settled upon a 
tract of land adjoining that he and his father had 
purchased. Here he remained improving the farm 
and engaged in its cultivation until March, 1845, 
when he purchased the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 35, Roseville Township, and moved upon it. 
Here he followed farming and stock-raising until 
June, 1864, when he moved into the, then, little ham- 
let of Roseville. Here he, in company with Dr. 
Ragon, embarked in the mercantile business, in 
wliich they continued for a period of two years, when 
Mr. Pierce, the gentleman of this notice, bought out 
the Doctor and conducted the business himself for 
about seven years, when he sold out. At that time, 
1873, he retired from active labors, having been suc- 
cessful, the result of an energetic and progressive life, 
which enabled him to have a sufficiency laid aside 
to provide for himself and family in their old age. 
Mr. Pierce has held several offices within the gift of 
the people, for instance, in 1872, he was elected 
Justice of the Peace, and held that position until 
1885, and besides has served in the office of City 
Council and School Director. He is the owner of 
500 acres of land which is in excellent condition and 
very valuable. He also owns the Pierce Block and 
several houses at Roseville. 

Mr. Pierce and Miss Nancy Farr were united in 
marriage, in the year 1834, she being a native of 
Essex Co., N. Y. Of their union five children have 
been born, all living but one, — Mary M., born Aug. 
2, 1835; Laura A., Jan. 26, 1837; Amos, Dec. 10, 
1843; and Phebe J., Oct. 10, r845; Zacharia T., 
born April 23, 1848, died Sept, 23, i860. Laura A. 
married Alexander Bramhall, and resides in Rose- 
ville Village, and their family consists of seven chil- 
dren — Nancy E., Mary E., Amos E., Levi A., Linnia 
B., Emma and Charles VV. Amos, the only son of 
our subject, married Miss Mary J. Baer, and they 
reside in Belleville, Kan., and have two sons — Har- 



ley L. and George C. Phebe J., the youngest daugh- 
ter married Thomas J. Newbern, and they are 
residents of Wayne, Kan. Of their union eight chil- 
dren have been born, namely : Mary, Effa J., Thomas 
M., Lillia N., Phebe G., Nancy M., Archie C. and 
Pearly. 

Mr. Clement Pierce has five great-grandchildren. 
He is a Republican in politics and religiously, be- 
longs to the Universalist Church. He is one of the 
early pioneers of Warren County as well as substan- 
tial and solid men. 



^^ 




b W. Huston, a successful farmer, owning 
^K 160 acres of land, located on section 23, 
Tompkins Township, where he resides and 
is engaged in following the vocation of an ag- 
riculturist, was born April 25, 1830, in Penn- 
sylvania, his parents being John and Elizabeth 
(Weakley) Huston, natives of that State. 

The father of Mr. Huston of this notice was a 
farmer by occupation and followed his chosen voca- 
tion in Pennsylvania until his death. His son, S. 
W., of whom we write, was an inmate of the parental 
household until he became 23 years of age, having 
in the meantime acquired a fair education in the 
common schools. 

After leaving home, Mr. Huston, October 12, 
1853, came to this State and settled in Hale Town- 
ship, arriving in Monmouth on the evening of Oct. 
12,1853. Purchasing 80 acres of land, he moved 
his family on the land and continued to cultivate it 
until 1865, when he sold the property and made an- 
other purchase, this time locating in Tompkins 
Township, on 120 acres on sections 23 and 24. This 
he continued to cultivate until he made his residence 
upon the 160 acres on section 23, which he now 
occupies as a homestead. The occupation of his 
life has been that of an agriculturist, and by ener- 
getically following the same he has met with that 
success which a life of labor and energy are so sure 
to bring. 

Mr. Huston was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Woods, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1856, 
and their union has been blessed by the birth of 



ia: 



V 



A 



384 



+ 



'- ..■^. ■ -ir, ■' - 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^^ 



three children (still living), whose names are Carrie 
S., James W. and Robert W. Mr. Huston in his 
political views coincides with the principles advocated 
by the Democratic party. In religion, he is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 




Barnes P. Firoved. Every village and city 
has its live, go-ahead and enterprising men, 
^^' those who do more than all others towards 
building up and firmly securing the pros- 
perity of the place. Distinguished among 
those is Mr. Firoved, of Kirkwood, who, be- 
sides being interested in various other enterprises, 
is also engaged as a farmer and stock-dealer. He 
was born in Cumberland Co., Pa. His parents, 
Simon and Isabella (Sprout) Firoved, were also 
natives of the Keystone State, and were living there 
at the time of James' birth, which occurred Nov. 13, 
1843. ^" 1853, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, 
and from there to Bloomington, 111., and in 1856 lo- 
cated in Monmouth. They soon secured 160 acres 
of land in Hale Township, where they removed 
and remained for seven years, when the elder Firoved 
retired from active labors and removed into the city 
of Monmouth. He has since lived there and is a 
highly respected and venerable old gentleman of 75 
years of age. His ancestors came from Prussia and 
settled at Carlisle, Pa., over 120 years ago. His 
father was a soldier in the War of 181 2, with an 
elder brother, who was wounded at Lundy's Lane. 

James P. accompanied his parents to Illinois and 
remained with them until he was 20 years of age, re- 
ceiving a liberal education. His fust business enter- 
prise, after leaving home, was to engage in the 
mercantile business at Monmouth. He subse([uently 
moved to Rock Island and later came to Kirkwood, 
where he entered into the boot and shoe, hat and 
cap, and general furnishing goods biisinesf, carrying 
also a line of books and stationery. For ten years 
he remained one of the leading merchants of this 
part of the county. He then sold out and engaged 
in the stock business, feeding and shipping stock ex- 
tensively. He also purchased 330 acres of land, 
lying near the village of Kirkwood, and engaged in 



farming. This highly improved farm is very valu- 
al le, lying as it does so near Kirkwood, and also 
contiguous to the city of Monmouth. Besides this 
property, he also owns a half interest in the Tre- 
mont House at Kirkwood, in company with W. K. 
Gamble; owns an interest in the Kirkwood Mineral 
Spring Company, of which he is Vice-President; and 
has been a stock-holder and one of the directors in 
the First National Bank, at Kirkwood, ever since its 
ovj^anization. He has also favored every enterprise 
that had for its object the welfare of the community 
and the building up of his town. It is certainly a 
blessing to any community to have in its midst such 
men who have also the inclination as well as the 
ability to work for the interests and welfare of the 
en. ire people. He has served the village in differ- 
ent official positions, always giving eminent satisfac- 
tion. Politically, he is a Democrat, and, socially, is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
Jan. 25, 1869, the marriage of Mr. Firoved and 
Miss Mattie J. Woods occurred. Miss Woods was 
the daughter of David and Nancy (Ayres) Woods, 
natives of Indiana, born of parents who were natives 
of Kentucky. They were among the first settlers of 
Henderson County, and prominent and representa- 
tive people of that part of the State. Mrs. Firoved 
was born Nov. 13, 1849, and has become the mother 
of two children — M. Mabel, born Mov. 11, 1869; 
and James Ralph, Nov. 22, 1881. 



»<OC>« 




,ugh R. Thomson, one of the successful 
farmers of Tompkins Township, this county, 
residing on section 13, and a gentleman 
jwssessing more than ordinary, push, tact and 
energy in his vocation, was born in Ohio, Nov. 
I 22, 1838. His parents were John and Rachel 
(Francis) Thomson, natives of Ohio, who came to 
this Slate in 1867, and settled in Warren County, 
where his father purchased 1 60 acres of good farm 
land, on which he is at present residing, leading the 
contented life of an agriculturist. 

The gentleman whose name appears at the begin- 
ning of this sketch, remained with his parents until 
1862, receiving at their hands a good common-school 
education. During that year he enlisted in Co. H 



•t4— ^ 



"'■■ . -r- . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



■^-4^ 



387 



4 



126th Ohio Vol. Inf. With his Company he went 
through the entire " Campaign of the Wilderness," 
participated in the battles of Shenandoah Valley, 
under Gen. Sheridan, and in the siege of Petersburg. 
He was once struck by a fragment of a shell and 
although numerous shots penetrated his clothing, he 
came out of the war without any serious wounds, af- 
ter having served three years, lacking two months. 
After receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Thom- 
son returned home, and in 1866 came to this State 
and taught school at Biggsville, Henderson County, 
after which he was employed in the Circuit Clerk's 
office at Oquawka. Prior to teaching school, he had 
purchased an undivided half interest of 160 acres of 
land, located on section 13, Tompkins Township, 
this county, and in 1881 he purchased the remaining 
half of the same quarter, which constitutes the 
farm upon which he to-day resides, and where he 
has been successfully engaged as an agriculturist 
since locating thereon. 

Mr. Thomson and Miss Sarah J. McNary, a 
native of Ohio, were united in marriage in 1867. 
She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Maxwell) 
McNary, and bore her husband one child, Jessie L. 
The wife and mother died Feb. 2, 1882. 

Mr. Thomson votes with the Republican party. 
• His religious views coincide with the tenets of 
the United Presbyterian Church, to which denomi- 
nation, at Kirkwood, he belongs and is one of its 
Elders. He has held the office of Road Commis- 
sioner three years and is rightly regarded as one of 
the energetic and respected citizens of Tompkins 
Township. 



«^>"- 



homas H. Bice, a retired farmer and resi- 
dent of Monmouth, was born in Greenup 
County, Ky., Oct. 14, 1810. He was 3e- 
scended from a Welsh family, and the first an- 
cestor upon this continent was named Thomas. 
He was a wealthy gentleman, and returned 
to England in a few years for the purpose of collect- 
ing his property, but was never again heard of. 
Thomas H., the subject of this sketch, was the son of 
James and Ann (Hopkins) Rice, who reared five 
sons and one daughter. James Rice was born in 




Rockingham County, Va., and removed to Greenup 
County in 1807. He was drowned while boating on 
the Ohio River, in 18 14. His wife was of Scotch 
ancestry and was born in the above county. Two of 
Mr. Rice's uncles, Thomas and John Hopkins, served 
in the War of 1812, while Robert Snead, his wife's 
father, defended the colonies in the Revolutionary 
War. Thomas H. was the fifth child in order of 
birth of the family of six children born to his parents, 
and was brought up to farming and came to Warren 
County in 1835. The land upon which he located 
was afterward set off to Henderson County, and he 
resided there up to his coming to Monmouth, in 
1866. 

Mr. R. was married in Henderson County, April 
12, 1849, to Mrs. Maiy I. Ellett, a native of Hanover 
County, Va., where she was born, April 15, 1814. 
Her maiden name was Snead, and she died at her 
home in Monmouth, Feb. 3, 1883, of apoplexy. The 
morning following her death, a local paper published 
the following: 

"Mary I. Rice was born April 14, 18 14, near Rich- 
mond, Va. She married Mr. Thomas Ellett in 1834, 
and moved to this county in 1836, boarding, on their 
arrival, at the old house of Aunt Betty McNeil, on 
East Broadway, where now stands the residence of 
John Carr, Esq. Afterward they took up their resi- 
dence in the building now known as Cowan's black- 
smith shop, on West Broadway. The family lived in 
Monmouth only a short time, taking up their resi- 
dence in Henderson County. Mr. Ellett dying, his 
widow married Mr. Thomas Rice on April 12, 1849. 
About 19 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Rice moved to 
Monmouth, where they have since resided. Of the 
first union, the deceased mother leaves four children 
— one son, Virginius C, living in Denver, Col.; 
Thomas F. Ellett, of Red Oak, Iowa ; Edwin H. El- 
lett, of Chicago; and Mrs. Sophia Mills, of Rosetta, 
111. Those named, excepting the first, were present 
to attend the funeral. Of the second union, the hus- 
band and two children remain, Mr. William A. Rice, 
banker at Rockport, Mo., and Miss Annie, at home. 
The deceased was a communicant in the Baptist 
Church since 1832." The funeral services were con- 
ducted from the first Baptist Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rice had born to them five children 
— James Albert, born Jan. 7, 1850, died June i, 
1856 ; William A., born Dec. 13, 185 1, died at Rock- 
port, Mo., where he was a bank cashier, Dec. 5, 



_r_/.. 




388 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



1883; Annie and Minnie were born July 5, 1856, 
and the latter died June 5, 1864; Jessie Jane was 
born July 5, 1858, and died May 7, 1859. Mr. R. 
was for several years engaged in the fruit and nur- 
sery business. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and since the demise of the old Whig party, 
has been a Republican. He has always been noted 
for his generosity, his integrity and an unerring de- 
votion to the best interests of society, and as one of 
the truly representative men of Warren County, the 
publishers take pleasure in presenting his portrait in 
this Album, accompanying this sketch. 






-»»♦ 




jrs. Flora A. Aylsworth, widow of Dr. 
Homer E. Aylsworth, residing at Rose- 
lil'^a?^ ville, is occupied in conducting the busi- 
n ra*^^ ness left by her husband. The latter was 
jI*" born Sept. 8, 1838, in Burlington Green, Otsego 
Co., N. Y. His parents were Perry and Luna 
N. (Belong) Aylsworth, natives of Rhode Island. 
His father was a farmer by occupation and his fam- 
ily consisted of three children, — Homer E., Henry 
M. and Nelson O. 

The Aylsworths are of English and Welsh ances- 
try, and came to America in the 17 th century, set- 
tling in Rhode Island, and from that State emigrated 
to New York.. 

Homer E., husband of the subject of this notice, 
lived with his parents until he attained the age of 
16 years. Previous to his leaving home he was sent 
to Cherry Valley, N. Y., where he acquired a thor- 
ough and complete knowledge of music. He then 
went to Michigan and was engaged in teaching vocal 
and instrumental music in that State for some time. 
In 1857 he came to this State and occupied his time 
by teaching school, after which he returned East 
and attended the Union College, at Schenectady, 
and in 1863, after following the entire curriculum of 
that institution, he graduated. He then returned to 
Roseville, this county, and, under the instruction of 
Dr. Bradley, commenced the study of medicine. He 
was under Dr. Bradley's instruction for three years, 
during which time he attended medical lectures at 
Michigan University, Ann Arbor, two years, and re- 



ceived his diploma to practive medicine from that 
institution in 1S67. He at once entered upon the 
practice of his profession at Roseville, which he fol- 
lowed until shortly before his death, which occurred 
Jan. 30, 1885. He also established a drug store 
(the first one in the village), in 1868, which he con- 
tinued to conduct until his death. 

Dr. Aylsworth was united in marriage %vith Mrs. 
Flora A. Eldridge, a native of Stephentown, Rensse- 
laer Co., N. Y., June 26, 1867. She is the daughter 
of Augustus and Maria (Murray) Jones, who were 
old settlers of New York, and was born Jan. 24, 
1845, and bore her husband three children — Murray 
D., Mabel W. and Ivan S. Since the death of her 
husband, Mrs. Aylsworth has continued to success- 
fully conduct the drug business which her husband 
had established. The Doctor in his political belief 
was a Prohibitionist, and religiously was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was an en- 
terprising man, of more than ordinary business abil- 
ity, and a respected citizen of this county. In addi- 
tion to his possessions in this county, he was inter- 
ested in land in Dakota, having purchased 640 acres | 
in Clark County (now a part of Day County), located <| 
on what is called Aylsworth Lake. The Doctor left | 
a fine home at Roseville, costing about $4,000, in 
which his wife and children reside. Prior to his - 
death he was engaged in compiling a biographical 
history of the Aylsworth family, the completion of 
which, however, was prevented by his demise. 



-o-<9- 



-g^^ 




'homas M. Hess, M. D., a practicing physi- 
cian residing in Berwick village, and a 
graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
was born in New Albany, Ind., Sept. 22, 181 9. 
Dr. Hess read medicine in Westfield, Clark 
Co., 111., with Drs. Moore and Briscoe, and 
then with Dr. Freeman. He entered Stirling Col- 
lege at Columbus, Ohio, and then settled in Homer, 
Champaign County, and practiced there for 26 
years. 

The first marriage of Dr. Hess took place Jan. 24, 
1839, to Miss Nancy Button, who was born in Preble 
Co., Ohio, Nov. 4, 1818. The Doctor was again 



i* 



♦tJI) 



WARREN COUNTY. 



389 



married, June 16, iS^i.to Mrs. Martha M. Joyce, 
who was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Oct. 28, 1843. 
Mrs. Hess is the daughter of Benj. F. Allen, a native 
of Vermont, who was born in 1813, and died in 1865, 
in Maquon, this State. He was a stock-raiser by oc- 
cupation, and married Miss AlmiraSweetzer, in 1831. 
She died in 1845, in Delaware Co., Ohio, after hav- 
ing borne her husband six children, who were named 
Sarah E., Ethan, Benton, Mary D., Silas W. and 
Martha. 

Dr. Hess located in Berwick village in 1881, and 
has continued to follow his profession there until the 
present time. He is the father of nine children 
— Apollos, born Feb. 17, 18^0; William H., Jan. 11, 
1842; Smith H., Feb. 10, 1844; Theodore, Dec. 23, 
185 1, a twin brother to Ferdinand, who died in in- 
fancy; Allie Belle, Dec. 19, 1853; Theophilus M., 
Nov. 22, 1857. The above children were by the first 
marriage of Dr. Hess, to Miss Nancy Button. Of 
his second union, namely, with Mrs. Joyce, the fol- 
lowing children were born: Theo Leota, March 23, 
1883; TheolaM., Jan. 14, 1885. Three of the above 
named are physicians, namely, William H., Apollos 
and Smith H. 

The Doctor is a member of the Christian Church, 
and has preached in the same for nearly 40 years. 
His wife is also a member of the same denomination. 
The Doctor joined the Order of Masonry in 1854, 
and was a charter member of Homer Lodge, No. 199. 
In politics he is a Douglas Democrat and has always 
voted that ticket. In 1879 he occupied the pulpit for 
some four or five meetings in the Christian Church on 
Western Avenue, Chicago. 



#^ 




Sfndrew Jackson Ritehey is one of the solid 

IP farmers of the township of Spring Grove, 

f^ where he is the owner of a fine farm, 
containing 450 acres of excellent land, 
all of which is in the best possible condition 
for the purpose to which the owner has de- 
voted it since it became his property. See page 368. 
Mr. Ritehey is a settler in Warren County of 1854. 
He is a native of the State of Indiana, and was born 
in Decatur County, May 17, 1833. He is the son of 



William and Martha (Myers) Ritehey, who were na- 
tives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. They 
were pioneers in the county, in which their son was 
born, and the father was the owner of a farm there 
which he had cleared from a heavy growth of tim- 
ber, it being at the time of its purchase in its native 
state. The senior Ritehey and his family were the 
occupants of the farm in Indiana until 1858. In that 
year they came to Warren County and located in the 
township of Spring Grove. A few years later the fa- 
ther and mother removed to Mercer County and there 
were resident for the period of one year. They went 
thence to Livingston County, and from there to Butler 
Co., Missouri. There the father died, in 1875, the 
widow returning to Fairbury, Livingston Co., 111., 
where she died, Feb. 22, 1884. The family in- 
cluded 12 children. Mr. Ritehey was the second 
son. He was reared under the care of his parents 
and obtained such education as was possible in the 
public schools. 

In 1854 he severed the ties between himself and 
his boyhood's home and associations and came to 
Illinois to seek an opportunity to make his own way 
in the world unaided. He located in Warren County 
and engaged in farming in the capacity of an assist- 
ant in the employ of his uncle, George Myers. He 
remained with him 18 months, or thereabouts. In 
1855 he bought 75 acres of unimproved land on sec- 
tion 2, of Spring Grove Township, for which he paid 
at the rate of $6 per acre. In the succeeding winter 
he built a frame house, for which he procured the 
lumber at Oquawka. In March, 1856, he took pos- 
session of his farm and new house and prepared to 
enter at once upon the work of improving the place 
according to his own plans and_ ideas. He was 
prosperous in all his undertakings and is now the 
owner of the fine acreage that has been mentioned. 
Mr. Ritehey is occupied in the duties of mixed hus- 
bandry and devotes much attention to the rearing of 
stock for market. He exhibits some fine specimens 
of Durham cattle and full-blooded Poland-China 
swine. In political persuasion he is a Democrat. 

The marriage of Mr. Ritehey and Miss Mary 
Lowe took place Sept. 13, 1855. She was the 
daughter of John and Margaret Lowe. Her father 
was an Englishman by birth, her mother a native of 
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ritehey was born in Washing- 
ton Co., Pa., March 2, 1839. They are the parents 
of seven children. Their oldest child, John William, 



'JKl 




-eX-^ 



— ^ 



390 



*i 



WARREN COUNTY. 



died at the age of four and one-half years. He was 
born Sept. 12, 1856, and died May 10, 1861. Charles 
was born June i, 1858, and died May 23, 1861. 
Sarah F., born Sept. 15, 1869, died May 9, 1861. 
The parents were thus bereft of three children in the 
space of 14 days, their deaths occurring from a com- 
bination of measles and typhoid fever. Ida is the 
wife of William W. Rowe. They reside on a portion 
of the old homestead in the township in which her 
parents reside. Emma — married Sept. 23, 1885, 
They are also farming on section 12, in this town- 
ship. Harry and Jessie are the names of the young- 
er of the surviving children. They reside at home 
with their parents. The father and the mother are 
members of the United Brethren Church, in Alexis. 



^'^sahel D. B. Sisson, one of the largest land- 
owners (considering his acreage in Iowa) 
in Swan Township, where he resides on 

section 29, was born in Albany Co., N. Y., Sept. 

2, 1813. He is a son of Joseph Sisson, born 

in Rhode Island, Oct. 20, 1789. The father 
came to this State in 1837, and here resided, engaged 
in farming, until the date of his death, June 12, 
185 1. He was married to Floretta Frisbee, in Jan- 
uary, 1812. She died in 1882, in Iowa, in her 92d 
year. Of their union ten children were born — Asa- 
hel D. B., Gyrus F., Emeline, Rufus K., Ann, Augus- 
tine W., Marcus F., Andrew J., Mary E. and Martin. 
The latter died in Henderson County, at the age of 
five years. 

Asahel D. B. Sisson came to Swan Township in 
1836, being attracted hither by an acquaintance. 
He had been raised on a farm, and before leaving 
his native State had been teaching a winter school 
for some time. After his arrival here he became the 
pedagogue of the first school established in the town- 
ship, giving his own labor also in the erection of the 
building in which he was to instruct the youthful 
mind. The old log school-house stood on section 
17. The next winter he went to Greenbush Town- 
ship and taught a school for 12 months. He con- 
tinued school teaching, at different limes for about 
II years. In 1838, he and his brother Cyrus bought 
a half-section of unimproved land (one-quarter of 
which was in timber) on section 29, but no building 




was erected upon it until 1841, in which year he was 
married. In the meantime he resided with his 
father, who had removed here with his entire family 
in 1837. 

Mr. Sisson formed a matrimonial alliance with 
Miss Henrietta bcott, Aug. 22, 1841. She was born 
in 1819, in the State of Kentucky, her father being 
Peter Scott. He was born in 1795, in North Caro- 
lina, and married Miss Nancy Russell in 1814; 
came to this State in 1824, and first located in Taze- 
well County. His wife was born Dec. 10, 1793, in 
Virginia, and died in California, in 1875. He died 
in Oregon, in 1849. They had six children — James, 
Artemesia, Henrietta, Lemuel, Norman and Lawson, 
all of whom are living. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sisson of whom we write, had but 
one child — Lovina C. Sisson, who was born April 
10, 1843, and died July 7, 1879. She became the 
wife of Mr. A. A. Cornell, Oct 16, 1864, and of their 
union there was no issue. Mr. A. A. Cornell was 
born March 4, 1836, came to this State in September, •, 
1857, and is yet living here. 

Mr. Sisson devotes his time exclusively to agri-i 
cultural pursuits. He has 280 acres of good land in- 
Swan Township, under an advanced state of cultiva- 
tion, and is also the owner of 540 acres in Iowa. 
He was Justice of the Peace four years, and the first- 
Treasurer of Swan Township. 

Mr. Sisson voted with the Republican party until 
1876, when he joined the Greenback party, and 
since that time has continued to vote with and work 
for the principles it advocates. 




'ffiWi H. Sexton, County Clerk of Warren Co., 
'^^J|l III-, is a native of Pennsylvania, where it 

Jl^rT ^PP^^"^^ ^^ ""^^ ^°''" '" '^37- ^^ '"^ P'^' 
J^^> rentage the biographer is unable to write, as 

r* like the exact date of his birth, the informa- 
tion upon that score is not at hand. Shakes- 
peare says something about some men being " born 
great; some achieving greatness, and some having 
greatness thrust upon them." It would be hardly 
correct to paraphrase by saying that " some are born 
to office ; some achieve office, and others have office 
thrust upon them;" for an encyclopedia of American 



L-^JT 



1^ 




Residence orMRs.ANNAC.SYKES,5EC.9. Monmouth Township. 



t 



- . r- V — , , 

WARREN COUNTY. 



393 * 



office-holding would plainly, if honestly compiled, 
teach that the second proposition only bore upon 
truth. But to say that some men are born to " soft 
things;" some achieve "soft things" and others 
have " soft things " thrust upon them, would seem to 
be very nearly borne out by the recotd. 

Mr. Sexton entered the army of the United States 
in the late war as a Quartermaster Sergeant ; from 
this not very hazardous position, he rose in due time to 
Quartermaster of the regiment; from this position he 
left the army at the close of the war and came into 
Warren County to take charge of the office of City 
Clerk of Monmouth. From City Clerk he rose to 
Deputy Circuit Clerk, and from that again to Deputy 
County Clerk and finally to County Clerk. This 
office he has held on to with great skill ; and as Mr. 
Sexton has not said anything about abandoning the 
office, there appears to be very healthy indications 
that the good people of Warren County need not 
have their best office become unoccupied for want of 
a competent office-holder, for at least some consider- 
able time. We regret that we are unable to say 
more of Mr. S., but the truth is he has been so busy 
serving the people by holding their offices, and in- 
deed holding them with a skill that approaches the 
professional — that he has had no time for compiling 
data for the historian. 



-0-5- 



-5-^- 




i^apt. Alfred H. Rockwell, a resident on 
section 35 in the township of Sumner, is 
the son of one of the earliest pioneers of 
the county, having. come hither in 1832 with 
his parents. Lovett P. Rockwell, his father, 
was born in Connecticut, Jan. 31, 1798. 
Joshua Rockwell, who was the grandfather of Mr. 
Rockwell of this narrative, was a native of the same 
State and was born Aug. 19, 1774. The former 
married Nabbie Partridge, who was born Feb. 27, 
1775. They left the land of " wooden nutmegs " for 
Ohio soon after the War of 1812, and located in 
Ashtabula County. They were members of the 
pioneer element of the Buckeye State and there the 
mother died, Aug. 10, 1843. The son, Lovett, had 
come to Warren County in 1832, and after the death 



of his wife he joined his children in Illinois. His 
life terminated in Sumner Township, Aug. 25, 1866. 
The father of Mr. Rockwell was a very young man 
when his parents went to Ohio. He was married in 
Ashtabula County, Dec. 19, 18 19, to Mary E. John- 
son, a native of the State of New Yoik. She was 
born in Medina in that State, Nov. 23, 1803. Until 
T831 the senior Rockwell was variously occupied in 
Ohio. In that year he made a journey to Warren 
County on a prospecting tour. He was satisfied 
with the apparent prospects and bought the north- 
east quarter of section 25 in township 12. The 
troubles that culminated in the Black Hawk War 
were felt in this county, and the terrified settlers had 
built a fort and block-house for mutual protection in 
what was afterward Sumner Township. Soon after 
securing his claim, he returned to Ohio, and in the 
spring of 1832 sought again the site he had selected 
for a new home, accompanied by his family. His 
household included his wife and three children, and 
they came by the river route to Illinois. They came 
from the Mississippi River by the Illinois River to 
Fulton County, and from there to their destination, 
arriving in June. The dangers from the Indians 
made it necessary for them to move into the block- 
house. The property Mr. Rockwell had bought was 
under some improvements, and a saw-mill with an 
outfit of burr-stones for grinding corn had been 
erected on the place. The new proprietor improved 
the land of which he had become the possessor and 
operated the mills on it for some years. In 1837 he 
built a grist-mill, and not long after still further in- 
creased his business relations by opening a mercan- 
tile establishment for the sale of general merchandise, 
such as was required in a pioneer community. His 
enterprise resulted in the place being made a postal 
station and he was appointed to manage its connec- 
tions in behalf of the Government. He conducted 
the affairs of his several occupations until failing 
health admonished him that a change was impera- 
tive. The gold fever afforded a resort and he crossed 
the plains to the El Dorado of the West, whither he 
went in 1850. In the year following he bought a 
ranch in what was known as the Napa Valley. He 
remained in California a few years, returning in 1853. 
On his way homeward he was taken sick, and never 
fully recovered from that illness. He was well 
enough to resume his business, which he did, and 
continued to manage his interests two years. In 



-^H^--^~ 



i^ 



4 



!^Jh^ 



394 



WARREN COUNTY. 



1857 he went back to California, but remained there 
only until the next year. In 185S he came back, 
but in no better health than when he went away, 
and he never again gave his attention to business. 
His death occurred May 17, i860. His wife was 
his survivor until Sept. 15, 18S4. She was a mem- 
ber of the family of her son Alfred as long as slie 
lived after the death of her husband. Six of their 
eight children lived to mature life, — Albert J., Clar- 
issa, Alfred H., Maria L., Sarah A. and Edward W. 
Mary E. and Nancy died young. Only three are 
now living. Alfred H. is a resident on a part of the 
homestead property. Maria L. is the survivor of 
her husband — W. W. Stilhvagon, of California. Sarah 
A. is the widow of Theodore Hofies. She lives in 
Chicago. Edward VV., the"youngest son, was born 
in Sumner Township, Aug. 4, 1840. He enlisted in 
1862 in Co. B, 83d 111. Vol. Inf, and received a 
fatal wound at the battle of Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 
1863, from which he died on the 27th of the same 
month. 

Mr. Rockwell was in the first year of his life when 
his father removed to Warren County with his family. 
He was born in 1831 in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Until 
he was large enough to be useful on the farm, he 
was a pupil in the common schools. After arriving 
at a suitable age, he acted as assistant in the mill 
and on the farm until he reached the period of his 
legal freedom — baring the time he was in California. 
At the age of 21 his father made him a partner in 
his business relations and they operated jointly un- 
til 1857. He then leased the entire property and 
was its sole manager until 1862. The Civil War 
was then the engrossing topic, and Mr. Rockwell 
was too good a patriot to permit the defense of his 
interests by others altogether, and In August of the 
second year of the war he enlisted in the 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf He enrolled in Company I, and was in 
active service from that time until soldiers were no 
longer a necessity in the United States. He served 
with the Army of the Tennessee and was discharged 
with his regiment in June, 1865. On his return he 
bought the homestead with his older brother (since 
deceased). The estate contained 720 acres, and 
when they made their division Mr. Rockwell took 
21 1 acres on sections 35 and 36, including the grist- 
mill. He is still managing the mill and farm. 

The marriage of Mr. Rockwell took place Nov. 
15, 1854, his wife being Martha P. Crawford, the 



daughter of James C. and Esther (Sloan) Crawford, 
who emigrated from Ohio to Mercer Co., 111., in 
1833 — theirs being the seventh family to settle in 
that county. Two years after they moved into War- 
ren County. The father of Mrs. Rockwell was born 
in Washington Co., N. Y., and the mother in Blount 
Co., Tenn., the marriage of the parents occurring 
Jan. 27, i83r. The mother died May 9, 1882, but 
the father is still living at this writing (Dec. 22, 1885) 
in Henry Co., Mo. Mrs. Rockwell was born in 
Franklin Co., Ohio, March 20, 1832, being only 
about one year of age when her parents removed to 
Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell were born eight 
children, of whom six are yet living. They are 
named William Elmer, Frank D., Clara A., Alma 
E., Mary E. and J. Lovett. Wm. E. married Miss 
Lou Louis and resides in Omaha. Their other chil- 
dren reside at home. 

His wife is a worthy member of the United Pres- 
byterian Church. Mr. Rockwell, in politics, votes 
as he fought, for the precepts of the Republican 
party. 

An excellent view of the old mill and residence of 
Capt. Rockwell is presented in the accompanying 
pages. 



S. Douty, a well-to-do and respected farm- 
er of Tompkins Township, where he owns 
231 acres of land, located on section 30. 
Here he resides in the prosecution of his voca- 
tion. He was born Feb. 16, 1832, in Maine. 
His parents, Oakesman and Mercy (Coulton) 
Douty, were natives of Massachusetts. 

Mr. Douty of this notice remained under the par- 
ental roof until he was 16 years of age. He had the 
misfortune to lose his father, he having died in 1844, 
and his mother in 1853. He received a good com- 
mon-school education in the district schools of his 
native county, and after leaving home he engaged in 
the lumber business, which he followed for several 
years. In 1857 he came to this State, and passed 
the winter in Galesburg, Knox County. He then 
rented a farm in Henderson County, and for six 
years was engaged in farming in that manner, meet- 
ing with some success. In 1865 he purchased a 




-hS- 



¥ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



'- * - !-* y>-^ 



395 A 



farm near Roseville, consisting of 80 acres, on which 
he moved and labored for one year, when he sold it. 
At that time he purchased 80 acres on section 30, 
Tompkins Township, and has there resided ever 
since. Soon after purchasing this land, with his 
family he located thereon, and, by hard labor and 
economy on the part of both heads of the family, he 
has been enabled to add 151 acres to his original 
purchase, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 231 
acres, where he lives and is engaged in its cultiva- 
tion and improvement. In addition to the cultiva- 
tion of his land, he is engaged to no inconsiderable 
extent in stock raising, and by combining both 
branches of his avocation in life, he is meeting with 
success. 

The marriage of Mr. Douty to Miss Sarah Stewart, 
a native of Clinton Co., Pa., took place Sept. 19, 
i86i. She was the daughter of Michael and Eliza- 
beth (Hunt) Stewart, who came to this State in 1859 
and located in Henderson County, where they both 
died, her father in i86g, and her mother in 1865. 
Mr. and Mrs. Douty are the parents of two children, 
— Ida B. and Wilbur. They also have an adopted 
daughter, Eva (Shriner) Douty. 

In politics. Mr. Douty is a Republican. He is 
also School Director of his district and one of the 
respected as well as representative citizens of the 
township. 




lames E. Amos, farmer, residing on section 
ii,Greenbush Township, was born in Ver- 
million Co., Ind., in 1833. He remained 
with his parents until he attained the age of 21 
years, receiving such advantages as were ob- 
tainable at the common schools, and assisting 
in the labors in the cabinet shop and finishing the 
carpenter's trade in Perrysville, Ind. His father, 
Nathaniel Amos, now deceased, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, in 1802, and married Miss Jane Evans, in 
1824. She was born Feb. 29, 1808, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and bore her husband eight children, viz.: 
Benjamin, Joanna, Kittie J. (deceased), James, Wil- 
liam and George. John W. and an infant unnamed 
are deceased. 

James E. Amos, of whom we write, formed a mat- 



rimonial alliance with Miss Nancy M. Baugliman, 
April 22, 1856. The Baughman family were early 
settlers in Fulton County, this State, her father be- 
ing among the number. She was born March 21, 
1842, and died May 5, 1877. ^'^^ "'^.s a member of 
the Methodist Church. Of their union five children 
were born — Amanda J., Nov. 3, 1857; Mary E.,Feb. 
17, i860; William F., Sept. 15, 1864; Minnie A., 
Aug. 19, 1869; Iva v., Feb. i6, 1877, all of whom 
are living. 

March 30, 1882, Mr. Amos was again married, to 
Mrs. Josephine Lloyd. Her first husband's name 
was John J. Butler, who was a native of Ohio, 
born in 1836, and died in 1863; they were married 
Dec. 29, i860. The second husband of Mrs. Amos, 
James R. Lloyd, was born in Kentucky, in 1831, and 
died Nov. 21, 1879. They were married, Jan. 25, 
1866, in this county. Mrs. Amos had two children 
by her first husband, namely : Mary E,, born Oct. 
24, i86r, and Isaac L., born Jan. i6, 1863. The 
latter died in May, same year. By her second mar- 
riage, five children were born — Eliza L., Nov. 28, 
1866; died Nov. 15, 1876; Nellie, born May 31, 
1869; Rosa, April 4, 187 r, and an unnamed infant ^ 
born Feb. 4, 1875; died May 7, same year, and 
Joseph R., born Jan. 28, 1878. Mr. Lloyd, second 
husband of Mrs. Amos, was one of the first settlers . 
in Greenbush Township. His mother was born in 
1801, in Albemarle Co., Va.,and died Nov. 10, 1884. 
She once attended a reception, given in honor of 
Gen. LaFayette. William Lloyd, the father of Mr. 
James R. Lloyd, was born Dec. 5, 1802; was married 
to Eliza W. Traulliar in 1825 ; was the father of six 
children — Lucinda F., born Sept. 15, 1828; James 
R., Feb. 16, 1831; Charles W., June 17, 1833; 
Sarah E., Dec. 9, 1836, Martillus, July 14, 1839; 
Thomas J., Feb. 16, 1841 ; James R. was the only 
one that was married. Sarah E. is the only one of 
the children living. 

Mr. Amos, of this sketch, and Mrs. Lloyd were 
married March 30, 1882. They have 200 acres of 
good land in this county, which is particularly suited 
for the raising of stock. On their place they have a 
good dwelling 26 x 36 feet and two stories in height; 
also a barn 30 x 42 feet, with a basement. Her 
former husband, Mr. Butler, belonged to the Chris- 
tian Church, as likewise docs her third husband, Mr. 
Amos. The latter is an ordained minister and has 
occupied the pulpit in the Christian Church for the 



'J'yl 



■0- 



396 



WARREN COUNTY. 



past 24 years. He is a temperance man and votes 
with the Prohibition party. He is also President of 
the Western Illinois Christian Conference and Secre- 
tary of the Illinois State Conference. In his early 
life he learned the carpenter's trade, and assisted to 
build the first house that was erected in the city of 
Bushnell. He also erected 56 buildings in Fulton 
County. The father of Mrs. Amos, Joseph L. Park, 
was born in November, 1810; was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church; married Miss Mary McDonald 
in 1833, and died in 1852. She was born in Ken- 
tucky, in 1 81 6, and is still living, residing in Green- 
bush village. Of their union seven children were 
born: William B., who died in the army, was born 
in 1S35; Columbus, in 1837; Josephine, Sept. 17, 
1839; John, Jan. 9, 1842; Wallace, June 19, 1844; 
Marion, Sept. 17, 1849, and Sarah E., May 8, 1852. 




-13- 



-^^- 



-£>• 



■ ames F. Thomson, an agricuturist of this 
county, which vocation he has followed the 
■' major portion of his life, is a resident of 
section 10, Tompkins Township. He was born 
in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 1844, of pa- 
rents who were natives of Oliio, and named re- 
spectively John and Rachel (Frances) Thomson. 
They came to this State in 1867, and settled upon 
the same section where James F., of this sketch, at 
present resides, and where the father purchased 160 
acres of land on which he is at present residing. 

The gentleman we name at the commencement of 
this biography, was an inmate of his parent's family 
until one year after attaining his majority. His years, 
prior to that time, were passed in acquiring a rudi- 
mentary education at the common schools, which he 
supplemented by a course of study at a Normal 
school. On attaining the age of 22 years, Mr. 
Thomson engaged in teaching, and was thus occu- 
pied for tliree years, one year in Ohio and two years 
in Henderson County, this State. In 1870, in com- 
pany with his brother, he purchased the undivided 
half interest to 160 acres of land on section 13, 
Tompkins Township. They jointly cultivated the 
same until i88r, when Mr. Thomson, of this notice, 
sold his interest to his brother and purchased llie 80 



aeres on which he at present resides. He located on 
his land and began the active labor of an agricul- 
turist, which he has continued, with success, until 
the present time. By energetic labor and economy 
he succeeded in accumulating sufficient to make an 
additional purchase of 80 acres, and at present is the 
proprietor of 160 acres of good farming land, all in a 
body and under an advanced state of cultivation. 

Sept. 3, 1873, Mr. Thomson was married to the 
lady of his choice. Miss Mary E. Norcross. She is 
a native of this State, and a daughter of Hamlin 
and Clarinda (Hoge) Norcross. Their union has 
been blessed by the birth of three children, whom 
they named Carl H., Frank N. and Maggie F. The 
political views of Mr. Thomson coincide with the 
principles advocated by the Republican party, with 
which he always casts his vote. He and his wife are 
members of the United Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Thomson was a soldier for the Union in the 
late War, having enlisted in the 157th Ohio Vol. Inf., 
and served five months, having engaged in no con- 
flict, but being actively occupied in guarding prison- 
ers during that time. He received an honorable 
discharge in September, 1864. He is one of the rep- 
resentative citizens of Tompkins Township and a 
successful and progressive follower of his vocation. 



"♦^<4##'^- 



Ij'garzillai Parker, deceased, was a pioneer 
of Warren County,who located in the town- 
ship of Spring Grove rather what is now 
known as such, in 1835. He was born at 
Snow Hill, Worcester Co., Md., April 18, 
1808. His home was there until he was 
nine years of age, when his parents removed to Ken- 
tucky, in which State he remained until his removal 
to Warren County, in the year stated. His father 
died in Kentucky soon after the family removed to 
that State. Mr. Parker was accompanied to Warren 
County by his mother and sister. The journey from 
Ohio was made overland, they bringing with them 
their household furniture and also what stock they 
owned. Mr. Parker built a log house and rived the 
shingles to cover the roof. After making provisions 
for shelter he commenced improving the land which 




t 



■Y. . 
WARREN COUNTY. 



•^rX^ 



.^99 



4 



he had pre-empted. He jjlaced in order for success- 
ful farming about loo acres of the tract that he at 
first pre-emi)ted and from time to time continued his 
purchases of real estate until lie was at the time of 
his death the possessor of upwards ot 1,000 acres. 
He had at various times visited Nebraska and Iowa 
and made large purchases of land in botii .States. 

iVIr. Parker was a man of zeal, energy and indus- 
try and was prominent in his method of pushing 
such projects as he was interested in to a successful 
termination. 

Politically, he was a Republican in later days. In 
the early times, when he was first interested in poli- 
itics, he was a Whig. He joined the ranks of the 
"Grand Old Party " when it was organized. 

He was twice married. Ellen D. Pease became 
his wife in 1843. She was born near Rockland, 
Maine, and her parents were pioneers in Mercer Co , 
111. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker there were five chil- 
dren born. Henr)- C is a citizen of Monmoutii 
Township. Adda P. is married to Phelps Paine, a 
resident of Lincoln, Neb. Rhoda H. is tlie wife of 
George Herbert, of Spring Grove Township. Barzil- 
lal is the next in order of birth. .Sarah is deceased. 
Mrs. Parker, the mother of the children just enumer- 
ated, died in 185 1. In 1854 Mr. Parker formed a 
second matrimonial relation with Mrs. Zoa Uimer. 
There were two children from this union. Mary W. 
is married to George F. Miner, of Monmouth. Eva 
is deceased. Mr. Parker died May [9, [884. 



gf^^l^on. James H. Stewart, Judge of War- 
?iSaB "^^'^ County Court, was born Jan. <;, 1818, 
3,,{®«'* at Elkton, Todd Co., Ky., and is the son 
A of Rev. W;n. K. and Lucretia P. (Moore) 
r Stewart, natives of North and South Carolina 
I respectively, and descended from Scotch and 
Scotch-Irish ancestry. They were married in Chris- 
tian Co., Ky., April i, 1817, and at once repaired to 
Elkton, where their three sons and two daughters 
were born. 

The Rev. Mr. Stewart was of the Presbyterian 
Church; came to Illinois in 1830: had charge of a 
congregation at Vandalia five years; tliere buried his 
wife in 1831 ; removed to Macomb in 1836, where 



he preached to his people as long as health per- 
mitted, and died .\pril 15, J 85 2, in the 62d year of 
his life. He was a ripe scholar, a graduate of Hamp- 
den-Sidney College, of Virginia, and was a preacher 
of recognized force and merit from the time he was 
21 years of age. 

Judge James H. Stewart was the eldest son and 
was educated at Hanover College, Ind., from whence 
he graduated in 1836, and at once began the study 
of law, under James .\llen, and compleiing his 
course of reading in the office of Cyrus Walker, of 
Macomb, 111. He was admitted to the Bar at Spring- 
field, Jan. I, 1840, and immediately commenced to 
practice at Lewistown, Fulton County, this State. 
From there, at the end of a year, he removed to Mil- 
lersburg, Mercer County, where he remained in close 
practice four and a half _\ cars. He then hung out 
his shingle at Oquawka, and there added 15 years to 
his life and much to his knowledge of the law. He 
was then at Kno.wiile about a year and first came to 
Monmoirth in tlie spring of 1861. Here lie has spent 
the matured years of his life. Judge Stewart, the 
Nestor of the Warren County Bar, has a reputation 
as wide as the borders of the State in which he re-;^ 
sides. His name will be transmitted with the his- 
tory of the community with whose interests he has 
been so long identified, and the posterity of those 
whose lives we chronicle to-day, will know him as a 
man honor. d among men and worthy of their emula- 
tion. 

Judge Stewart's official career began at Oquawka, 
in 1851, when he was elected State's Attorney, for 
the 15th Judicial Circuit. In 1856, after a division 
of the district, he was twice re-elected to the same 
|X)sition for the tenth circuit. In 1881 he was chosen 
County Judge of Warren, to fill out the unexpired 
term of Judge Willets, deceased, and in 1882, 
regularly elected for the ensuing term of four 
years. The Judge is a Democrat in whom there is 
no guile, and that he is fully appreciated by his party 
is attested by his record. He has twice been its 
candidate for Representative from this county, but 
that body being notorious as a Senatorial Manufac- 
turing Machine, the good people usually select men 
especially gifted (?) for that important duty rather 
than men possessed of knowledge as law-makers. 
The Judge was alternate delegate to the St. Louis 
National Democratic Convention of 1876, and dele- 
gate to that body at Cincinnati, in 1880. 



■SZJ-1 



"V 



4= 



400 



v":= — . 

fVA RREN CO UN T Y. 



■^r-X^ 



Beginning as a |>oor boy, Judge Stewart rounds 
life at a ripe age possessed of a handsome competency. 
He is largely interesied in agriculture and banking, 
which receives much of his personal attention. He 
was married in McDonough County, tliis State, June 
30, 1842, to Isabella C. McKamy, wlio was born in 
Roane Co., Tenn., Jan. 22, 1824, and has borne to 
him ten children, only three of whom are living — 
William K., whose biography appears in this volume; 
Isabella, wife of D. M. Hammack, an attorney at 
Burlington, Iowa, and Mary M. Lucretia P. was 
born Aug. 18, 1862, and died Nov. 24, 1878; the rest 
of his children died in infancy. We felicitate our- 
selves on being enabled to add to this biographical 
notice, as well as to the portrait feature of our work, 
a reproduction of a life-like photograph of Judge 
Stewart, which was recently taken. 




Bennett, owning 67 acres of good tillable 
fi land in Tompkins Township, and also 480 



acres in Boone Co., Neb., and residing upon 
section 19, of the township named, where he is 
engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist, 
was born in Madison Co., N. Y., April 8, 1829, 
his parents being Jacob ajid Elizabeth (Coss) Ben- 
nett, natives of Montgomery Co., N. Y. 

The gentleman whose name heads this biographi- 
cal notice, lived witli his parents until he was eight 
I years of age, at which time his father died. He was 
I then absent from his mother until lie was 14 years 
I old, when he returned and resided with iier for four 
I years, receiving at her hands a good common school 
i education. He t'.ien left home and worked out for 
five years by the month. In 1854 he came to this 
' State, and became a citizen of this county, where lie 
I was engaged in the occupation of a farmer, working 
for others and doing odd jobs for one season. Dur- 
ing that year he purchased the 80-acre tract of land 
on which he is at present residing, moved upon it 
with his family and at once engaged in the vocation 
which he had followed more or less all his life. He 
erected a fine residence upon his farm, together with 
a good barn and necessary outbuildings and set out 
trees, ornamental and fruit, and cultivated and im- 



i: 



proved the place, until it presents a fine appearance 
to the passer-by of to-day. In his chosen vocation, 
Mr. Bennett is meeting witii that success, which 
push, perseverance and energy are sure to bring. 

In 1857, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with 
Miss Liza Thorp, a native of New York, and a daugh- 
ter of John Thorp. Her father came to this State 
in 1854, settling in this county, where, with his wife, 
he lived until their death. In politics, Mr. B. votes 
with the Republican party, and is regarded as one of 
the leading, representatives of his vocation in his 
township. 



#^ 



f^f? 




avid AUard is a farmer in the township of 
Point Pleasant and is the owner of 240 
j'lluSy- ^ acres of land situated on section 8. He 
t«i was born April 6, 1824, in the town of Eaton, 
Carroll Co., N. H., of which State his father, 
Jacob AUard, was also a native. Job Allard, his 
grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers in the" 
"Granite State," where he took up a tract of land all 
in timber, which was located 18 miles from any set- 
tlement of whites. It was in Carroll County, and 
he cleared a farm, on which he resided until his 
death. His son Jacob was born on the same farm, 
and was the heir to the estate of the father who had 
done the work of the pioneer on it. Sally (Thurs- 
ton) Allard, the wife and mother, was also a native 
of Eaton in the same county. To her and her hus- 
band ten children were born, of whom six are now 
living: David is the eldest; Jane is the wife of 
Daniel Young, and they are living in Freedom, Car- 
roll Co., N. H.; Joseph S. is married to Miss Fannie 
W'ornom and is a farmer in this county ; Eliza is Mrs. 
Bradley Davis, and, with her husband, resides in 
Stockton, Cal. ; Martha is the wife of Charles Davis 
and lives in Iowa; Rose A. is the youngest member 
of the family living, and is married to F. H. Baldwin. 
They live in Oregon. 

Mr. Allard was reared and educated in the town 
where he was born. At the age of 20 he went to 
Belfast, Maine, and there passed two years in ac- 
quiring a knowledge of blacksmithing He returned 
to his native State and operated as a "jour" one 



^ 



-e-Jr^ 



WARREN COUNT y. 



?=$4^ 



401 



year, July 2, 1846, Mr. Allard was married to Miss 
Harriet Patch. .She was born in Eator., N. H., and 
is the daughter of Dennis and Susan (Drew) Patch. 
He then purchased a farm in the vicinity of the old 
homestead, and there opened a shop in his own inter- 
est. He managed the farm and the shop together 
until 1855, when he sold both, preparatory to moving 
to Illinois. He settled in Warren County and bought 
a farm near Jackson Corners, in the township of 
Elhson. On this he resided until 1864, when he re- 
moved to Monmouth, to secure for his children the 
advantages of the schools of that place. He was 
engaged in the pursuit of his trade in the C.irr Plow 
Shops there two years, and at the expiration of that 
time he purchased a farm in Point Pleasant Tovifn- 
ship, on which he has since resided. It has the usual 
complement of trees and farm buildings. It has 
also a grove of forest trees, including white ash, wnl- 
nut, butternut, ash-leaved maple, white maple, cot- 
tonwood, willow and chestnut. These cover six acres, 
and are situated on a mound which is said by survey- 
ors to be the highest point between the two rivers 
east and west. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Allard were born ten children, 
eight of whom are now living: Frank, Vina, Rose, 
Josephine, Orrin, Charles, William and Elgena. 




ohn Jewell, an energetic and industrious 
f farmer, residing on section 33, of Lenox 
Township, is a son of Lemuel and Jane 
_ (Cole) Jewell, natives of York State, and who 
|C settled there until 185 1, when they came West- 
ward, located in Lenox Township, Warren 
County, this State. At the latter place they made 
their permanent abiding place until taken to their 
eternal homes. Of their union were born seven chil- 
dren — Abel, Jacob, Halsey T., Harriet, Henry, Ira 
and John being their names. 

John Jewell, of whom we write, was born in Rome, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., June 4, 1830, and in 185 i came 
to Warren County, this State. While residing under 
the parental roof-tree he attended the district schools 
in the acquisition of an English education and as- 
sisted his parents in the duties of the farm. After 




his departure from home in the year above men- 
tioned, lie bought 80 acres of land on section -t^-t)^ his 
present site, which he has made his home ever since. 
His farm has been put under excellent improvement 
and cultivation and he has erected suitable buildings 
thereon. 

Mr. Jewell and Miss Juliet A. Smith were united 
in marriage in Warren County, Sept. 30, 1852. She 
was born in Virginia, Sept. 10, 1820, and bore her 
husband one child, who died in infancy. She died 
April 15, 1880, and he was again married, Feb. 24, 
1 881, to Flora L. Crosier, a native of Ellison Town- 
ship, Warren County, where she was born March 3, 
1859. She has become the mother of two children 
by Mr. Jewell — Rodney C. and Rosa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jewell are members of the United Brethren Church. 
In politics, Mr. J. is identified with the principles of 
the Democratic party. 



-<^'4#^>- 



iii illiam F. Smith, retired merchant at Mon-. 
mouth, was born Feb. 22, 1815, in Louisa 
J^^n^ Co., Va. His parents, Barnett and Mary 
J||^> (Grayson) Smith, were of Virginia and de- 
4or scended from English ancestors. Of their 
five sons and four daughters, five of whom are 
still living, William F. was fourth in order of birth. 
At the age of 15 ye.irs, Mr. Smith began clerking in 
a store at Glasgow, Ky., the family having removed 
into Barren County, that State, in T820. The Ken- 
tucky farm upon which the old people spent their 
lives is yet owned by the subject of this sketch. The 
father died in 1847, "i his 69th year, and the mother 
in r884, aged 95. Both died in Kentucky. 

William F. Smith came to Monmouth in Novem- 
ber, 1835, and opened a variety store. He had 
only $t,ooo in money, but he was well backed by a 
Louisville, Ky., firm, for whom he had clerked some 
time, and after realizing upon his first cargo of goods 
he had cleared about $[,500. With this he re- 
turned to Louisville, as the weather promised to be 
too cold for him up here, but his old backers induced 
him to return. He next embarked in the dry-goods 
business with an employe named B. C. Hord as his 
partner. In 1838, the Louisville firm took an inter- 



l;^ 



t^ 



■c Tl 



402 



WARREN COUNTY. 



•^^^^ 



est. In 1844, having sold out to the firm, Mr. 
Smith opened a drug store and continued in that 
line of business until 1868. 

Politically, Mr. Smith was originally a Democrat, 
and as such was elected Probate Justice in 1844-5. 
Mr. Polk appointed liim Postmaster to fill out an 
unexpired term of a predecessor, but Zachary Tay- 
lor, though Mr. Smith had 500 signers to his i)eti- 
tion while his competitor had only 13, ousted him. 
In 1849, however, the citizens of the county felt out- 
raged, and though the Democrats to wliom he had 
belonged were greatly in the minority, lie was elected 
to the County Clerkshij) by a large majority, and 
held the office four years, ending in 1853. In 1S56, 
he became a Republican, and has affiliated with that 
party to the present. 

The marriage of Mr. Smith took place April 12, 
1838, at which time Miss Margaret Bell, the ac- 
complished daughter of Rev. L. G. and Margaret 
(Beard) Hell, of the Presbyterian Church, became 
his wife. She was born in Leesburg, Va., April 18, 
1817. She bore him ten children — Charles (de- 
ceased), P^dwin R. (deceased), Mary, Inez B., Will- 
iam B., Lancelot (1., Carrie K., Lizzie A., Ella and 
Harry B. .Ml are grown, and the boys arc in busi- 
ness. 



.ohn Barnes, owning 200 acres of good 
^ farm land on section 24, Tompkins Town- 
ship, where he lives and is engaged in its 
cultivation, was born in West Virginia, Jan. 10, 
1820. His father, Henry Barnes, was a native 
of the same State, and the mother of Mr. 
Barnes, of this notice, Catherine Barnes, whose 
maiden name was Cunningham, was also a native of 
Virginia. 

Mr. Barnes resided with his parents until lie at- 
tained his majoritv, when he moved to Indiana, and 
having been brought up on a farm and becoming 
familiar with agricultural pursuits, he purchased land 
in the latter State, and followed the vocation which 
he had chosen in early manhood, at that place, until 
1856. During the year last named, Mr. Barnes 
came to this State, and purchased the farm on which 
he is at ])reseiil residing. His fann comprises 200 




acres of land under an advanced state of cultivation, 
and its appearance is indicative of the pusli and 
energy which Mr. B. possesses. 

Mr. Barnes become the husband of Miss Elvira 
Love, in 1843, and by her has had four children, as 
follows ; Ceorge, .\nsell, Cynthia J. and Charles 
W. The wife and mother died in 1857, and Miss 
Elizabeth Monroe became his wife. Of the latter 
union, three children — John F., .Mice and Eddy, 
have been born. Mr. Barnes votes with the Repub- 
lican party and he and his wife and five children are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. .Soci- 
ally, Mr. Barnes is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
of the Order of Masonry, and is one of the pushing, 
go-ahead representatives of his vocation in Tomp- 
kins Township. 




:enry F. Trulock, one of Warren County's 
energetic and successful farmers and IJirge 
land-owners, and who has been closely 
identified with the development of the county 
i since 1850, resides on section 36, Berwick 
I Township. He was born in Scot Co., Ind., in 
December, 18 15, and is a son of Parker Trulock, a 
native of Maryland. The father moved to Indiana 
in 1815, and there resided, engaged in the occupa- 
tion of a farmer until his death, which occurred 
about 1854. He was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Terrel, in Virginia, and by her had 1 1 children, as 
follows: John, William, Isaac, Mary, Sarah, Char- 
lotte, Esther, Samuel M., James W., Parker L. and 
Henry. 

Henry F. Trulock has passed the years of his life 
until the present in agricultural pursuits. Reared 
on the parental homestead, he there first learned the 
lessons of an agriculturist and in the schools of his 
native county acquired his education, and there lived 
and developed into manhood. 

The marriage of Mr. Trulock took place Jan. 30, 
1845. at which time Miss Margaret Peacock became 
his wife. Slie was born in Devonshire, Eng., Jan. 
28, 1818, and has borne him six children — Sarah E. 
and Catherine, twins, born May 10 ,1847 ; Nancy A., 
July 8, 1849; James M., Jan. 21, 1852; Frances 



*% 




Res. OF William Edwards, Sec. 35. HaleTownship. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



X^ 



405 



M., March i, 1853; W. H., Oct. 28, 1854; and 
Harriet J., April 28, 1856. 

The father of Mrs. Trulocic, Wm. Peacock, was 
born in England, from which country he emigrated 
to the United States and located in Indiana, in i8ig. 
In England, he married Nanc\' Davidson, and of 
their union six children were born, namely : Mar- 
garet, William, Roljert, Frances, Mary and John. 

Mr. Triilock, on coming to this county, at once 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He came here in 
1850, and located in Berwick Township, and has 
here resided until the present time. Considering 
that on his arrival in Warren County, he was only 
the possessor of a span of horses aiid $250 in 
money, and has since accumulated his handsome 
property, he certainly deserves mention in this work, 
at least as a man of energy, pluck and perseveranci.'. 
That he has done a large amount of hard work and 
a good deal of thinking, and passed through many 
trials, cannot be denied, and his accumulations are 
'but the outgrowth of the same, for he was never the 
recipient of any legacy, and what he has he has 
; made for himself. His landed interests in the count)- 
-are upwards of 800 acres, on which he has five farm 
' houses, and in the vocation which he is following 
i and has followed for so many years, he is meeting 
• with that success which energy and "good judgment 
are sure to bring. In politics, he votes with and en- 
dorses the principles advocated by the Republican 
party. In this the sunset of his life, he is living in 
the enjoyment of that competency obtained through 
years of honest and laborious toil. 



-^S^^rl+=> 



antes F. Owens, is of more than ordinary 
^^^Ift reputation as a farmer and stock raiser, and 
*' ^^'"^ is a resident on section 2, Monmouth Town- 
ship. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 
8, 1829. His father, John Owens, was born 
in Conway Castle, Wales, Marcli 18, 1793, 
and in his early life was a shoemaker, and later a 
merchant at Davenport, Iowa. He was only six 
weeks old when his parents emigrated to the United 
States and located in New York City. His father 
and mother lived in that city for some years, wlien 



they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and tliere resided 
until their deaths. John Owens, when a young man, 
engaged to learn the trade of a shoemaker, which, 
after having mastered it, he continued to follow until 
his enlistment as private in the War of 1812. At 
the close of that war, John, l)eing yet a single man 
and having no means, set out alone and on foot, to 
cross the Alleghany Mountains, and then returned 
to Cincinnati, Ohio. He arrived in the Queen City 
in 1816, when that now populous and i)usy city had 
but 8,000 inhabitants. On .rriving in that city he 
engaged in working at his trade, which he followed 
until his marriage 10 Mrs. Eunice Meeker, nee 
Kent, a native of New Jersey. She was a descend- 
ant of .\nneke Jans, of the famous estate of that 
name, and of wh6m Rev. Bogardus, whose history 
was closely connected with that of New York, was a 
member, who was followed by a Spears, then an Ed- 
ward, and finally a Kent, of whom Mrs. Owens, the 
mother of the subject of this notice, was descended. 
The parents were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, and v 
there the father followed his trade until 1838. At 
that time eight children had been born to them, four 
sons and four daughters, of whom James Owens, the 
subject of this notice, was fifth in order of birth The 
parents then came to Davenport, Iowa, where the 
father engaged in the mercantile business, and in 
which he met with financial success. He was the 
first Director of the first State bank of that city. 
After the law was changed and State banks went out 
of existence, national banks taking their place, Mr. 
Owens became Director of the First National Bank 
of Davenport, it being known at the present as the 
Davenport National Bank. He was a man of great 
foresight, sound business judgment and possessed of 
that indomitable energy and perseverance that is so 
necessarv to success in life. In addition to his 
banking business at Davenport, he continued his 
mercantile pursuits and became one of the prosper- 
ous and well-to-do citizens of that city, in which he 

1 continued to reside until his death, which occurred 
Sept. 24, 1876, aged 84 years. His wife, the mother 
of the subject of this notice, died in July, 1884, aged 

I q\ years. 

The gentleman whose name lieads this notice, was 

■ ten years of age when his parents came from Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, to Davenport, Iowa. He resided at home, 
attending the public schools at Davenport and act- 
ing as clerk iu his ftither's store, until 1855. August 

A ' 



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!?Jh- 



406 



WARRRN COUNTY. 



n 



22, of that year, he was united in marriage, at the 
residence of the bride's parents in Monmouth Town- 
ship, with Mary T. Hopper, daughter of William 
and Edith (Hirrison) Hopper, the latter being a 
cousin of the hero of Tippecanoe, William Henry 
Harrison. Her father was a native of Bourbon Co., 
Ky., her mother cf Rockingham Co., Va. They 
were married in Todd Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 18 18. The 
wife of the subject of this notice was born July 20, 
1834. She was only an infant when her parents 
came to this State, the date thereof being 1837. 
Her parents located on land which was in its natural 
condition, in Monmouth Township, few families 
having located there at that time. They brought 
with them a cooking-stove, which was the first ever 
brought into the county. They located on their 
land, and her father engaged actively and ener- 
getically in its cultivation, and by laborious toil be- 
came a well-to-do farmer of that township. While a 
resident of Kentucky he followed the occupation of 
a tanner and was the owner of slaves, but his con- 
science taught him that to deal in human flesh was 
wrong. He consequently liberated his slaves and 
came to this county, determined to rear and educate 
his children in a State where the doctrine of slavery 
did not e.xist. He and his wife continued to reside 
on the original homestead upon which they first lo- 
cated in this county until their deaths, that of the 
mother occurring Dec. r 1, 1865, and the father May 
10, 1877. 

Mrs. Owens, wife of the subject of this notice, re- 
mained under parental influence until her marriage, 
her education having been a.quired in the schools 
of Galesburg, Knox Coun'y, this State. She is a 
lady of more than ordinary intelligence and is re- 
spected and honored in the community in which she 
resides. Mr. and Mrs. Owens are the parents of six 
children, viz. : Maria F., who became the wife of 
H. M. Chamberlain, a resident of Greeley, Col. ; 
Anna B.. who resides at home; Kunice, a teacher by 
profession, and who is at present in Atchison Co., 
Mo.; Edith, wife of T. B. Rankin, who resides on a 
farm in Atchison Co., Mo.; Maggie B. and Charles 
O. reside at home. 

Since the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Owens, they 
have, with the exception of two years, 1859-60, 
wlien Mr. O. was in the " Rockies," made their 
home in Monmouth Township. Mr. Owens is at 
present the proprietor of 260 acres of good farm land 



in that township, which is finely improved. A view 
of his premises is given on page 404. In addition 
to the cultivation of his land, he is to a considerable 
extent engaged in stock-raising of a general charac- 
ter. Religiously, he and his wife are memliers of the 
Christian Church, located at Monmouth. 

Politically, Mr. Owens is a believer in and a suj>- 
porter of the principles of the Republican party. 
He has held the olifice of Supervisor of his township 
for some years, and has also been the incumbent of 
the office of Road Commissioner. 



~w\. -"vtaizjzns-^^ 



>»^|^5i;^^r7>^^ • vx/v*. 



ij liv Hirt illiam Edwards. Many of tlie most thrifty 
J^ ltfe^aM n and intelligent agriculturists of this section 
" '^^ 'p of Illinois, were born and reared upon the 
■' other side of the .Atlantic, and to England 
especially is Warren County indebted for 
_, some of her most enterprising and prosperous 
citizens. Prominent among the latter class is Wil- 
liam Edwards, who is residing upon his splendid 
farm on section 34, of Hale Township. He is the 
son of VVilliam and Mary (Williams) Edwards, and 
was born in England about 1830, where he was reared 
and lived until May, 1849. There were five chil- 
dren in his father's family, of whom the following is 
a record: (ieorge, Eliza, Fannie, William and Jane. 
George and Fannie are deceased. Eliza married 
Richard Morgan, and lives in Monmouthshire, Eng- 
land. There were born of this marriage six chil- 
dren, two of whom are deceased. Jane, the youngest, 
is living with her brother, the subject of this sketch. 
The demise of his parents occurred in England. 

.■\s alr.ady stated, Williain Edwards was a young 
man of not 20 years of age when he bid adieu to the 
shores of his native Isle, to seek a new home in 
America. He found a location in Ohio, where he re- 
mained for about two years, when, in .August, 1852, 
he came U'est to the fertile prairies of the Military 
Tract, which were being then opened up by the 
Peoria & Otiuawka, the Northern Cross and the Mili- 
tary Tract Railways. He found a desirable location 
in Wairen ("ounty, where he has since been a resi- 
dent. He is the owner of 240 acres of well improved 
land, on sections 34 and 35, of Hale Township. 



I ' 



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f 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



!!-=T4- 



407 



Upon this he erected a fine set of farm buildings and 
entered vigorously and energetically upon the task 
of its cultivation and improvement, until at present 
it presents the appearance of thrift and energy. A 
view of the residence and farm buildings of the 
homestead, are represented in the pictorial depart- 
ment of this work on page 404. 

Mr. E. generally votes the Republican ticket, and 
with his sister, advocates the doctrines of the Church 
of England. 



€^ 





J. Lee, one of the well-known and suc- 

|, cessful physicians of Roseviile village, 

__ ' Warren County, this State, is a native of 

Nj«t Kentucky, where he was born in the year 
1818, and is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth 
(McDonald) Lee, natives respectively of East 
Tennessee and Virginia. The Lee family of this 
sketch are of the same family of whom Gen. Robert 
Lee, the famous General in the late Confederacy was 
a member. They trace their ancestry back to the time 
''of Charles II., of England, one of whom married a 
daughter of that monarch. They came to Virginia at 
an early day and their descendants composed many 
men of note and prcminence in the history of that 
State, and the father of the Doctor was a full cousin 
of Gen. Robert E. Lee. 

The parents of Dr. Lee came to Illinois in 1827 
and located in Morgan County, where they bought a 
considerable body of land and remained in the State 
of Illinois until their death. At that time no settlers 
had ventured farther north than Morgan County, 
and even in that section there were but a few fami- 
lies. Many of the pioneers, who finally located in 
Northern Illinois, stopped for a year or two in Mor- 
gan County, as a few men, like the elder Lee, had 
moved there at a very early day and had raised 
crops and thus made provisions for the incoming 
pioneer. Stephen Lee had a family of six children, 
as follows: Thomas, Joseph, Nancy, Steplien, Wil- 
liam and John. 

The Doctor is the second son of the family, and 
spent the first 25 years of his life under the protec- 
tion of his parents He attended the customary 



common district schools, where he received a fair 
education, and at the age of 16 years, while engaged 
in fanning, he commenced the study of medicine 
with Dr. Charles Chandler, of Cass Co. He also read 
with Dr. Schooley, of the same county. He finally 
became a faithful studejit of Rush Medical College, 
Chicago. He was in the drug business several years 
at Virginia, 111., and since 1864 has been in active 
prac'ice at Roseviile. He is thus one of the oldest 
physicians in the place and has as his associate coun- 
sel, Drs. Webster and Crawford, of Monmoutli. 

Politically, the Doctor is identified with the Re- 
publican party and religiously he and his wife are 
members of the Congregational Church. He has been 
quite su- cessful both in his practice and in his ac- 
cumulations and to-day owns a good farm of 160 
acres near Hancock Station, Pottawatamie Co., Iowa, 
and has a line resilience, with office attached, at 
Roseviile. 

His first marriagi was with Miss Sarah Eliza 
Campbell, a daughter of Judge P. W. Campbell of 
Mason County, this State, on April 1 1 , 1842, her 19th 
birthday. Siie died Feb. 10, 1845, leaving two sons, 
Stephen W. and Joseph N. Stephen W., was a 
student and graduate of Rush Medical College; 
practiced medicine in Chicago about 14 years ; died 
Feb. 22, 1880, of an injury received while in the 
army, aged 36 years. He was a soldier in the Sec- 
ond 111. Cav. Joseph N. Lee is farming in Wash- 
ington Territory at -present, and has been in the 
territory for the past five years. 

The Doctor was married to Miss Minerva Gord- 
ley, his present wife, m March, 1858. 



■|v^^|l'v ohn Edward Paine is the Supervisor of 
ji^aSC Sumner Township, in the current year 
1^''* (1885). He is a member of the agricultu- 
ral class of Warren County, and is located on 
section 27. He was born in Lake Co., Ohio, 
Oct. 2, 1834. He is the son of Charles Henry 
Paine, who was l)orii in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Feb 13, 
1788, and was a soldier in the war of i8[2. The 
latter is the son of Gen. Edward Paine, who was a 
I settler in Ohio when it was still a territory. He 
A - 




-4 



4o8 



WARREN COUNTY. 



11 



owned ihe site of the city of Painesville, which per- 
petuates his name. He purchased a considerable 
tract of land when he located in what was Lake 
County, after the municipal divisions had been made. 
He improved a farm, on which he lived until his 
death, at the age of 96. He was a Gaptaiii in the 
Revolutionary War, under immediate command of 
Gen. Washington. After the war he was commis- 
sioned General of the State Militia in Ohio. His 
son, the father of Mr. Paine, of this account, was 
reared in Lake and married in Portage Co., Ohio. 
Parthenia Mason became his wife May 19, 1817. 
She was born Sept. 7, 1798, in Connecticut. She vvas 
aunt to the wife of the lamented President Garfield, 
consequently Mrs. Garfield and Mr. Paine are first 
cousins. Mr. Garfield and his wife were at Mrs. 
Paine's residence visiting. He arrived there several 
days before the memorable battle ot Bull Run. 
Upon receiving the news of the battle, his feelings 
were so worked up he could not continue his visit 
any longer; so Mr. Paine took him with a team to 
Monmouth, in order to catch the first train to take 
him to Ohio. As soon as he could make the neces- 
sary arrangements, he then enlisted. 

After their marriage, John Edward Paine and his 
wife reii oved to Portage County, in the Buckeye 
State, and located on a timber tract, where the pro- 
prietor improved a farm. After a term of years they 
returned to Lake County, where they continued to 
reside until 1835. They removed in that year to In- 
diana, where they passed a year, in Porter County. 
In 1836 they came to Warren County. The family 
at the time included five children. The trip hither 
was made by the conveyance commonly used by the 
emigrants of that period and their method of manage- 
ment was also the same, and consisted of domestic ar- 
rangements of about the same char.icter as they were 
accustomed to at home, wiih the different surround- 
ings of a house and home on wheels and the lack of 
locality, as every morning, noon and night found 
them in a new place. It sliould have been stated 
that Mr. Paine had made the selection of his loca- 
tion on a previous visit to the county, and after tak- 
ing possession he resided there until his death. A 
log cabin, belonging to Mr. Rockwell (see sketch), 
stood adjacent, and Mr. Paine rented it for the shel- 
ter of his family through the first winter after their 
arrival. During the winter season, Mr. Paine made 
haste to build his own house, which was of hewn 



logs. It was double, and well adapted to the comfort 
of the household of that period. He made the first im- 
proveiTient on the place in the spring of 1837. After 
getting settled, he gave his undivided attention to the 
work of improvement, and soon put his entire acre- 
age in valuable condition. His life continued until 
Warren County was in a well developed and prosper- 
ous condition. His death transpired April 5, 1859. 
His wife died Jan. 27, 1877. Following is the brief 
history of their children : Emmeline died at the age 
of three years; Amanda lives at Monmouth and is 
the wife of R. A. Gibson ; Emily became the wife of 
Nathaniel Brownlee, and is his survivor; Lucretia 
married F. H. Merrill, and they live in Fulton Co.; 
Charles H. is a resident of Washington Territory ; 
the subscriber is the next in order of birth; Eliza 
Arabella is married to C. M. Rogers, of Hale Town- 
shi|). 

Mr. Paine arrived in Warren County on his sec- 
ond birthday. After attending the common schools 
until he had somewhat advanced toward the period 
of his youth, he passed one winter attending school 
at Galesburg. July 26, 1862, he enlisted in Co., B, 
83d 111. Vol. Inf, and remained in the military ser- 
vice until the war closed. His command was sta- 
tioned for a long time at Fort Donelson, and while 
there on duty re|)ulsed an attack from a force of 
Rebels of greatly surpassing numbers. Mr. Paine 
received an honorable discharge with the regiment in 
June, 1865. He returned to the homestead of his 
parents, which is his property, and on which he has 
since resided. The farm of which he is the owner 
contains 630 acres It is under excellent improve- 
ments and is exceptional in the manner in which it 
is watered. Two never-failing streams flow through 
it, and it is also well supplied with a growth of natu- 
ral timber. The latter is situated on the banks of 
Cedar Creek. The farm residence is of brick and 
the other buildings are frame structures. 

Ann E. TurnbuU became the wife of Mr. Paine 
May 17, i860. She is the daughter of David and Nan- 
cy (Mitchel) TurnbuU. Her birth took place March 
'3- "835. in Warren County. Nine of their children 
are living — Olive P., John M., Mary E. (who is the 
wife of Delavan Frantz.a citizen of Monmouth), Wil- 
liam T., Nancy M., Charles H., Anna Belle, Freder- 
ick C, Frank M. David, the seventh child, was 
born June 22, 187 1, and died Oct. 14, 1875. Mr. 
Paine is an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church. 



*t 



. --^c^ . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



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4it 



His wife is a member of liie same denoiiiinalion. 
Politically, Mr. Paine is a believer in the principles 
of the Re|Hiblican party. 



— S- 



-5^- 




^I^TP- acob Baldwin, who, in his 78th year, is 
passing the evening of his life in quiet re- 
tirement un his little farm of 83 acres, on 

section 17, Tompkins Township, is a native of 
It York State, having been born in Fishkill, on 

the Hudson, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 
1807, and was consequently a Christmas gift to his 
parents, Elisha and Jemima (Ryder) Baldwin, natives 
of that State. 

Jacob Baldwin, the gentleman whose name ap- 
pears at the head of this biographical notice, remain- 
ed with his parents until three years after he had 
attained his majority, in the meantime attending the 
common schools and assisting his father in the labors 
on the farm. Arriving at the age named, he bid 
adieu to his father and mother, and went forth into 
the cold and unfriendly world to do for himself. He 
purchased land and for five years followed the call- 
ing of a farmer, when he sold this place and pur- 
chased another farm of 200 acres, in Cayuga County, 
his native State, on which he located and for 18 
years was actively and laboriously occupied in its 
cultivation and improvement. He then sold his 
landed interests in York State and in r858 came to 
this State, and for two years followed his chosen av- 
ocation, on rented land, in Tompkins Township, this 
county. At the expiration of this time lie bought 83 
acres on section 17, where he is living to day, retired 
from the active labors of a vocation he has followed 
more or less all his life. 

On the loth day of January, 1 833, Mr. Baldwin 
was married to the lady of his choice. Miss Abigail 
Brigg. a native of York State and a daughter of Elias 
and Catherine (Campbell) Brigg, natives of Dutchess 
County, N. Y., where her father followed agricul- 
tural pursuits. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bald- 
win, 13 children have been born, whose names are, 
Elias B., Elisha J., Philetus R., Charlotte J., Frances 
J., Oscar, Charles H., Nora A., George W., Hattie 
M. and Elmer R. Daniel P., the sixth child in or- 



der of birth, was a veteran in the late war, and was 
shot on the breast-works at Resaca, from which 
wound he died. Nine of the children named are 
married and Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have 26 grand- 
children and one great grandchild. 

Mr. Baldwin, in politics, is a Cireenbacker. He is 
one of the leading citizens of his township and is re- 
spected for his straightforward, manly dealings with 1 
his fellow men. His wife has been a consistent 
member of the Baptist Church for 40 years. Sarah 
M. Baldwin, the seventh child in order of birth of 
the children of Mr. and Mrs. B., died at the age of 
one year and six months. Of their children, three 
boys were soldiers in the war for the Union and in 
fighting for which, as we have already stated, one 
gave up his life. 



7r|^i«llbert J. Rockwell, deceased, was the son 

'iS^S of one of the earliest pioneers of the town- 
d'^^ *" ^'^'1-' '^'^ Sumner, and passed tlie remainder 
'^■^ of his life, after the removal ot his parents to 

li^ Warren County, in that township. He was . 

I prominent in his business relations, combining 
the vocations of merchant and farmer, the latter oc- 
cupying the greater portion of his life. 

He was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 
1823, and tlie eldest child of his parents, his father 
being the lineal descendant of a Rockwell who came 
to this country in 1630. The subject of this notice 
was nine years of age when he came to Warren 
County. (An account of the lives of the parents is 
presented in connection with the personal narration 
of Mr. A. H. Rockwell, to be found on another page 
of this work.) Our subject was a pupil in the com- 
mon schools of Ohio while his family were there res- 
ident, and when a High School was established in 
Hcndersonville, Knox Co., 111., he attended it ar.d 
thus acquired a good and thorough education. His 
father was engaged in a multitude of business rela- 
tions, and the son early developed unusual ability as 
a book-keeper and clerk in the store. In 1855 he 
opened a stor- on his own account at Denny, and 
was extensively engaged in business pursuits until 

1865. Himself and his brother bought the family 



L_ 



irj^jz 



r 



cT » 



i* 



4>» 



WARREN COUNTY. 



homestead, which they divided i.ot long after their 
purchase. Reiiring at this period ixom mercantile 
life, he devoted his attention to farming exclusively 
for the remainder of his days. His death occurred 
July 22, 1882. His remains rest in the old Rock- 
well burying ground situated on the homestead re- 
purchased by himself and brother. At the time of 
his death he was the proprietor of a farm of 200 
acres. 

Politically, Mr. Rockwell was a Democrat. He 
was connected by membership with no religious de- 
nomination, but was a regular attendant on the ser- 
vices of the Church to which his wife belonged. 
Always prominent in his interest and connection 
with whatever seemed to promise good to the com- 
munity, he entered heartily into the prosecution of 
all such enterprises. The deceased took a great 
interest in the projected railroad through Sumner 
Township, and lost heavily in his investment in a 
scheme which unfortunately proved unavailable. 

Mr. Rockwell was married twice. His first wife, 
nee Mary J. Craig, was born in Ohio, and died Jan. 
28, 1848. Their only child died in infancy. He 
was again married to Helen M. Burnett, Feb. 12, 
1856. She was born in Washington Co., N. Y., 
May 23, 1833, and is the daughter of Jolin and 
Lucina (Tefft) Burnett. They were natives of Ver- 
mont and New York respectively. The grandfather 
of Mrs. Rockwell, on the father's side, was a native 
of Scotland, and born about the year 1770. He 
emigrated to this country about 1788, and settled in 
Bennington Co., Vt. When the father of Mrs. 
Rockwell was six years of age, the family moved to 
Washington Co., N. Y. Mrs. Rockwell's grand- 
mother on her motlier's side was of English origin. 
Her parents, on coming to this country, settled in 
Connecticut, whence tliey also afterward emigrated 
to Washington Co., N. Y.. where the mother of Mrs. 
Rockwell was born in 1802. Tlic father of Mrs. 
Rockwell was known among his large circle of ac- 
quaintances as Capt. John Burnett, which title he 
acquired in the early times when " general training- 
day " was an institution. 

Six of the children who constitute the issue of Mr. 
Rockwell's second marriage are living. Fannie F. is 
the wife of John Whitman, who is settled in Page 
Co., Iowa, where he is a school-teacher. The other 
children are John, James, Albert, Archie and Ada 
G., and reside at home. 



Mrs. Rockwell is a member of the United Presby- 
terian Church. Siie is a resident on the homestead. 
The many friends of her late husband will be pleased 
to find, on another page, an excellent portrait of the 
deceased. 




'ohn Rogers is one of the farmers of War- 
ren County who, from a small beginning, 
has made a competency by the application 
of the industry and perseverance which is his 
heritage as a foreigner and one who is born 
into the world with a proclivity to make the 
most of such resources as fall to the common lot of 
mankind. 

He is a resident on section 2, Spring Grove Town- 
ship, and is the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres. 
He was born June 24, 1825, in the County Roscom- 
mon, Ireland. His mother, Catherine, died when he 
was 17 years of age, and in the succeeding year his 
father, Michael, married again. When he was 18 
years old he went to Yorkshire, England, and was 
there employed as a farm hand until 1850, when he , 
came to America. In November of that year he 
sailed from the port of Liverpool for the United 
States. The vessel was wrecked and was driven to 
the Bermudas. Mr. Rogers finally reached New 
York, after a passage of 13 weeks and three days. 
The severity of the weather and tiie exposure of the 
passengers on the wreck caused the death of many, 
but his good health and powers of endurance ena- 
bled him to survive all, and he landed in a compara- 
tively uninjured condition. He went to Orange Co., 
New York, where he had an older brother, who was 
the only member of his family, besides himself, who 
c ime to the United States. He remained there until 
1855, when he came to Keithsburg, 111., where he 
had some frietids, and was there employed in a ware- 
house for William Gale. He came thence to Warren 
County, in 1858, where he located on the farm on 
which he has continued to reside ever since. He 
h.id bought 160 acres of land in Mercer County, and 
paid for it, but, as it subsequently appeared, the 
party had no legal power to sell it, and in conse- 
quence Mr. Rogers lost both his money and land. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



413 




He, therefore, had to start anew again. In 185 i he 
came here, and has been 35 years in the West. Po- 
litically, he has always been a Democrat and has 
steadily voted for that party. He is engaged in 
raising Short-horn stock, and is an accomplished 
leader in that line of cattle. Before he came to 
Spring Grove Township, he had bought 60 acres of 
land, of which 30 acres were under the plow at the 
time of his purchase. His success has enabled him 
to make further purchases, until he is now the owner 
of a good f.irm, as mentioned above. He has also 
become the owner of 200 acres, situated seven miles 
west of the place on which he lives, and parts of 
which lie respectively in Warren and in Mercer 
Counties. 

The marriage of Mr. Rogers to Mary Murphy took 
place Dec. 26, 1853. She was born in Ireland. She 
was living in Orange County, New York, at the time 
of her marriage. To them have been born six chil- 
dren. Charles is the leading merchant in Little 
York, Warren County, and is represented by a sketch 
on another page. He married Maggie McNamara, 
and they have two children. William resides in 
Sumner Township, and is a farmer. He married 
Miss Hannah McNamara. John is a partner in the 
store with his brother at Little York. Kate is the 
wife of Bartholomew McNamara, of Sumner Town- 
ship; they have two children. Mary and Ann are 
the names of the two unmarried children. 



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ames Simmons, a goodly land owner in 
j ^^fe - Greenbush Township, residing upon sec- 
119?^^ tion 2, was born in Warren County, Ky., 
Aug. 10, 1809. He is a son of William Sim- 
mons, a native of Virginia, who was born in 
1775, and who died in 1865, at the venerable 
age of 90 years. The father was united in marriage 
with Miss Esther Stice, in 1798. She was born in 
1779, in South Carolina, and died in 1855. Their 
union was blessed with the birth of 13 children, who 
were named Peter, Martin, Betsey, James, Charles, 
Sarah, Lucinda, John, Roley, Susan, Herbert, Nancy 
and William. 

James Simmons formed a matrimonial alliance 



with Miss Melinda Jennings, Dec. 9, 1838. She was 
born in 1819, in Indiana, and has borneher husband 
ten children — Elizabeth, born in 1842 ; Sarah E., in 
1844; Samantha J , in 1846; Nancy M., in 1848; 
William E., in 1851, and died May 12, 1884; Eliza 
E., born in 1855 ; Thomas J., in 1857; Ida M., in 
i860; James E., in 1863. Mr. Simmons, of this no- 
tice, when quite young, moved with his parents to 
Howard County, Mo., where, after a residence of one 
year, he removed to Boone County, tliat State. After 
living there about eight years, his father moved to 
this State, and located near Jacksonville. From that 
point he subsequently moved to Iowa, where he died 
in the year stated. Mr. Simmons is the proprietor 
of 373 acres ofland, located on section 2, Greenbush 
Township, and where he resides, passing the sunset 
of his life in the occupation which he has followed so 
many years, but from the active labors of which he is 
retired. 



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■J (ill^ Caldwell Lind, M. D , physician and sur- 

'.^ geon at Monmouth, is of German extrac- 

&CS}'' tion, and was l)orn at Millersburg, Ohio, 
!fC Dec. 16, 1849. His parents were natives of 
A Pennsylvania and were married in Ohio, rear- 
ing five sons and three daughters. Two of the 
sons are physicians, one a jeweler, one a farmer, and 
one is Supreme Recorder of the order of Chosen 
Friends, Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Linn, the mother, 
died in 1885, aged 68 years. The senior Mr. Linn 
is a fawner at or near Paint Valley, Ohio. 

E. Caldwell Linn was reared upon a farm, alter- 
nating the seasons at farm labor and attendance at 
the common schools. At the age of 20 years he en- 
tered the National Normal University at Lebanon, 
Ohio; graduated in 1874, read medicine a while with 
Dr. W. S. Battles, of Shreve, Ohio, took a course of 
study and lectures at the Cincinnati (Ohio) College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, and finally, after one of 
the most thorough courses of preparatory suidy, 
graduated in the spring of 1878 from the Keokuk 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, as M. D. 

He commenced practice at Hamilton, 111., immedi- 
ately after leaving college, and at the end of a yeart 
removed to Bowen, the same State, where he re- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



mained two years. From Bowen he returned to 
Hamilton, and was there connected with the River- 
side Infirmary as consulting physician for about a 
year, coming thence to Monmouth, in the autumn o'i 
1 88 1. Thorouuhly conversant witli the current liter- 
ature of his profession, experienced in therapeutics, 
conscientious in his practice, Dr. IJnn merits and 
enjoys the full confidence of his patrons, who are 
numbered among the intelligent people of Warien ('o. 
He is prominently identified with the various medi- 
cal associations, local and general, and wiiliout osten- 
tatious parade keeps himself abreast with the best of 
them. 

The Doctor was married at Shreve, Ohio, Oct. 12, 
1881, to Miss Louisa Seeberger, the accom[)lished 
daughter of A. A. Seeberger, Esq., now of Mon- 
mouth. Dr. Linn is tlie architect of his own fortune. 
The recipient of no gratuity, what he is, he has 
made himself; what he has, he has earned. Dr. 
Linn is a member and Elder of the United Presby- 
terian Churcii. 



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'ohn Kelsey, residing on a good farm 
||^~ located on section 9, Swan Township, of 
which he is the owner, was born in War- 
ren Co., 111., Jan. 3, 1840, and is the .son of 
James Kelsey, a native of Kentucky, where he 
was born in 1806. The father came to Illi- 
nois in 1834, and first located in Sangamon County. 
He came to this county in 1836, and died here Aug. 
29, 1844. Before coming to Warren County, the 
father of John Kelsey was united in marriage with 
Miss Elizabeth Vandeveer, in 1835. She was horn 
in Indiana in 1815, and died in this county, Aug. 29, 
1872. They were the parents of five children — 
Mary J , Margaret .Ann., John, Willi.iin H. and 
Samuel, all of whom are living. 

John Kelsey was married to MisS Harriet Day, 
Oct. 5, 1865, Rev. Whitehead, of the Baptist Church, 
officiating. She was born in Indiana, June 5, 1849, 
and has borne her husband five children, two of 
wlioin are deceased. The record is as follows : 
Delbert, born Oct. 12, 1866; Emory, Feb. i, 1870, 



and died March 22, 187 1; Mary, born March 6, 
1872; Hershcll, born Aug. 15, 1874, and died Nov. 
15, 1876, and Nettie, born Jan. 27, 1878. The pa- 
rents of Mrs. Kelsey were William H. H. and Sarah 
(Hamilton) Day. Her fatlicr was born in Indiana, 
in 1817, and died one year after coming to this State, 
in 1853. He was married in 1837, and his wife was 
born in Indiana, in 1818, and died in this State, in 
1876. The death of the former was caused by a 
cancer on the breast and he died after an illness of 
about one year. Their children were five in num- 
ber — Amanda, Warren, Emily, Harriet and Mary P., 
all of whom are living and well-to-do in life. 

Mr. Kelsey, of this notice, has 140 acres 01 land 
under an advanced state of cultivation, located on 
sections 9 and 10, Swan Township, where he resides 
and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. In addition 
to the cultivation of his land, he is devoting consid- 
erable of his time and means to the raising of high 
grades of Short-horns, and his horses are from one- 
half to seven-eighths Norman. Mr. Kelsey is a mem- • 
ber of the Baptist Cb.urch, and extremely liberal in 
his religious opinions, although a firm believer in the 
immortality of the soul. He is a just man, a kind • 
father, a generous neighbor, and always willing to 
aid in any enterprise that is calculated to benefit his 
fellow men or the community in which he lives. In ■ 
politics, he is a believer in and sup|K)rter of the prin- 
ciples advocated by the Democratic party. 

Mrs. James Kelsey, mother of the subject of this 
notice, remained a widow for three years after the 
death of her liusband, when she was again married 
to John Blue, a native of Kentucky. Their union 
proved to be a very unliappy one, on account of his 
intemperate habits which caused some of her chil- 
dren, by her former marriage, to leave home, and the 
society of their mother. John, whose biography we 
write, was one of these unfortunate ones, and at the 
age of nine years went to live with his uncle, Ab- 
salom Vandeveer, with whom he resided until he 
was 20 years of age. By energy and perseverance 
he has succeeded in accumulating a goodly share of 
tiiis woild's goods, and is surrounded with a happy 
family of three children. Socially, Mr. Vandeveer is 
a member of the .A. F. & A. M., at Youngstown, be- 
longing to Lodge No. 387. He first joined the order 
in 1853, at Greenbush, this county, and has been 
Treasurer of the Lodge for 25 years. For four years 
.Mr. Vandeveer was Justice of the Peace, in Swan 



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417 



Township, and we deem it no flattery to say that lie 
is one of tlie representative class of agriculturists of 
the county. 



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j; arker R. Parrish, a successful farmer in 
this county, which occupation he has fol- 

(jtSr-i^ lowed for the major portion of his life, is a 
resident on section 4, Ellison Township. He 

fr" was born neat La Fayette, Tippecanoe Co., 
Ind., Jan. 19,1832. The father of Mr, Par- 
rish of this notice was Henry Parrish, a native of 
Virginia, who moved with his parents to Ross Co., 
Ohio, and there resided until his marriage with Eliza 
Harvey, a native of Maine, who accompanied her 
parents on their emigration to that county a i^w 
years prior to her marriage. After their marriage 
they resided in Ohio until six children had been 
born to them, when they moved to Indiana, in 1831, 
and located near LaFayette, then but a hamlet. The 
land at that early period was in its natural condition, 
and the hand of civilization was as yet hardly visible. 
They entered Government land at a time when the 
Indian Reserve was but seven miles from their resi- 
dence, which was located near the battle ground on 
which Harrison overcame Tecumseh, the afterwards 
famous Tippecanoe Valley. The parents continued 
to reside in that beautiful portion of the State, where 
the father followed the occupation of a farmer, and 
where they were both finally laid to rest. 

The subject of this notice was the first child of his 
parents born in Indiana, and the seventh in order of 
birth of the family. He resided at home and got his 
education in the old log-cabin school-house of the 
day, these being the primitive educational advant- 
ages then afforded the community. His years, prior 
to his majority, were passed on the farm, lending a 
hand in the maintenance of the family, and attend- 
ing school. On becoming his own master, Mr. Par- 
rish worked as a general laborer until his marriage. 
This event took place .\pril 16, 1855, in this county, 
when Miss Annaretta Godfrey became his wife. She 
was born July 4, 1828. After marriage Mr. Parrish 
with his wife returned to Indiana, where they lived 
in happy union for seven years, when she passed to 
the land of the hereafter, the date of her demise be- 



ing May ir, 1862. Three children survived her, 
namely: Gus A., who married Florence Livermore, 
and is residing on a farm in this township; Willard, 
who was united in mnrriage with Mary Cramer and 
is at present residing at Red Oak, la., near which 
place he is engaged in stock-raising and farming. 
The third child, Anna, died at the age of seven 
years. 

Mr, Parrish, after the death of his first wife, re- 
turned to this county, where, in Ellison Township, 
on Sept. 7, 1863, he was again married, the lady 
who became his second life-partner being Charlotte 
Godfrey, a sister of his former wife, and the daughter 
of Elijah and Ellen (Davis) Godfrey. Her parents 
were natives of Maryland, prior to whose union the 
parents of both had removed to Ross Co., Ohio, 
where Mr. and ?ilrs. Godfrey first met each other 
and where they were married. The parents of Mrs. 
Godfrey removed to Indiana, and afterwards came 
to this county and located in Ellison Township, 
where her father died, her mother having preceded 
him to the spirit-land during their stay in Tippe- 
canoe Co., Ind. Mrs. Parrish was born in that 
county, Sept. 30, 1837. She was the seventh in or- 
der of birth of a family of ten children, which con- 
sisted of eight daughters and two sons, and resided 
at home, receiving her education in the district 
schools and assisting her mother in the hoasehold 
duties, until her marriage with Mr. Parrish. They 
have become the parents of eight children, three of 
whom are deceased. Those living are Charles E.i 
John O., Ida, Nora B. and Effie E., and the de- 
ceased are Frank, Lucilla and Harry. 

In 1863, Mr. Parrish purchased 80 acres of land 
where he is at present residing. Locating on this 
land, he at once set to work with characteristic en- 
ergy to establish a home for himself and family, 
which would afford a comfortable shelter in the de- 
clining years of their life. By energy and economy, 
hard work and the exercise of a naturally sound 
judgment, he was, in 1875, enabled to purchase an 
additional 160 acres, located on section 3, same 
township, and a few years afterward added thereto 
40 acres of farm land and 28 acres of timber. Mr. 
Parrish has thus increased his landed interests in 
this county until he is at present the owner of 
308 acres of land, all of which, with the exception of 
limber, is tillable. 

In politics, Mr. P. votes with the Democratic 



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418 



WARREN COUNTY. 



party. As an aid in spiritual guidance, he and bis 
wife early united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

In addition to strictly agricultural pursuits, Mr. 
P. is somewhat extensively engaged in the breeding 
and raising of stock. He was the second man in 
this county to recognize the value of the improve- 
ment of Short-horn stock, and began breeding in 
1871. The first Short-horn heifer purchased by 
him is yet on his farm, and weighs 1,800 pounds. 
He is also the proud owner of two full-blood Clydes- 
dale horses, and part owner of three oliiers. Thus 
successful has he proved himself as a propagator of 
improved stock. 

In conneciion with this sketch of the career of a 
representative agriculturist, we present an excellent 
view of his homestead, on page \\(>. 




'acob Hayden, who is passing the sunset 
!?• of his life on his farm, on sections 12 and 
13, Tompkins Township, where he follows 
^^ his chosen vocation, that of an agriculturist, 
was born in Ohio, in 1820. The parents of 
Mr. Hayden, John and Nancy (Ellis) Hayden, 
were natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively, 
riiey moved from the latter State to Ohio in 1816, 
where the father purchased 1 60 acres of land, on 
which he resided with his family, engaged in its cul- 
tivation until his death. The gentleman whose name 
appears at the head of this biographical notice, lived 
with his parents until he was 22 years old, receiving 
at tlieir hands a good common-school edmation. .\t 
that age in life his savings enabled liini to i)urchase 
40 acres of la, id, and after living thereon until 1849, 
he came to this State and for two years farmed on 
rented land in this county. In 1850 he purchased 
80 acres of land in Ellison Township, and tliere re- 
sided for 15 years, until 1865. During that year he 
moved to Tompkins Township, and there purchased 
95 acres, on which he moved and has resided for 20 
years, following the vocation of an agriculturist. 

Miss Mary A. King, an accomplished young hidy, 
native of the Buckeye State, Jan. 27, 1846, became 
the wife of the subject of this notice, and has borne 



children, namely : Sarah F., George, Charles and 
Carrie M. In politics, Mr. Hayden casts his vote 
with the Republican party, and he and his wife are 
consistent, active workers in the cause of religion, 
belonging to the Christian Church. 



;.,. .f. 




W. Armstrong, a practicing physician, re- 
u siding at Kirkwood, this county, was born 
in Knox County, East Tennessee, Jan. 22, 
1807. The parents of "Mr. Armstrong, John 
and Nancy (Wier) Armstrong, were natives of 
Tennessee. They moved from that State to 
Indiana in 1826, where the father followed survey- 
ing and where he purchased a quantity of land, on 
which he lived until his death, Oct. 23, 185 i, his wife 
having preceded him to the land beyond the river, 
July 5, 1818. 

k. W. Armstrong, a sketch of whose life we give 
in this biography, remained with his jjarents until 
one year after attaining his majority. At the age 
named, 22, he took a course of study in the Tennes- 
see Literary College, at which he matriculated and 
followed tlie entire curriculum of that institution, oc- 
cupying six years of hi-; lime. He then taught 
school for two years in the Male Seminary, at Knox- 
ville, Tenn., and also taught Latin in the college 
from which he graduated for one year. In 1833 
Dr. Armstrong cominenced the study of medicine 
with Dr. Mcintosh, a graduate of Edinburgh Col- 
lege, Scotland, with whom he remained two years. 
He then attended a course of lectures at Drake's 
College, Cincinnati, and subsequently took a course 
of study at the Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
where lie gr.iduated, in 1849. He at once entered 
upon the practice of his profession and actively con- 
tinued the same until 1873. During that year he 
took a trip to California, where he remained one year, 
then returned, resumed his practice and continued 
the same until 1879. At this date he took another 
rest from active labor and spent a year in Arkansas, 
when he returned and has since continued his prac- 
tice. In 1844 Dr. Armstrong went to Crawfordsville, 
Ind., where he lived for 12 years. He came to this 
county in 1858 and settled at Kirkwood, and from 
that time until the present, with the exception stated, 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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419 



has actively followed the practice of his profession 
there. He is a gentleman whose re|mtation in the 
community is such that it requires at our hands no 
encomiums, and his success in his profession places 
him among the most prominent men in the county. 

Dr. Armstrong wooed and won Miss Mary West- 
fall, a native of Ohio, and they were married in 
1847. Their union has been blessed with the birth 
of three children — William D., Sarah L. :ind Mattie. 
In politics, the Doctor votes with the Democratic 
patty, and, with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian 
Church. Dr. Armstrong is the oldest physician of 
Kirlcwood,and although in his 78th year, is enjoying 
good health. William D. Armstrong married Miss 
Annie Cargill, a native of Warren County, this .Slate. 
This union has been blessed with seven children, 
viz.: Alfred C, Clarence, Mary, Kdith, Mabel, Wil- 
liam and an infant, at this writing not named. 

Sarah L. married Samuel Allen, a prominent bus- 
iness man of Kirkwood; to them have been born 
' four children, viz. : Kemper, Wilma, Pearl and Nina. 
Kemper is now deceased. Mattie is living with her 
parents and ib a teacher in the public school. 



;>. 




'ohn T. Me Williams, engaged in general 
farming on section i, Ellison Township, 
was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Dec. 
20, 1826. His father, Alexander McWilliams, 
]C of Irish descent, was a native of Pennsylvania 
and a farmer by occupation. He married Miss 
Jane Boyle, in his native State. She was also a na- 
tive of that State and of Scotch ancestry and descent. 
John T., the gentleman whose name stands at the 
head of this notice, was about 17 years of age when, 
in 1844, his parents came to this State, locating in 
Ellison Township, where two years afterward, in 1846, 
the father died, aged 49 years. His mother died at 
the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Alniira Yoho, in 
Ellison Township, in 1883, aged 81 years. John T. 
was the fourth in order of birth of a family of twelve 
children, only four of whom are living, two in Illinois 
and two in Iowa, Mr. McWilliams being the oldest of 
the children living. He received a limited educa- 



tion in the district schools and assisted in the labors 
of the farm, developing into manhood. 

The marriage of Mr, McWilliams took place Aug. 
30, 1855, in the State of Missouri, at which time 
Miss Nancy Sackett, a highly educated. Christian 
lady, became his wife. She was born in 1839, in St. 
Clair County, this State, and died at her home in 
Ellison Township, Dec. 5, 1867. By their union five 
children were born — Charles H., a conductor on the 
Northern Pacific Railroad, and who formerly followed 
the same vocation on the Union Pacific Road ; 
Frank resides in Cheyenne County, Kansas ; Marion 
is living at Mavshalliown, Iowa, wliere he is engaged 
in leaching; Mannda B. became the wife of M. J. 
Ralston, who lives at Creighton, Neb., where he is 
following the occupation of a farmer ; and Amy is 
living at home. Afier the death of his first wife, Mr. 
McWilliams was again married, March 14, 1869, 
the Chiisliaii lady chosen for his wife being Mrs. 
Mary Crosier, nee Loftus. Her parents were natives 
of Kentucky. Of her former union with Mr. Crosier, 
two children were born, and of her latter union with 
Mr. McWilliams, three children have been born, one 
of whom is deceased. The living are A. J. and 
Archie, who reside at home. Mrs. McWilliams de- 
parted this life Aug. 3, 1879, at her home in Ellison 
Township. 

Mr. McWilliams made his first purchase of land 
in this county in 1869, the same consisting of 80 
acres. He at present has 60 acres under an ad. 
vanced state of cultivation. He and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. 
McWilliams enlisted in the Mexican War in an in- 
dependent company of Illinois Cavalry, and was in 
active service as e scout, but was in no general en- 
gagement. He was discharged at the close of the 
w.ir, in August, 1848. He also enlisted in the war 
for the Union, joining Co. C, 83d 111. Vol. Inf., and 
was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, where 
his regiment was uiider the command of General 
Thomas. He belonged to a mounted company and 
participated in no general engagement, but in nu- 
merous skirmishes. He was finally transferred from 
tlie 83d to the 61st Regiment, and received an hon- 
orable discharge in 1865. In the cyclone that swept 
away the village of Ellison, May 30, 1858, Mr. Mc- 
Williams lost two sisters, Mary A. and Harriet, both 
young ladies, and both killed by the tornado at that 



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420 



WARREN COUNTY. 



time. In politics, Mr. McWilliams is a believer in 
and a supporter of the principles of the Republican 

parly. 



^fSj.^-harles S. Fletcher, a farmer on section 17, 
cj' Li^^^ Tompkins Township, Warren County, 
§1^ "^ was born in Ferrisburgh, Addison Co., 
^¥) Vt., June 9, 1825. His parents were Samuel 
(k and Ida (Cousins) Fletcher, natives of Eng- 
land and Vermont respectively. .Samuel 
Fletcher was a signal officer at the battle on Lake 
Champlain under Commodore McDonougli, and re- 
ceived $1,000 as ijrize money. He was Captain of 
the Ethan .Allen, a vessel on Lake Champlain, and 
during a heavy storm in 1832 he was swept over- 
, board and drowned. His wife's death occurred in 
1829. 

Charles S. Fletcher (the subject of this article), 
who, previous to his father's death, had been placed 
in the care of Samuel Spafford, came to Ohio with 
him in 1832. He continued a member of that gen- 
tleman's family until he was 14 years of age. He 
remained in the Buckeye State until lie attained his 
20th year, when he embarked in the show business, 
and for 15 years traveled with a menagerie and cir- 
cus, during which period he was with a company ex- 
hibiting through the West Indies and South America, 
in which countries he also made a large collection of 
birds, reptiles and other curiosities. At the age of 
35 years, Mr. Fletcher came to Ellison Township, 
Warren County, where he had previously purchased 
160 acres of land, and tliere remained, cultivating 
and improving the same for a period of two years, 
and then sold and purchased anoilier tract of 160 
acres, in the same township, being a resident of it 
for about the same length of time as he was the 
other. His ne.xt move was to his present location, 
where he has landed possessions to the number of 90 
acres on section 17 and 5 acres on section 6, tliis 
township, and 640 acres in Nebraska. In 1876 Mr. 
F. erected a residence, which cost him in the neigh- 
borhood of $11,000, which he sold soon after com- 
pleting. His home farm presents the appearance of 
thrift and energy, and is in an advanced slate of cul- 



tivation. He carries on a general farming, and is 
one of the substantial men of Warren County. 

Mr. Fletclier and .Miss Sarali E. Wilson, a native 
of Connecticut, were united in the holy bonds of 
matrimony Oct. 28, r86o. Her parents were Clark 
S. and Elizabeth .\. (Peck) Wilson, both natives of 
the State of Connecticut. They came West in the 
fall of 1 86 1, and are now residing with Mr. and Mrs. 
Fletcher. They have become the parents of a fam- 
ily of eight children, all surviving, except one, as 
follows: Samuel C, born July 20, 1862; Sidney W., 
born May 31, 1864; Nina E., born Feb. i, [866, 
Ninette A., born Nov. 6, 1869; Ida May, born May 
I, 1872; Ethan Allen, b.)rn Sept. 9, 1876; and 
Charles B., born Aug. 26, 1884; and Minerva I., 
deceased. 

Politically, Mr. F. affiliates with tlie principles of 
the Republican party. 




W. Nisely, one of Warren County's ener- ] 
getic and prosperous farmers, resides on 
section 34, Roseville Township; is a son 
of Jacob and Margaret (Hawk) Nisely, having 
been born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 
1818. His parents were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the former came to Jefferson Co., Ohio, 
in 18 1 6, and engaged in the distilling business, and 
also that of a farmer for some time. They died in 
Medina, Ohio, the father in 1867 and the mother in 

1874. 

G. W. Nisely remained at home until he was 25 
years of age, spending his time in the common 
schools and at work for his father. He has a good 
farm of 130 acres, carries on a general farming busi- 
ness, and is recognized as one of the solid and sub- 
stantial men of Warren County. 

On the 9th of March, 1853, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah M. Mabry, who was a native 
of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and 
Esther (Leurman) Mabry, of Ohio. They have a 
family of ten children, to whom they have given the 
following names: Homer, George W., Mary, Jerome, 
John F., Hester M., Thomas B., Charles E., .Albert 
A. and Kittie M. Mr. Nisely is a Prohibitionist in 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



423 



political views, and with his wife, is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

There were 13 children in the family of Mr. 
Nisely's father, eight of whom are living. Samuel, 
one of the sons, lives in Iowa. The remainder are 
all living in Ohio, except the subject of this sketch. 

Jacob Nisely, the father, died in Medina County, 
at the age of 76 years. His wife, and mother o( 
George, died also in that county at the age of 76 
years. Mr. Nisely left home in the spring of 1855, 
and stopped in Peoria County, and the next year 
went to Knox County. He came to Warren County 
in 1857 and rented land until 1864, when he pur- 
chased 80 acres on section 34, of Roseville Township 
and here has lived to the present. 




Thomas Patton, of the firm of Patton & 
Beedee, dealers in flour, seeds, pumps, ag- 
fS^S^"''* ricultural implements, lime, cement, etc., 
at Monmouth, 111., was born in Adams Co., 
Ohio, Nov. 20, 1831. The parents of Mr. Pat- 
ion, John S. and Jane (McCague) Patton, reared 
two sons and two daughters. The senior Mr. Pat- 
ton was twice married (see biography of R. S. Pat- 
ton). 

The subject of this biographical notice was 
brought up on his father's farm. Of the children 
Mr. Palton was the third in order of birtli and 
the second son. At the common schools he acquired 
a good English education and taught successfully for 
several years in Ohio. In 1855 he came to Illinois 
and resided in Peoria County up to 1868, teaching 
school in the meantime, five or six winters, and car- 
rying on a farm during the summer. In 1868 he re- 
moved to Warren County and was engaged in the 
occupation of an agriculturist, in Hale Township, for 
about ten years, coming thence to Monmouth, where 
he has since been engaged in his present business. 
His first partner was M. A. Gidding; his second, D. 
C. Goudy ; and the third, Mr. Beedee. Mr. Patton 
was a successful former and is likewise a popular 
and successful merchant. Before coming to Mon- 
mouth, he was two years School Trustee, and since 
residing here he has represented his ward two years 
in the city council. 

Mr. Patton formed a matrimonial alliance with 



Miss Esther Stevenson, in Marshall Co., III., Oct. i6, 
1856. Mrs. Patton died in 1877, leaving four chil- 
dirn— Ella J. (Mrs. R. Miller), Charles, Nannie B. 
an( Alice. Mr. Patton's second marriage occurred 
at Monmouth, in 1878, the present Mrs. Patton hav- 
ing been Mrs. Eliza J. Davidson, nee Black. Relig- 
iously, both Mr. and Mrs. Patton are members of the i 
United Presbyterian Church. 



■^ 'i,harles E. Russell. Among the prominent 
Ij^ young farmers of Warren County, we have 
||&°'"*' the subject of this personal narrative. He 
"^"9 lives on section 14, of Lenox Townsliip, and is 
'^ a son of Jonathan Russell, a prominent farmer 
of the county, whose biography is given in 
this Album. His mother, Lydia A. (Evans) Rus- 
sell, was a native of Pennsylvania. Charles was born 
in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1859. He , 
received a good education in the schools of this 
county, his | arents having moved here when he was 
about a year old. Here he was reared and has since '^ 
lived. He is the owner of 70 acres of good, tillable 
land in Lenox Township, section 22. He is a mem- 
ber of the order of the Golden Rule, and in political 
faith, is a Republican. 

Mr. Russell was married at Monmouth, Sept. 4, 
1884, to Lonie L. Shaw, daughter of Clarkston Shaw 
and Melissa J. Codington, natives of New York and 
Kentucky respectively. Mrs. R. was born in Spring 
Grove Township, Nov. i, 1864. 



-^#>|J^^ 




osepb Tinkham, one of the large land- 
owners of Warren County, living in retire- 
y' ' ment at Kirkwood, where he is passing the 
J^ sunset of his life in peace and quiet, in the 
ju enjoyment of the comforts which are the re- 
ward of a life of labor, energy and persever- 
ance, was born in the Green Mountain State, March 
26, 1812. 

The parents of Mr. Tinkham were Benjamin and 
Anna (Gray) Tinkham, natives of Vermont and New 
Hampshire respectively. His father was a farmer 
and died in his native State in 1827. Mrs. Tink- 



in/c 



"T 



^ 



•«^ 



424 



Y. . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



■?-^ 



ham, mother of tlie subject of this notice, came to 
this State and resided with her children until her 
death, in i86i. Of this union, six children were 
born — Mary, |ose|)h, Benjamin, Ransom, Erastus 
and Amerettc. 

Joseph, the second child, whose name heads tiiis 
biography, passed the years of his life prior to at- 
taining his majority, under the care of his parents, 
receiving at their hands a good education, and as- 
sisting his father on the farm. On becoming his 
own master, his ambition to accumulate a compe- 
tency for himself immediately began to assert itself. 
He left the parental homestead and worked out for 
six years. In 1835, when 22 years of age, realizing 
that better inducements were offered to young men 
in the undeveloped West, he emigrated to this State, 
and located in Warren County, wliere he purchased 
160 acres of land. To his original purchase he sub- 
sequently added 500 acres, uj)on wliich he moved 
witli his family and resided until 1881, during wjiich 
■time the land was brought to a high state of cultiva- 
tion. In the year last mentioned, he retired from 
the active labors of life and removed to Kirkwood, 
wiiere he purchased a house and lot and wliere he 
has made his place of residence since. 

Mr. Tinkham was married in 1841, the lady 
chosen to be his companion for life being Miss Ann 
Robinson, a native of the Keystone State, where she 
was born Dec. 13, 1815. Her parents, William R. 
and Sarah (Witcher) Robinson, natives of the State 
of Virginia, came to Illinois, locating in Sangamon 
County, in 1836, and after a period of four years re- 
moved to Logan County, At the latter place they 
entered on Government land and began to work 
the same, their farm being under an advanced state 
of cultivation when the mother died in 1845. The 
father's death occurred at the residence of his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Ann Tinkham, in Kirkwood village, this 
county, in 1858. They were natives of Virginia, 
where her father wjs born in 1779, and her mother 
in 1795. The grandparents of Mrs. Tinkham were, 
on the father's side, McKenna Robinson and Kliz- 
abeth Wamsley, also natives of Virginia. On the 
mother's side, her ancestors were James Witcher and 
Mary Kelly, who were likewise Virginians. Of the 
union of William K. Robinson and Sarah Witcher, 12 
children were the offspring, viz.: Mary, Rebecca, 
Elizabeth, Sarah, Ann, Mary Ann, Lydia, Jane, Mi- 
nerva, William, Kiltie and Christopher T. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tinkham have been born 
two children to brighten and bless their family cir- 
cle. Mary A. marrietl Samuel H. Smith and is the 
mother of four children — Jessie M., Mary D., Hayden 
F. and Edna F. who resides in this county. Joseph 
\\ , married Emily Blanch Cunningham, and their 
family comprises three children — Willard B., Zelma 
B. and Mary F., and they also live in this county. 

Mr. Tinkham is a Democrat in political opinion, 
and, with his wife, belongs to the Christian Church. 
He is a stock-holder in the First National Bank at 
Kirkwood, has served this community as Supervisor, 
Township Treasurer, and in other minor offices, and 
is justly regarded as one of the mfluential men of 
Kirkwood village. Mr. Tinkham's portrait appears 
on page 422. 



^000^ 




(Ts. Martha M. Bennett, widow of Her- 
man K. Bennett, resides on section 20, 
' Tompkins Township, where she is en- 
gaged in carrying on agricultural pursuits, 
'X cultivating the land left her by her hiisband 
Herman K. Bennett, who was born Sept. 8, 
1833, in Madison Co., N. Y., and departed this life 
Nov. 8, 1879. Mr. Bennett received a good educa- 
tion in the common schools and was an inmate of 
his parents's household until he attained the age of 
17 years. At this time he went forth to do for him- 
self, and for three years worked out by the month. 
He then came to this Stale and engaged in the oc- 
cupation of agriculture, which he made a lifetime 
pursuit. In 1854 he purchased 80 acres of land on 
section 19, 'I'ompkins Township, on which he loca- 
ted with his family and at once entered actively and 
laboriously upon the task of its improvement and cul- 
tivation. By hard labor and economy, coujjled with 
the active co-operation of his good helpmeet, he suc- 
ceeded in saving sufficient to enable him to add 40 
acres to his original purchase, the same being loca- 
ted on section 31. He lived and labored on his farm, 
determining to make it a permanent home for him- 
self and family, until his death, at which time he left 
a clear title to 120 acres of good farm land to his 
wife and children. 

The ceremony which united the lives of Mr. Ben- 



<^ 



*t 




-4 



*t 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



425 



nett and Miss Martha M. Fitzsimmons, was solemn- 
ized Marcii 5, 1 86 1. She was a native of New York 
and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dewitt) 
Fitzsimmons, natives of the same State. Their union 
was blessed with the birth of two children — Will H. 
and Cora E. Mrs. Bennett has, since her husband's 
death, pure! ased 160 acres of land, on section 20, 
east of the old homestead, upon which she now re- 
sides and manages the cultivation of her entire farm 
of 280 acres. In politics, Mr. B. was a Republican. 
He was a gentleman possessed of a large amount of 
benevolence and never failed to lend a helping hand 
to tlie needy, or failed to aid any good undertaking 
that was calculated to benefit the community, either 
with his time or means. 



>-5~# o<S^«i)>-^>o g!-^-<i 



fesD, 



jl^lisha J. Hughen, is a member of the agri- 

t cultural community of the township of 



^^^ Point Pleasant, and is located on section 

iS. 14. He was born in Greene Co., Ind., Aug. 
A 31, 1825, and is a son of Samuel Hughen who 
was a native of South Carolina. The latter 
was born in the District of Newbury, in that State, 
and was married to Susannah Jones, who was a na- 
tive of the same State and District. Some years 
after their marriage they removed to Indiana, being 
among the earliest of the permanent white settlers 
there. Mr. Hughen, senior, bought a large tract of 
timber land, where he cleared a farm, which was the 
place of his residence and the field of his operations 
until his death, which occurred in 1827. The mother, 
by that prudent management characteristic of par- 
ents in her generation, succeeded in keeping her 
fatherless flock of seven children together until they 
grew to the age of maturity and were settled in life. 
In 1856, she came to Warren County to become a 
member of the family of the son who is the subject 
of this narration, and with whom she passed the last 
years of her life. She died in 1859. 

Mr. Hughen was less than two years of age when 
his father died. As boy and man, he devoted him- 
self to the service of his mother, contin.uing to assist 
in the cultivation of the home farm, until his mar- 
riage, solely for her benefit. 

In 1847, he was joined in the bonds of matrimony 



with Mary, daughter of Drury and Elizabeth (Hurd) 
Boyd, and with his wife remained residents of the 
old family homestead until their removal to Warren 
County. 

After their arrival here they farmed rented land 
for two years. In 1858, Mr. Hughen bought 80 
acres, which he has since retained possession of and 
upon which he has expended the best energies of his 
life. It was all wild prairie and previous to taking 
possession with his family he was under the neces- 
sity of erecting a dwelling into which they moved in 
the spring of 1859. He has since enlarged the 
homestead by the purchase of 40 acres additional. 
The entire farm is under a high state of cultivation, 
being devoted to mixed husbandry, and Mr. Hughen 
may well be proud, not only of his success in secur- 
ing a competency for the future, but also upon the 
reputation he has attained as a model farmer. He 
and his wife are the parents of four children. Eliz- 
abeth is the wife of J. Newton Anstine, of Seward 
Co., Neb. Esther married James King. She died 
leaving four children. Her husband and children 
live in Missouri. Susannah died in early chilhood. 
William resides at home with his father and mother. 
The latter is a member of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. 



^«5hJh*^ 



(\ 




ansom Roberts, a representative citizen of 
the agricultural class of Warren County, 
^' residing upon section 2, Swan Township, 



•J^ 



'}\^ where he is the proprietor of 218 acres of 
good farm land, is a native of this county, hav- 
ing been born here Apr. 2, 1839. He is a son of 
Abijah Roberts, a nativeof Ohio, who was born Jan.z6, 
1798, came to this State in 1834 and loc;ited in Swan 
Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land, on 
section 12. He died June 23, 185 i, of cholera, after 
an illness of 24 hours. He was buried in the Bond 
Cemetery, Greenbush Township. Miss Laura Smith 
became his wife Dec. 10, 1836, they having been 
married in Morgan County. She was born in Mor- 
gan County, July 9, 1820, and was the first white 
child born in that county, her parents, Phineas and 
Lucy Smith, being pioneer settlers there. 

Mrs. Laura Roberts, mother of the subject of this 



-— ♦• 



V 



^ 



r^T^^ 



426 



WARREN COUNTY. 



notice, died Feb. 3, 1877, and was likewise buried in 
Bond Cemetery. .She was the mother ot seven chil- 
dren, five of whom survive, the eldest two having 
died in infancy. Those living are Ransom, born 
April 2, 1839; Abirum, April 15, 184 1 ; Mariette, 
Dec. 16, 1843; Gilbert, July 8, 1845; (Jeorge W., 
April 1 1, 1849. 

Ransom Roberts, of whom we write, formed a mat- 
rimonial alliance with Miss Henrietta Vandeveer Jan. 
15, 1874. She was born March 18, 1847, '" t'''^ 
county, and died of consumption July 28, 1878, and 
lies buried in Bond Cemetery. 

Mr. Roberts enlisted in the war for the Union, in 
August, 1862, joining Co. H, 83d 111. Vol. Inf., and 
was mustered into service at Monmouth, 111 , Aug. 
21, of that year. He spent three years in his coun- 
try's service, and was mustered out June 26, 1865, 
at Nashville, and paid off at Chicago. Socially, Mr. 
Roberts is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Lodge 
No 387, at Youngstown. He joined that order in 
1872. In politics, he votes with and supports the 
principles advocated by the Greenback party. 



-v^f- 



^ — ,,-sSt. — 



^t arnard Kidder, deceased, was one of the 
sL' i pioneer settlers of Swan Township, Wari-en 
-/' >^ Co., 111. to which section he removed in 
^u^ September, 1837, from near Woodstock, Cham- 
r") paign Co., Ohio. He was born in Mansfield, 
Conn., March 11, 1806, and was of Puritan nn- 
cestry. He died at the family residence in Swan 
Township, Sept. 25, 1864, of typhoid fever. 

His earliest American ancestor, was James K d- 
der, who, marrying Anna Moore in 1649, came to 
New England about 1650, from East Grinste' d, 
County Sussex, England, and settled in Cam- 
bridge, Mass., but soon removed to Billeiica, 
Mass. The ancestry has been traced back six gen- 
erations in England. Maresfield, County Sussex, 
was the ancestral home of the Kidders in old Eng- 
land. It is an agricultural country. The Kidders 
were land-holders there and some of them Wardens 
of the Parish Church. Richard Kidder, in 1492, was 
of the manor of Maresfield. The name appears there 
200 years earlier. Later, one of them was a Bailiff 



of Ashdown Forrest, a part of the manor. The 
manor of Maresfield was the property of John of 
Gaunt, and there is authority for the statement that 
Wycliffe found an asylum there for a time during his 
retirement under the protection of John. From 
James (ist) above mentioned, the line runs through 
James (2d) of Billerica, Mass , born Jan. 3, 1854, at 
Cambridge; married Sept. 23, 1678, to Elizabeth 
Brown; James (3d), born June 27, 1679; married 
Mary Abbott, at Concord, Mass., and settled in 
Mansfield, Conn., in 1703; Nathaniel (4th), of Mans- 
field, born Oct. 30, 17 12; married Ann Royce ; Na- 
thaniel (5th), of Mansfield, born March 5, 17-54; 
married widow Mary (Cross) Barrow; Nathaniel 
(6th), born Nov. 25, 1782; married Speedy Whit- 
more; Larnard (7th), the subject of this sketch, born 
as before stated. 

Larnard Kidder had moved from ('onnecticut in 
1822, with his father's family, near Woodstock, 
Champaign Co., Ohio, and was married March 22, 
1837, to Mary A., daughter of Abisha and Lucinda 
(Hastings) Hoisington, in Ohio. She had emigrated 
with her father's family from Windsor, Vt., in 1817, 
where she was born April 5, 1809, and was of Puri- 
tan ancestry. After their marriage they moved to 
Warren Co., 111., settling in Swan Township, as al- 
ready mention, being among the first settlers of that 
portion of the county. Though 20 miles away, Mon- 
mouth was then the nearest postoffice, and the jxjst- 
age charged by Uncle Sam for carrying a letter in 
that day was 25 cents. The country was wild prairie 
with groves and timber along the large streams. The 
Black Hawk War of 1832, had cleared the country 
of Indians. 

Mr. Kidder's first attempt in aid of the development 
of the, then, primitive country, was on a farm,of 320 
acres which is now a portion of the village of Youngs- 
town. In 1S38 the first house was built on the 
site where Benjamin H. Kidder's house now stands, 
about 60 rods north of the southeast corner, south- 
east quarter section 28, near the east line. It was a 
story and a half hewed log house, 18 x 20 feet, with 
large brick fire-place at the north end, the chimney 
being carried up outside of the wall, as was customary 
in that day when stoves were an unknown feature of 
the domestic arrangement. There was one window 
in the east and one in the south wall, and a door 
opening upon a porch, extending the length of the 
east side. The roof was of clap-boards secured by 



"T" 



-lAl 



i 




Residence of wr M. Lair, Sec. so, Kelly Township 



-M~ 



V. 
WARREN COUNTY. 



•^^^^ 



429 



1 

h 



weight poles. It was in this house that life began in 
earnest. It was a house identical in almost every 
particular with that built by his father, in Ohio, in 
1822, a prototype of the dwelling houses built by our 
Puritan ancestors among the hills and valleys of 
New England, on the banks of the Concord and Mer- 
rimac and by the swift waters of the Wiliimantic and 
Connecticut, and which, no doubt, were patterned 
after the homes of the ancestry dwellings on the 
downs of Sussex, or in the Forest of Ashdown. In 
such homes our progenitors have faithfully done the 
labors of this life, cheerfully accepted the privations 
and heroicly borne the many burdens allotted to 
mankind. Yet, in them were many joys, and thougii 
always often cut off more or less widely apart, yet 
good society and kind friends were not wanting. 
They contained a thrifty household, the fireside glad- 
dened by bright faces, children in health and happi- 
ness, the pure manners and customs of the old times 
and the oft repeated story of sire and grandsire, 
'mother and grandmother, were, as " mother, home 
and heaven." These, with the sacred regard for re- 
ligion and the highest standard of morality, must not 
be too hastily dismissed for the modern advancement, 
nor can we who have shared sojiie of them in child- 
hood, recall them but with pleasure, nor dismiss 
them from thought without a sigh for their departure. 
Larnard Kidder was a man of energy and great in- 
dustry, and in addition to his success in the develop- 
ment of his farm, he had the satisfaction of securing 
for his children the advantages of more than a 
common school education. He devoted liimself ex- 
clusively to farming, that calling iiaving been his 
inheritance through many generations, and the pros- 
perity which attended his efforts in the cultivation of 
his land was of the most satisfactory nature. He was 
diligent and resolute, practical and honest, faithful in 
the discharge of duty, moral and upright, and a long 
and faithful search into the records of the past dis- 
closes the fact that his forefathers were posseseed 
of like traits of character, proving that character is 
hereditary to a very great extent. In religion he was 
not a member of any Church organization, nor had 
his ancestors been for several generations. Yet he 
was not without religious opinions, many of which 
were in advance of the time in which he lived. His 
funeral services were conducted by Rev. I. N. West- 
fall, a Universalist minister. In politics, he was a 
Whig, then a Republican. He never sought office. 



but was elected Justice of the Peace, School Director, 
Township Treasurer and to other minor offices. He 
left no will. Records of the administration of his es- 
tate, in Warren County Court, places the amount of 
inventory at $22,739.38. In taking leave of Mr. 
Kidder it is claimed for him only, that he was one of 
the many whose push labor and enterprise made 
good farms and pleasant homes of the wild lands of 
Warren County, and hence contributed to the general 
prosperity — that lie was a good citizen. 

The children of Larnard and Mary A. Kidder are : 
Almon, born Feb. 27, 1838, an attorney at Mon- 
mouth; William O., Aug. 13, 1839; Henry H., May 
25, 1841; Benjamin H., April 7, 1843; Nathaniel, 
July 31, 1845; Olive M. (Davis), Jnly 3, 1847; 
Ehza A. (Mapes), Aug. 5, 1849. This sketch, which 
contains the results of much research, is given for a 
memorial of the dead, yet no more for the benefit of 
those living, than for those to come. His widow still 
survives and resides at the old homestead. 



*ir 



ffff^fj; eonard W. Edelman is a farmer on section 
i] l^M - 34. in t'le township of North Henderson, 
Mercer County, 111., his farm lying on the 
line between Mercer and Warren Counties. 
He was born Feb. 15, 1832, in Rush Co,, Ind., 
and is the son of Alexander Edelman, who was 
a pioneer of Knox Co., 111. The grandparents of 
Mr. Edelman were natives of Germany. The latter 
was born in Tennessee, in i8or, and accompanied 
the family of his father to Kentucky when a youth. 
Thence they went to Indiana, where he was a resi- 
dent through the remainder of his early life and was 
there married to Mary Heflin. Her great-grandfa- 
ther Heflin was a soldier in the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and his daughter lived until a few years ago, 
when she died, at the age of 95 years. The wife was 
a native of the State of Kentucky, and the newly 
married people lived in Rush County until 1840. In 
that year they came, with the four children which 
had been born to them, to Illinois. They traveled 
with ox-teams and covered wagons and brought with 
them all their houseliold belongings. They made 
their first location on the prairie, in the township of 

A- 



i^ 



^ 



" 430 



' . -Y. . • 

WARREN COUNTY. 



-— ^ 



Rio, in Knox County. A log house was constructed 
for the accommodation of the faniily and it was the 
homestead 14 years. The father tlien sold the claim 
and caniii to Warren County and settled in Kelly 
Township. He bought a quarter-section (of section 
2), resided there a few years, and went thence to 
Union County, in this State, in the spring of i860, 
where his life terminited. The deatli of his wife 
preceded his own by several years. Tl-.ey were the 
parents of seven children. Lewis G. lives in Wil- 
lia'nette, C)., Oregon; Leonard \V. is the next in 
order of birth of the survivors; James A. lives at 
Snake River, Idaho; Elizabeth resides with her 
bro'her, the subject of this record. These are the 
' surviving children of Alexander and Mary Edelman. 
Rachael A., one of the daughters, married Samuel 
\ Smith in October, 1854, and died in March, 1856. 
} Leonard W. came to Knox County with his parents 
' in 1840, and was a resident there with them through 
• his youth. He was reared on the farm and attended 
r the common schools as a jKipil. When he was 14, 
I his mother died and he rem lined with his father 
I until he was of age. He had become infected with 
the Western fever to such an extent that when he 
found himself at liberty to engage with the world in 
in a single-handed contest, he connected himself with 
a party to go to the Pacific coast. The company 
set forth April 5, 1853, to cross the country, and Mr. 
Edelman drove an ox-team the entire distance from 
Warren County to the valley of the Williamette, in 
Oregon. He arrived there in September, after a 
journey of five months. He slept on the ground 
every night while on the road. After crossing the 
Missouri River, the party cast lots for the choice of 
a sentinel to guard the camp from Indians, and the 
lot fell to him. When he located in Oregon, he set- 
tled on a piece of land, of wiiicli he was the occu- 
pant four years and six months. He made some 
improvements and fenced a portion of the property, 
and while he held possession of it was a part of the 
time at work in the mountains. In 1858 Mr. Edel- 
man set out to return to his former home in Illinois. 
He came by way of Panama and New York, landing 
in May, of the same year. On Aug. 26, 1858, he 
was married to Lydia J. Miller. Mrs. Edelman is 
the daughter of Christian and Mary (Brown) Miller. 
They passed the first year after their marriage on 
the farm of her father, and the year succeeding was 
devoted to the care of a rented farm. In 186 1 Mr. 



Edelman purchased 40 acres of land in the township 
in which he now live-;. He paid one-half of the 
purchase money in obtaining a title to his property 
and on the remainder paid 25 per cent, interest. In 
1864 he bought 100 acres on section 33, in the same 
township, and removed his family to the newly ac- 
quired farm. He has added to his acreage by later 
purchase and is at present the owner of 280 acres in 
North Henderson Township and of 80 acres in Kelly 
Township, in Warren County. The latter is situated 
just across the line of the two counties. All the land 
belonging to Mr Edelman is in first class agricultu- 
ral condition. It is equip[)ed in the best posr.ible 
manner for the business of a successful farmer. Mr. 
Edelman is giving his attention to mixed husbandry, 
and raises cattle of an excellent grade. The farm 
residence of the family is on section 34, of North 
Henderson Township, on the county line, and a 
view of it is given in this Ai-bum on page 428. 

The record of the births of the children of the 
Edelman household is as follows : George W., Aug. 
15, 1864; Frank M., April 4, 1867 ; Alfred A., Oct. 
3, i86g; Eddie L., June 8, 1872; Ida M., Sept. i, 
1874; Lotta D., March 10, 1878. Mary E.,the first 
born child, was born July 7, 1859, and died Dec. 30, 
1863; Ella E., born Sept. 18, 1861, died Feb. 18, 
1864. Politically, Mr. Edelinan is a Democrat. He 
is not a member of any ch nch organization. 



vtstOM^^ 



K^>»^-a'OTOTw« 




F. Guilinger, a successful tiller of the soil, 
residing on section 23, Tompkins Town- 
ship, is a son of John L. and Martha M. 
(Fii.ley) Guilinger, natives of Virginia and 
Ohio respectively. The parents came to this 
State in 1856, locating in Mercer County, 
where tiie father was engaged in farming for a num- 
ber of years. He then came to Monmouth, where 
he resided, retired from the active labors of life, until 
his death, the date thereof being 1878. His wife, 
mother of the subject of this notice, departed this 
life while the family were residents of Mercer County, 
in 1864. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this notice, was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 



*% 



r 



<4-^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



43' ? 



1846. He remained with his parents, receiving the 
advantages afforded by the common schools and as- 
sisting his father in the maintenance of the family, 
and thus developed into manhood. When the Union 
was imperiled by the secession of the Southern 
States, Mr. Guilinger enlisted in its cause, becoming 
a member of Co. A, 83d 111. Vol. Inf. He served 
four months, when he was transferred to Co. E, 6ist 
111. Vol. Inf., and was with that regiment four 
months. He received an honorable discharge, Oct. 
8, 1865, and returned home. On arriving home, he 
attended school one year and then purchased a farm 
of 80 acres in Tompkins Township, and entered 
upon the vocation of an agriculturist, determined to 
follow the same during his life. The land which he 
purchased, was on section 23 of the township named, 
and he at once located upon it and engaged actively 
and energetically in its improvement and cultivation, 
and has continued to reside thereon until tlie pres- 
ent time. 

Mr. Guilinger was married to Miss Carrie Martin, 
a native of this State, and a daughter of Josiah and 
Elizabeth (Sproul) Martin, in 187 i. Of their union 
three children have been born — Albia L., Ralph M. 
and Charles G. In his political belief, Mr. Guilinger 
coincides with the principles advocated by the Re- 
publican party. In religion he and his wife are 
members of the United Presbyterian Church. 





[mold Eldred, retired farmer, residing in 
r Roseville, was born in Rensselaer Co., N. 
Y., in the year 1817. His parents were 
'^!j^ John and H.innah (Fox) Eldred, natives of 
Rhode Island, where his father was engaged 
) in the occupation of farming. Their family 
consisted of 16 children, eight of whom survive. 

Arnold Eldred, whose name heads this article, re- 
mained under his parents' influence^ attending the 
district schools in the acquisition of an English edu- 
cation and assisting on the farm, and had charge of 
the same for a while previous to attaining his 27th 
year. At that age in life he left home and started in 
the mill business, which he followed until his emi- 
gration West in 1852, when he came to Illinois and 



located in Kendall County. He rented a farm in the 
latter county and entered actively on its improve- 
ment and cultivation, which he continued for one 
year, when he came to Roseville Township, Warren 
County, and purchased 120 acres on section 17, and 
there remained for 17 years, making his permanent 
abiding place thereon. He put the land under an 
excellent state of cultivation and has it well equipped. 
In an early day he had to go to Pontoosuc, on the 
Mississippi River, to have his grinding done, and the 
nearest market was at Peoria, 60 miles away. In 
1872 he removed into the village of Roseville, having 
purchased nine acres of land inside the corporation 
limits. He built a residence upon the same and is 
spending the sunset of his years in peace and quiet 
thereon. 

Arnold Eldred and Miss Eliza Devoe were united 
in marriage, Jan. 11, 1852. She vvas a native of 
New York, and the daughter of Abraham and Polly 
(Walrath) Devoe, also natives of the Empire State, 
and by occupation farmers. Mr. Eldred is a prom- 
inent and leading man of Warren County, and, polit- 
ically, casts his vote with the Prohibition party. He 
and his wifs are members of the Baptist Church. 




ames Campbell, a prosperous and highly 
.' respected farmer of Hale township, resid- 
ing on section 6, is a son of James and 
Jane (Reed) Campbell. The former was a 
son of William and Margaret Campbell, and 
was born in County Antrim, Ireland, ir. 1799. 
He married Jane Reed, daughter of John and Mar- 
garet Reed. The parents were married on their 
native isle and emigrated to the United States in the 
autumn of 1850. Soon after, they came to this State 
and settled in Henderson County, where they lived 
until their death They both died in December, 
1S74, and only eight days apart, the mother's death 
occurring on the 12th and the father's on the 20th. 
Their children were nine in number, of whom the 
subject of this notice was the eighth in order of 
birth. The first-born died in infancy, the next was 
William B., then Joseph, Elizabeth, Margaret, Maria, 
James and Jane Ann. Joseph is deceased. 

On his father's side, James Campbell is of Scotch 



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432 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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descent ; his maternal grandfather was of English 
descent, his wife, however, was of Scottish ancestry. 
She was one of the Daiisons of Scotland. Both the 
ancestors of Mr. Campbell bore arms under William 
of Orange. The family were among the first Pro- 
testants of Scotland, but the father and mother of 
our subject joined the Methodist I'^piscopal Church 
shortly after their marriage. All of his children, as 
they grew up, united with that Church, of which they 
are still members. 

Six of the elder Campbell's uncles came to Amer- 
ica prior to the Revolutionary War. They were 
a strong, stalwart race, over six feet in height, and 
all of the six brothers enlisted in defense of the Col- 
onies. 

James Campbell, Sr., set sail for America with his 
family, Aug. 18, 1850, and were many weeks on their 
journey to New Orleans, where they landed. They 
came up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Cuba, 
when they could go no further by water on account 
of the river being frozen over. From that point, Mr. 
Campbell walked to where his brother lived in Hen- 
derson County. He tliere procured teams and 
moved his family and effects to Greenville Precinct, 
Henderson County. He arrived there Nov. 18, 1850. 
He remained witli his brother's family for a short 
time, when he bought a (piarter-section of land on 
what was then known as the Lost Prairie, now em- 
braced in Ball Bluff Townsliip, Henderson County. 
There was a small log building upon it, in which the 
family spent the winter, and the following year he 
erected a frame dwelling. Here the children were 
reared. The land that the elder Campbell pur- 
chased when he arrived in Henderson County was 
from James Fair, the father of Senator James Fair, 
of Nevada. He came to America some years before 
Mr. Cam|)bell did, but they were old acquaintances 
in Ireland. His son, John Campbell, now owns the 
old home place. When the elder Cami)bell arrived 
here he had $500 in gold, which enabled him to pur- 
chase his place, a team, some f;irm imi)lements, 
some cattle and household utensils. 

James Campbell, the siibjcc:t of this sketch, was 
born in Shanco, County Fermanagh, Ireland, Oct. 
28, 1848, and was two years old when his parents 
emigrated from the land of the shamrock to America. 
James continued tj reside on the parental homestead 
in Henderson County until the death of his father 
and mother, when, in the spring of 1877, he came to 



Hale Township, this county, where he purchased a 
farm of 182 acres, on which he located with his 
family and at once began the active labors of his vo- 
cation, which he has followed until the present time. 
He also owns a farm of 175 acres in Henderson 
County, and, in following the pursuit of his chosen 
vocation, is meeting with that success which energy 
and perseverance are sure to bring. 

April 24, 1877, Mr. Campbell formed a matri- 
monial alliance with Nancy E., the accomplished 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Younger) Williams. 
John Williams' father was also named John. He 
was a Virginian, and on his paternal side was of 
l'".nglish descent, while through his mother was of 
Holland-Dutch ancestry. One of Mr. Williams' 
uncles served in the War of 181 2, and the grand- 
father in the Revolutionary War. They were all 
farmers. John Williams and wife came to this State 
in 1846, and the first four years lived in Warren 
County, when they moved to Henderson County 
and lived until the spring of 1880, when, on account 
ot old age, they sold out their property and now 
make their home with their son-in-law, Mr. Camp- 
bell. 

Mrs. Williams' grandfather was 'I'homas Younger, 
a descendant of Scotch ancestry, and was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary Wat, and also in the ^\'^ar of 
i8i2. His home was in Williamson Co., Tenn., 
where he was engaged in farming, and continued to 
reside there until his death. He was a native of 
South Carolina, a Whig in politics and a member of 
the Baptist C'luirch. His wife, Mary Knowles, was 
of English descent. Her father, John Knowles, was 
a native of North Carolina and a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary War. 

Mrs. Campell's parents were natives of Virginia 
and Tennessee respectively and had nine children, 
of whom she was the youngest. She was born in 
Henderson County, this State, June 6, 1857, and has 
borne her husband three children — M.x M., Frank 
A., and John E. Frank A. died in infancy. 

James Campbell became a member of the Method- 
ist E]jiscopal Church in October, 1868, since which 
time he has taken a prominent part in the work of 
his congregation. He has been Steward every year 
since, excepting one, and a |)art of the time as local 
and district Steward. He has also been Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school and for a time Class- 
Leader. In Greenville Township, Henderson County, 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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435 



where he attends Church, he is Secretary of the 
township organization of the American Bible Society. 

In political matters, he has held the offices of 
Highway Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. 
In politics, he votes with the Republican party. 

A view of Mr. Campbell's home place is shown on 
page 284. 




4 



ufua Ogden, of the firm of R. Ogden & 
Son, breeders and dealers in full-blood and 
grade heavy draft horses, resides on sec- 
<r(\-^tion 17, Cold Brook Township. He was born in 
<d Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 181 8. His father, 
Abraham Ogden, who was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and a native of England, was born near Man- 
chester, and was of middle class in social standing 
in that country. He emigrated to the United States 
when about 21 years of age, and was united ni mar- 
riage ill New York State to Miss Keziah Houghton, 
who was born in Pittsfield, Mass., and was of New 
England parentage and of English descent. They 
resided after their marriage, until 1839, in Oneida 
County, N. Y., then removed to Warren County, 111., 
and were among the early pioneers of the county. 
The father was an inventive genius, and perfected 
an arrangement to use steam as motive power that 
was identical in principle with Robert Fulton's and 
at about the same time. He, however, withheld his 
papers and his discoveries were not made known 
until after it was too late to profit by them. 

Our subject was one of a family. of nine cliildren, 
four sons and five daughters. He resided at home 
until he was 18 years of age, when he came to Illi- 
nois and located in Warren County, where he was 
united in marriage, April 25, 1843, to Miss Narcissa 
C. Wilber. She was born in Madison Co., N. Y., 
June 20, 1820, and was a daughter of Rev. R. M. 
Wilber and Harriet (Phelps) Wilber, natives of New 
York State and of American parentage. Her father 
was a prominent minister in the Baptist Church, and 
in 1836 her parents and family came West, locating 
in Warren County. The father both prosecuted his 
ministerial labors and conducted his farm. He sub- 
sequently went to Henry County, and resided in 



Oxford Township, where he died, in i860. Her 
mother died in New York State many years ago, and 
the father was again united in marriage, the step- 
mother's demise occurring in Warren County. Mr. 
Ogden has one son and two daughters living and 
married, and has buried three infant sons. The 
record of the children is as follows : Harriet is the 
wife of O. A. Speckerman, of Maryyille, Mo., and is 
the mother of six children, one of whom is deceased; 
Aaron A. Elon B. and Arthur died in infancy; 
Eugene married Ida I. Beldin, daughter of Daniel 
D. and Rachel (Lockwood) Beldin, residents of 
Galesburg, 111. They were married Sept. 12, 1882. 
Eliza O. is the wife of Frank Goodspeed, and they 
live in Bedford, Taylor Co., Iowa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ogden are members of the Baptist 
Church at Berwick, and Mr. O. is the oldest male 
member of his Church and has been a member since 
1841. In politics, he is a staunch Republican. 

About 1866 Mr. Ogden, of whom we write, began 
to breed full-blooded and grade draft horses, and has 
since continued in that business with fair success, 
having raised and sold 35 entire colts, at 18 months 
average age, for an average price of $470 each, or a 
total of $16,450. His representation at the fairs 
have always carried ofTmany laurels. At the recent 
State Fair at Chicago, they took eleven first and seven 
second premiums, and also a large list of premiums 
at the Iowa State Fair, held at DesMoines. As the 
above indicates, he has some of the finest Clydes- 
dales to be found in the West. He is devoted to his 
calling and is an enthusiastic admirer of the beauti- 
ful and powerful Clydesdales, of which he has eight 
full-blooded animals. As an agriculturist and also 
a dealer in stock, he ranks as high as any gentleman 
in Warren County, and is meeting with success in 
his chosen vocation. 

Mr. Ogden is not only one of the early pioneers of 
Warren County, but is to-day, as he has ever been 
during his residence here of half a century, one of 
the most enterprising, highly respected and influential 
men of the county. Few men within its borders 
have done as much as he toward the development of 
the resources of this splendid country, and his devo- 
tion to the moral interests of the people has been 
equally demonstrated with his enterprise for its ma- 
terial prosperity. Thus, so closely allied to both 
great departments of the well being of a community, 
he is justly regarded as one of its leading and repre- 



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436 



WARREN COUNTY. 



X* 




sentative citizens, and as sucli, ;ind one, too, emi- 
nently worthy of the place, we give in connection with 
this brief outline of his life his portrait, engraved from 
a photograph recently taken. 



««-■ 



feenry L. Jewell is a life-long resident of this 
county, and a large land-owner and success- 
^'S^' ful farmer. He is a respected and honored 
td citizen of Lenox Township, residing on section 
\ 24, wliere he owns 320 acres of land. He is a 
son of Jacob and Julia A. (Harrison, formerly a 
Miss Brooks) Jewell, the former a native of York 
State and the latter of Kentucky. The father of Mr. 
Jewell came to this county in 1839, and Mrs. Harri- 
son, liis wife, arrived here two years previous — in 
1837. They were married in this county and re- 
sided for many years in Lenox Township, where he 
followed the vocation of a farmer. In 1 867 they re- 
moved to Monmouth, wliere they are at present re- 
siding, passing tlie sunset of their lives in peace and 
quietude. Their children were six in number, the 
names being as follows ; William H., Charles, 
Henry L., Olive, Dudley and Emily J. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this biographical notice was born in Lenox Town- 
ship, this county. May 19, 1847. His early life was 
passed in the public schools, where he acquired a 
rudimentary education, which he afterwards supple- 
mented by a course of study at Monmouth College, 
where he remained two years. He has always re- 
sided in Lenox Township, and has followed the pur- 
suit of an agriculturist all his life. In 1874 he 
purchased from his father So acres of land, located 
on section 24, Lenox Township, where he is at pres- 
ent residing. He has erected on' the farm a good 
set of buildings, and in addition to the cultivation of 
his land, is engaged to a considerable extent in 
handling and dealing in stock, and is mee'.ing with 
success in both departments of his vocation. By la- 
borious toil and economy, he has added to his original 
purchase until he is at present the pr()[)rietor of 320 
acres of good farm land, and kee|)s on an average 
75 head of cattle. 

The wedded life of Mi. Jewell began on the 14th 



day of September, 1871, at which time Lydia A., 
daughter of Richard and Sybil (Armstrong) Cran- 
dall, natives of New York State, became his wife, the 
ceremony taking place in Lenox Township. Her 
parents were married and settled in Pennsylvania, 
from which State they came to this county in 1861. 
They located in Lenox Township, where they con- 
tinued to reside until 187 1, when they removed to 
Monmouth. They are the parents of five children, 
— Melvina J., Emery H., Martha H., Armstrong and 
Lydia A. Mrs. Jewell was born in Erie Co., Pa., 
May 20, 1854, and has become the mother of four 
children whom they have named Inez, Orpha, Irma 
and Henry R. Mr. Jewell was elected Supervisor 
of Lenox Township in the spring of 1885 and holds 
the office at this writing (December, 1885). He was 
elected Justice of Peace in the spring of 1883 and 
also still retains that office to tlie present. He is 
also School Director and his politics are those of a 
good, staunch Republican. 

A view of the handsome residence and commodi- 
ous farm buildings of Mr. Jewell are shown on an 
page 404 of this work. 



->^^ 




rs. Mary Hall, is a resident on section 
28, 'I'ompkins Township. Her deceased 
''^ husband, Henry VV. G. Hall, was born 
an. 20, 1825, in New York State, where he 
''* resided until 1855, engaged in farming in 
Lewis County. His younger years were i)assed 
in attendance at the common schools and in assist- 
ing his father in the cultivation of the farm. On 
coming West, he decided on making his home in 
Warren County, 111., and purchased 40 acres of land 
on section 28, Tompkins Township, upon which he 
located his family. By hard labor and economy he 
increased his landed interests in that township £0 
120 acres, on which he resided, engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits, until his death, which took place Nov. 
22, 1877. In iHjhtics, he was a supporter of the 
principles of the Repul)lican party. Religiously, 
he belonged to t'-e Methodist Episcopal Church, as 
likewise did his wife. Mr. Hall was known as a 
genial gentleman and an enterprising, liberal, spir- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



437 



f 



ited citizen, always willing to aid in any good cause 
calculated to benefit mankind, and was especially 
active in any measure which was for the benefit of 
the community in which he resided. 

The marriage of Mr. Hall look place Feb. lo, 
1852, his wife (the lady whose name heads this 
sketch) being a Miss Mary Roberts, a native of New 
York and a daughter of William L. and Margaret 
(Jones) Roberts. Her father was a farmer and came 
to Illinois in 1855, loc;ating on section 28, Tompkins 
Township, this county, and there resided until his 
decease, which event occurred Feb. 22, 1877. For 
fourieen years prior lo his death he was blind. His 
faithful wife foUo'ved him to the land of the hereaf- 
ter, Dec. 13, 1882. 

Two children were born of the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hall— Lillie A. and George H. Lillie A. be- 
came the wife of Lewis H. Martin, and George H., 
who was married to Emma Holliday, Dec. 23, 1885, 
resides on the farm with his mother, where he is en- 

f gaged in its cultivation. Since the death of iier 
husband, Mrs. Hall has managed the farm, and by 

1 her economy and good bubiness judgment, has suc- 
ceeded in adding 85 acres to the estate left lier by 
her husband's death, and the shadows of the even- 
ing of life, coming as they do, in the peace and tran- 
quility of the dear old homestead, are perliaps even 
more pleasing than were tlie golden sunbeams of 
early )'outh. 





ohn M. Strong is a resident in the town- 
ship of Point Pleasant and is located on a 
farm on section 5. He is a native of the 
State of Indiana and was born June 28, 1S35, 
in Marion County, eight miles from the capital 
of the State. Luke Strong, his father, was 
born in Rutland Ca., Vi., in February, 1796. He 
married Miss Esther Call, a native of the State of 
New York. 

In 1825, accompanied by two brothers, Luke 
Strong started on foot to seek a home, or rather a 
location for one, in the Western country. He walked 
all the way to Indiana and bought a tract of land, 



which has been designated as the birthplace of his 
son. After securing the title to his property, he re- 
turned to Vermont, making the entire journey there 
the same way in which he had traveled to Indiana. 
He at once commenced to prepare fur a final removal 
to the West, and in 1827 he set fortli with ox teams, 
accompanied by his family. The household im- 
plements were carried along, and they camped and 
cooked their frugal meals on the way. On his ar- 
rival in Marion County, where he was one of the 
earliest of the permanent settlers, Mr. Strong pro- 
ceeded to build a log house. He also gave his vig- 
orous attention to clearing the land, and lived in 
Indiana until the year 1839 The stories of the 
resources of the Slate of Illinois had awakened in 
him a desire to take advantage of tliem for the ben- 
efit of his growing family, and in the year last men- 
tioned he came to Illinois and located in Galesburg, 
which was then a very small place. He had learned 
the business of a wagon -maker in his younger days, 
and he bought property at Galesburg and was there 
occupied at his trade until 1850. In that year he 
sold his interests there and removed lo Warren 
County. He purchased a small farm in the town- ' 
ship of Ellison, on which he resided until his death. 
That event occurred Sept. 9, 1871. His wife died 
in 1850. Their three children are all living. Luke ' 
is living in Kewanee, Henry Co., III. Electa is the 
wife of William Powers, of Brule Co., Dak. 

John M Slrong is the youngest of the children of 
his parents, and was only four years of age when his 
father and mother removed to Illinois. . He attended 
school in the city of Galesburg, and the family re- 
mained there until he was 15 years old. He then 
removed with them to Warren County, where he 
passed the remainder of his youth. He was married 
Sept. 19, 1857, to Miss Martha J. Lofftus, a native 
of Sangamon Co , III., where she was born Sept. 19, 
1841. Mrs. Strong is the daughter of Andrew J. 
and Lavinia (Meacham) Lofftus, wlio were natives of 
Kentucky. One year and a half after their mar- 
riage, they located on the farm where they have 
since resided. 

Mr. Strong enlisted, Aug. 2, 1862, in the 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf, and was in the military service of his 
country until the close of the war. Fort Donelson 
was the most important engagement in which he 
took pari. After obtaining his discharge, he returned 
to his property in Warren County and resumed the 



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438 



WARREN COUNTY. 



occupation of a farmer. The place is in a condition 
calculated lo reflect credit on his exertions and the 
quality of his good sense and judgment. 

He is connected in membership with Roseville 
Lodge A. O. U. W., and with Kirkwood Post, No. 
81, G. A. R. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Strong are named J. Arthur, F. Laviiiia, Mattie A., 
George A. and L. Grant. 




I^ames H. McQuiston,of Spring Grove, Tp., 
has been for nearly 30 years a resident in 
1^^*^ Warren County. He is a descendant from 
parents who were born in the southern section of 
the Union. His father was one of the pioneer 
settlers in Preble Co., Ohio, where James H. 
was born, May 29, 1829. Joseph G. McQuiston, his 
father, was born in South Carolina, April la, 1799. 
He married Elizabeth Hogue, Sept. 5, 1827. They 
had four children, two of whom are now living. The 
son was reared in Preble County, and was brought up 
to the profession of a farmer, in which vocation his 
father passed his life principally. He received only 
the education of the common schools, and, in 1856, 
he accompanied the family of his father to Warren 
County. Another brother, William H., came at the 
same time. The father had made the journey to the 
county in the previous spring and had bought the 
northeast portion of section 2,Z^ in the township of 
Spring Grove. The farm had been placed under 
some improvement by the former owner. It had on 
it a double log house, and 60 acres had been fenced. 
There were also about 55 acres under the plow, and 
these seemingly trifling improvements made quite an 
item toward getting a start in the way of establishing 
a home. Among the first things that were done was 
the construction of a frame house, into which the 
family moved as soon as it was in readiness for their 
occujjancy. The mother died there, Oct. 2, 1870. 
The father survived until July 5, 1879. As long as 
the parents lived the son was an inmate of the pa- 
rental household. On the demise of his father, he 
succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, where 
he is now the resident owner and occupant. He has 
a handsome residence and substantial farm build- 



ings, and an abundance of water on the place for 
stock purposes. Mr McQuiston was united in mar- 
riage to Laura E. Moore, May 29, 1867. They are 
the parents of the following children ; Frank E., 
George J., Ada May and Nina M. 

Mrs. McQuiston is a native of Mercer Co., Pa. 
Together with her husband she is a member of the 
United Presbyterian Church. Mr. McQuiston is a 
Republican in political principles. 

A view of his residence appears on another page. 

The grandparents of Mrs. McQuiston were James 
and Elizabeth (Bell) Ewing. They were both natives 
of Ireland. They emigrated to America and settled 
in Philadelphia. The mother of Mrs. McQuiston 
was born in Juniata Co., Pa., March 6, 1802, and re- 
sided there until she was 12 years of age. She mar- 
ried George Moore, Feb. 15, 1823. He was a native 
of Pennsylvania. His father was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. Mr. Moore and family came 
West in 1855, and settled in Mercer County, III., and 
afterwards became residents of Warren County. Mr. 
Moore died Sept. 8, 1885, having attained the ven- 
erable age of 89 years. His widow still survives and 
now resides with her daughter, Mrs. McQuiston. 




ames F. Pollock was a settler in the county 
in which he is a useful and honored citizen, 
v>^ ' in 1837. He made his first acquaintance 
^te with it in 1831, when, accompanied by several 
IC others, he came from Ohio on a prospecting 
tour. His stay occupied but a few weeks, and 
he went back to Ohio. The journey was a memora- 
ble one, from the fact that the going and returning 
was accomplished by teams overland. 

Mr. Pollock was born in NovaScotia, Dec. 5, 1806. 
William Pollock, his father, was a native of Scotland. 
His mother's maiden name was Mary Fulton, and 
she was of New England birth and parentage. They 
came to the " States " when their son was four years 
of age, located in Chillicothe, Ohio, and were among 
the pioneers of that section. They maintained their 
residence there nine years. In 1819 they made an- 
other removal to Greene County, tlie same State, 
where Mr. Pollock of this sketch grew to the estate 
of manhood. He was a farmer by training, and 



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3S 



Residence of James H.IV19Q.UI5TON, Sec. 33. Spring Grove Township. 







^i^-^ 



-■ >j^t.^-.gj-,. 



vs!i-f-fft.^ij.--,. 



.■''R«*rDBNCE or Mrs. M.E.Han EY, Cor. Reno&.Centre Sts. Monmouth 



WA RREN CO UNT Y. 



4-^ 



439 



^ 



when he was 22 years of age he set out to acquire a 
knowledge of the trade of a blacksmith. He served 
a year and then engaged in the variety of work com- 
mon to the class known as journeymen and operated 
in Greene County a number of years. In the spring 
of 1837 he came to Illinois. He drove across the 
distance that intervened with a pair of horses, ac- 
companied by his wife and two children. They man- 
aged their affairs while on the journey after the man- 
ner common to emigrants, and which was a neces- 
sity, from the fact that there being no public route 
of travel, there were no hotels, even if the travelers 
were in condition to pay for their entertainment, 
which was not always the case. After a journey of 
six weeks, they arrived in Warren County. Theylo- 
cated at Little York, in Sumner Township, and there 
Mr. Pollock bought a lot and built a house. He also 
erected a shop and engaged in general blacksmith- 
ing. There was plenty to do in a new country and 
he made plows and all small articles, such as his 
patrons needed and also did shoeing and repairing. 
He operated in that capacity three years, and then 
|. engaged in mercantile business, in which he contin- 
f^ ued until 1849. He sold out his store and in the 
last year named became interested in packing pork, 
in which he engaged four years. In 1853 he decided 
on a change of base and crossed the plains to Ore- 
gon. He left home in May, and reached the head 
of the Williamette Valley in October, passing more 
than five months on the route. He took with him a 
large drove of cattle, leaving with 160 head and ar- 
riving at his destination with 104. He sold his herd 
after his arrival and remained on the Pacific coast 
three years. When he returned East he came via 
what was known in the days when the gold fever 
was at its height as the " Nicaragua route." After his 
arrival at his hoipe he again opened a commercial 
enterprise at Little York, and after prosecuting his in- 
terests in that direction two years, sold his business 
and its relations for the purpose of devoting his time 
to the pursuit of agriculture. His farm is in a loca- 
tion which increases its value and desireableness 
and lies on section 36, adjoining the village. He has 
always maintained a tenant on the place. 

Rebecca McFarland became his wife July 30, 
1833. She was a native of Greene County, Ohio, 
aiid was born Nov. 2, 1815. She died Aug. t4, 1869. 
Eight of their children are now living. Margery is 
the widow of George Carpenter, and is a resident of 



Little York. Martha A. married Thomas Steven- 
son, and they removed to Oregon. Amelia is the wife 
of H. A. Reynolds, of Little York. John S. and Wil- 
liam R. are residents of the same place and are both 
married. Caroline is married to George Davis, and 
they live in Kansas. Arthur P. is a citizen of Little 
York. Eulalia M. is Mrs. William McDill, and re- 
sides in Little York. Esta L is married to Walter 
Hartley, and lives in Henderson County. 

Mr. Pollock was the first Postmaster at Little York. 
When he went to Oregon he resigned the position, 
but was re-appointed on his return, at the time he 
resumed commercial business. Politically, Mr. Pol- 
lock has always been a staunch member of the Re- 
publican party. 



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LA^ 



jK^ohn Randolph Webster, M. D., a promi- 

W^t 'lent physician and surgeon at Monmouth, 
was born in Penn Hill Township, Lancas-' 
ter Co., Pa., July 18, 1835, and was the second 
son and third child of Dr. Samuel and Deborah 
(Kirk) Webster, natives also of Lancaster 
County and descendants of the Scotch-Irish. The 
family came to Monmouth in 1837, and here their 
children grew to men and women. In his profession. 
Dr. Samuel Webster stood at the head in this co;-n- 
munity for many years before his death, which oc- 
curred at Superior City, Wis., in 1858, while there on 
business. The most, and probably only, important 
office which he filled was that of State Senator, in 
1851-52, being elected on the old Whig ticket. His 
widow lives at Monmouth at this writing (January, 
1886) aged about 75 years. 

John Randolph Webster was educated at Macomb, 
111., and at Juniata Academy, in Perry Co., Pa., 
completing his literary course in 1852-53. He was 
22 years of age when he began reading medicine 
with Dr. D. B. Rice, now of Oregon, as preceptor, 
and soon after entered Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago, from which institution he graduated in the 
class of 1858. Returning to Monmouth, he prac- 
ticed medicine a few years, when he again took to 
his studies, this time at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia. From here he graduated as M. D. in 



V 



^!-4^ 



440 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



1864 and returned to Monmouth, where he has for 
many years held a high rank as physician and sur- 
geon. He is a member of the United States Med- 
ical Society, the Military Tract Medical Society, 
State Meiical Society, and local medical organiza- 
tions. In 1862, he received the ap[x>intinent of 
Assistant Surgeon of the 83d 111. Vol. Inf , but was 
taken sick at Cairo and compelled to return home. 

Though a Republican in faith, he is no politician. 
He belongs to the Masonic Order. His parents 
were Quakers, and he leans more to that than any 
other Church. As a business man he is more than 
ordinarily brilliant. Beginning life as a poor boy, he 
has, before reaching the meridian of life, accumu- 
lated a handsiime compe'.ency. He was one of the 
orgnnizers of liie Second National Bank, in 1875, 
and two vears later became its Vice-President, a 
position he has since held. 

Dr. Webster was married at Monmouth. Sept. 23, 
1858, to Miss Susan Nye, daughter of Mr. Elisha 
Nye, now of California, and a native of Massachu- 
setts. The Doctor's children living are Harry B., 
connected with the Second National Bank ; and 
Ralph VV., a student. Frank, his second son, died 
when about two years of age. 






if^d^illiam Laferty, deceased, was born at 



4 



f g^M [ Northumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 9, 1818, 
■Ste^T-^ and died at Monmouth, Jan. 5, 1877. His 
,. '> father died while he was but a little child. 

•^'■>r^ four years old. His mother lived to the 
green old age of 98 years, her death occurring in 
July, 1878. He was taught in early life to earn his 
own bread by the sweat of his brow. His oppor- 
tunities for education were limited to the winter 
terms of the Pennsylvania common schools, and as 
he was but a mere youth when apprenticed to the 
carpenter's trade, these were but few. 

He came to Monmouth, in 1836, and here worked 
at his trade about 20 years. In 1856, he was elected 
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Deeds, 
and filled the two offices for eight consecutive years. 



He was one of the organizers of the First National 
Bank, and one year later (1865) became its President, 
a position he held at the time of his death. Prior 
to his election as Circuit Clerk he held various 
minor offices, such as Supervisor, Assessor, School 
Director, etc. He was for several years one of the 
Trustees of Monmouth College, and held at the 
same time the positions of Trustee and Treasurer of 
Warren County Library. He was two years Presi- j 
dent of the Old Settlers' Associition of Warren and 
Henderson Counties and was the Treasurer of that 
organization at the time of his death. Like most of 
tlie pioneers who came to this country at an early 
day, he had to struggle against the vicissitudes of 
poverty and obscurity. He landed in Warren County 
with $60 in money, but being a man of pluck, energy 
and unyielding integrity, he soon became one of the 
prominent men of the county and died worth $75,- 
000, all of which he left by will to his widow. In all 
his relations in life, Mr. Laferty was an honest and 
honorable, a sterling man, a man whose integrity was ' 
never questioned. By his large circle of acquaint- j 
ances he was highly esteemed and it may well be . 
said of him that those who know him best, loved him ^ 
most. 

In his death his friends and associates lose a safe 
and prudent counsellor, the community a valuable • 
citizen, and all public ;iiid private enterprises of 
Monmouth a liberal supporter. 

Jan. s, 1877, the Board of Directors of the First 
National Bank, of Monmouth, at a meeting called 
for the purpose, adopted the following resolutions : 

Whereas, it has pleased our Heavenly Father to 
remove from our number, by the hand of death, our 
much esteemed President, William Laferty, who has 
so faithfully filled the office for the past 12 years, it 
is but just that a fitting recognitron of his many vir- 
tues be expressed ; 

Resolved, That in his death we lose a friend and 
companion, a good and faithful officer who was es- 
teemed by us all ; a citizen whose upright, honest 
and noble life was a standard of emulation for every 
one. 

Resolved, That the heart-felt sympathy of this 
board of directors be e.xtended to his family in this 
their deep affliction, and that a copy of these resolu- 
tions be presented to the family of the deceased. 

The Committee of the Warren County Library and 
Reading Room, upon the same day adopted the sub- 
joined resolutions in respect to his worthiness : 

Whereas, Since our last meeting it has pleased 



^JT 



"T 



■C T ^JL 



WARREN COUNTY. 



•^r^r^ 



441 




our common Lord to remove from time to eternity 
our friend and felloiv trustee, William Laferty; 

Resolved, That this association, deeply sympathiz- 
ing with his afflicted widow and relatives, cordially 
record on our minutes our high sense of his sterling 
qualities as a man, a husband, a citizen, and of his 
faithfulness as a member and officer of our Board, 
who, after years of devotion and liberality for its in- 
terests, has died respected and lamented by all who 
knew him. 

Resolved, That the city papers be requested to in- 
sert the above in their earliest issues. 

J. M. Jamieson, 

Ef. C. M.^TTHEWS, 

Committee. 
At a meeting of the Faculty and Trustees of Mon- 
mouth College, held Jan. 6, the following action was 
taken : 

Whereas, In the Providence of God we are called 
upon to mourn the loss of our honored friend and 
fellow-citizen, William Laferty; 

Resolved, That we tender to the widow and family 
our sympathy in this hour of bereavement; that we 
r unite with this entire community in sorrow over the 
I death of one who was everybody's friend and helper, 
I noble, useful, kind and true; and that we sadly feel 
^ how great is the loss of the College in being deprived 
of his watchful care and counsels. 

Mr. Laferty was a Republican in i.olitics, and dur- 
ing the late war was an active supporter of the 
Union cause. 

He was married in Berwick Township, this county, 
Jan. I, 1844, to Miss Sarah Tiffany, who was born in 
Oneida Co., N. Y., July 4, 1817. There were born to 
them three children, all of whom died in infancy. 
Mrs. Laferty was the adopted daughter of Henry and 
Olive (Kingsley) Cable (her mother having died dur- 
ing her infancy). Mr. and Mrs. Cable were natives 
of New England and of German and English extrac- 
tion. She was educated in New Yoik and taught 
the first school ever opened in Berwick, Warren 
County. The large fortune left her by her husband, 
together with iis increase, amounting in all to nearly 
$100,000, was placed by a trusted agent, John Brown, 
familiarly known as " Deacon Brown, " in the hands 
of the Cashier of the Bank, of which Mr. L. was 
so long a time President. The conduct of the 
Cashier, B. T. O. Hubbard, appears to have been 
limited only by his opportunities and the whole sum 
of Mrs. Laferiy's money, together with several hun- 
dred thousands of dollars belonging to other people, 
was swept away. Suit was brought against both Mr. 




Brown and Mr. Hubbard, which, while pending, was 
compromised by Brown, so far as he was concerned, 
by his paying Mrs. Laferty $10,000, and the cost of 
the suit. Mrs. Laferty, now in good health, with an 
adopted daughter, resides at the old homestead. 



-5"*^<#4i#'^- 



M. Capps, a prosperous agriculturist and 
£ stock-raiser on section 15, Roseville Town- 
F ship, is a son of John and Miram (Cole) 
Capps, and was born in Edmonson Co., Ky., 
in 1835. His parents came to Illinois in 
1864, locating in Berwick Township. They 
remained there but four years, when they removed to 
Creston, Iowa, where the father is living a retired 
life in peace and quiet with his estimable companion, 
who assisted him in all his labors and partook of all 
his trials. They have a family of eight children 
living. 

I. M. Capps remained at home with his parents 
until he attained the age of 2 i years, assisting in the 
labors on the farm, and received ^t their hands a 
good common-school education. After arriving at 
his majority, he worked out for one year in his native 
State, and in 1857 came to Illinois, locating in Lenox 
Township. During the first summer after his arrival, 
he hired out by the month, and attended school dur- 
ing the winter, which course he also followed the 
ensuing summer and winter, at the end of which 
time he rented a farm, and worked for four years 
solely in his own interest. He then purchased the 
farm on which he now resides and which contains 
27s acres. He has made all of the excellent im- 
provements with which it is now provided. He is 
also engaged in the stock business. 

M.Trch 7, 1861, the marriage of Mr. Capps and 
Miss Mary S. Dillon was solemnized. Miss Dillon, 
who was born in Logan Co., Ky., was the daughter 
of William Dillon, who moved with liis family to 
Illinois and settled in Floyd Township, this county, 
when Mary was but eight years of age. She became 
the mother of eight children, namely : John F., 
Nina C, Edward, Nellie, Winnie, Fannie, Myra and 
Bertie. The death of Mrs. Capps occurred Oct. 6, 
1885. She was a lady of estimable character and 



•A- 



•¥ 



-Wr^ 



442 



WARREN COUNTY. 



greatly admired by a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. She was a devoted Christian lady and 
a member of the Baptist Church. She was buried 
in the Union Cemetery. 

Politically, Mr. Capps is a Deirocrat, and has 
held many of the official positions of his township. 
He is at present serving as Justice of the Peace and 
School Director. He belongs to the Order of A. 
O. U. VV, 




ohn T. Reed is a farmer on section 22 in 

the tounsliip of Point Pleasant, who sel- 

"■"^ tied in Warren County in 1850. He was 

born in Morgan Co., Ind., Sept. 4, 1832. His 
1C father, Burrus Allen Reed, was a native of 

Kentucky and was born in 1808. He married 
Matilda Thomas, who was born in 1807 and died 
Oct. 27, 1881. After their m.iniage, about 1828, 
they emigrated from Kentucky to Morgan Co., Ind., 
on pack-horses, their culinary outfit l)eing only a 
coffee-pot and fryiiig-pan, and their only mechanical 
, ini|)lement an ax. In Morgan County Mr. Reed 
purchased a tract of timber land, on which he cleared 
a farm and of wliich he was the owner and occupant 
until 1850, when he sold tlie property and came to 
Illinois, with his family, consisting of his wife and 
1 1 children, making the journey with ox and horse 
teams and consuming three weeks' time. They 
slopped first in the township of Creenbush, for two 
years; but Mr. R. made his first purchase of land in 
Swan Township, where he resided until his death, 
which took place Oct. i, 1885. His 1 1 children are 
all yet living, and all in this State except James L., 
who resides in Nebraska, and W. B., who is a farmer 
in Northwestern Iowa. Matilda E. A. is the wife of 
Edward Campbell, and they reside in McDonough 
County, this State. The sons are all Democratic in 
their political views. 

Mr. Reed was 18 in the same year in which his 
parents removed to Illinois. He has a clear remem- 
brance of the incidents of the journey, which was not 
particularly distasteful, as he had few of the respon- 
sibilities resting on him and he was at liljerty to en- 
joy what there was of novelty or interest in the trip. 



^«H^^|e^ 




^ 



f 



He obtained employment in Swan Township without 
any difficulty, and he continued to labor as a farm 
assistant until 1855. He then began to operate as 
a renter, and from that time has been independent, 
carrying on his business in his own interest. He 
pyssessed energy and good judgment, and conse- 
quently enjoyed success. In 1858 he became by 
purchase the owner of the farm on which he has 
since resided and carried out his plans. The gen- 
eral appearance and character of his property gives 
evidence of the quality of the above mentioned char- 
acteristics. The farm is all enclosed and the por- 
tion in need of draining has been ditched and tiled, 
and is in the most valuable condition, as is the case 
in instances where that process is necessary. 

The marriage of Mr. Reed to Sarah E. Jones was 
celebrated April 17, 1856. She was born in New 
York, Sept. 9, 1833. Her parents were Edward and 
Sarah ^Hedley) Jones. The oldest of the 11 chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Reed is named George H., 
and he is a resident of the same township in which 
his father and mother reside. Albert B., Warren E., 
Matilda A., Charles T., William C, Chester E., 
Martha and Mary (twins), Nettie M. and Aquilla 
are the names of the others. 

In his political faith and connections, Mr. Reed is 
a Democrat. The parents became members of the 
Methodist Church in their youth. 



I 



onathan Russell, who is at present receiv- 



Hr ing medical treatment at the insane asy- 
'*^' lum at Jacksonville, where he was confined 



in 1878, on account of sickness, the same hav- 
ing caused his partial derangement, was born 
in Syracuse, N. Y., March 5, 1819. He con- 
tinued to reside in his native State until i860, when 
he came to this county and located in Lenox Town- 
ship, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He followed that occupation until 1878, when a 
severe case of sickness caused him to become par- 
tially deranged and he was confined as above stated. 
The first marriage of the subject of this notice 
took place in York Stale Jan. i, 1842, Miss Amanda 
Lyon becoming his wife. Of their union four chil- 



r 




^'^f??* 






^%-h^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



1^>-^ 



445 



^ 



dren were horn — Mary A., Amy J., William D. and 
Thomas W. Mary A. is the wife of Robert L Mc- 
Reynolds, a merchant of Roseville Toivnship; Amy 
1. man ied Aaron T. Lewis, a resident of Denver, 
Col. ; William D. was a soldier in t!ie late war, be- 
ing a member of the 66th 111. Vol. Inf, and died of 
lung fever, caused by e.xposure, after the battle of 
Resaca, Ga., in June, 1864; Thomas W. resides in 
Nebraska. 

The second marriage of Mr. Russell took place in 
Warren Co., Pa, Sept. 10, 1852, when Miss Lyda 
A. Evans, daughter of William and Ann (Gallup) 
Evans, natives of York State, became his wife. Her 
father died in Pennsylvania and her mother in York 
State. Their children were six in number, of whom 
Mrs. Russell was second in order of birth. She was 
born in Pennsylvania, Aug. 23, 1829, and of her 
union with Mr. Russell six children were born — 
Judson B., Amanda C, Charles E. and Myra L. are 
living; Emma E. and John, who are dead, are buried 
at Monmouili. Judson B. is a resident of Roseville 
Township, and a farmer by occupation; Amanda 
C. became the wife of J. R. Ewan, who is a farmer 
of Lenox Township; Charles E. also follows the oc- 
cupation of a farmer in Lenox Township; Myra L. 
was united in marriage with Oscar H. Ewan, who is 
engaged in farming in Lenox Township. 

Mrs. Russell, wife of tlie subject of this notice, is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



•JumfS-^^ 



ja— ^^-Sy^W" 




4 



; athaniel B. Hoornbeek, a practicing phy- 
sician at Youngstown, Swan Township, is 
a native of New York, having been born 
in Ulster County, that State, March 2, 1854. 
He is a son of Jeremiah Hoornbeek, a jironi- 
inent and well known citizen of the county, 
who was bom May 3, 1824, in Ulster Co., N. 
Y., and came to this State in 1854, locating in this 
county. He was married April 2, 1851, to Miss 
Elizabeth B. Bruyn, also a native of Ulster Co., N. 
Y., where she was born, Dec. 23, 1827. 'o them 
were born seven children — Esther, Nathaniel, Ben- 
jamin, Adelia, Emeline, John W. and Catherine. 



Their son, Nathaniel (Dr. Hoornbeek), formed a 
matrimonial alliance Dec. 24, 1881, with Miss Jes- 
sie L. Gilbert, born Sept. 12, 1858, They have three 
children — -Lilliiin, born Oct. 21, 1882; Edwin J., 
Jan. 7, 1884 (who died July 26 of the same year); 
and Clyde H., June 27, 1885. The parents of Mrs. 
Hoornbeek were Edwin A. and Jane H. (Loftis) Gil- 
bert. Her father was born in 1830, in New York, 
and her mother in 1836, in Kentucky. They were 
married Dec. 24, 1854, and had eight children — 
Edwin, Ella G., Jessie I., George E., Greely H., 
Mary 1!., Harry V., Rose C. and Fannie E. 

The subject of this sketch obtained his early edu- 
cation in the common schools of Warren County, 
supplemented by a full course at Monmouth College, 
of which thorough institution he is a graduate of the 
class of '77, wit'i the degree of A. B. The Doctor 
graduated second in the classical course. 

Dr. Hornbeek commenced tlie study of medicine 
under the instruction of Webster and Killgore, at 
Monmouth, 111., in 1878. He read with them for 
about three years, then attended one term at the 
Iowa Medical College, and look a course of lectures 
at Rush Medical College, ("hicago, receiving his di- 
ploma from that institution Feb. 22, 188 1. Locating 
at Walnut Grove, McDonough County, tlie following 
year (March 9), he hung out his shingle and at once 
entered upon the practice of his profession, rernain- 
ing there, however, only six months, removing thence 
to Youngstown, Warren County, in October, 1881, 
where he purchased a fine residence and established 
himself in the drug business, in connection with his 
practice of medicine. By careful attention to a cir- 
cle of patients, which has constantly increased, he 
has built up a practice which brings him in an am- 
ple income, independent of which his drug business 
has proved very lucrative. In religion, the Doctor 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, his wife be- 
ing of the Baptist persuasion. Politically, he votes 
with the Democratic party. 

Dr. Hoornbeek is a young and enterprising profes- 
sional gentleman, with a bright future before him. 
Aside, however, from being a leading and well-known 
physician, he has won his way to a prominent and 
influential position as a citizen of the county in 
which he was reared from early childhood. He is, 
perhaps, as well known as any of the oldest prac- 
titioners of the county, and in presenting his portrait 



^ 



■iT > 



446 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^?-4-^ 



in this Album, which we do on the accompanying 
page, we feel that it is in every way worthy to be 
classed with those given of tlie leading men of the 
county. 




esse Catt, a well known fanner located on 
fe- section 34, Berwick Township, where he is 
engaged in the occupation of an agricul- 
turist, was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug 
^r 27, 1824. He is the son of George Catt, a 
_ \ Pennsylvania farmer, who was born in that 
State March 5, 1781. The father moved with his 
parents to Kentucky when a lad, where they re- 
mained some eight years. The family then removed 
to Pennsylvania, and resided in that State for some 
years, when they went to Ohio. From the latter 
State, George Catt, father of the subject of this 
notice, moved to Indiana, where he passed the re- 
mainder of his days, engaged in the vocation of a 
-farmer, and died about 1857, leaving tliree children. 
The father's marriage took place about 1808, at 
which time Miss Mary Smith became his wife. She 
was born Feb. 6, 1790, in Pennsylvania, and died in 
1864. Their children were John, born Oct. 4, 1810; 
Rebecca, Dec. 23, 1812 ; Mary A., Dec. 2, 1815; 
Hettie E., June i, 1822; Jesse, Aug. 27, 1824. Re- 
becca and Hettie are deceased. 

Jesse Catt, of whom we write, has followed the 
vocation of an agriculturist all his life. He is pleas- 
antly situated on a fine farm of 208 acres, on section 
24, Berwick Township, of which he is the owner, 
and is actively engaged in its cultivation. On his 
place is a good dwelling and barn, 32 x 32 feet in 
dimensions, and the appearance of his farm to 
passers by is indicative of that push and energy 
characteristic of its proprietor. In their religious 
associations, Mr. Catt and his wife belong to the 
Christian Church, and have been coniistent members 
of that denomination for six years. In politics, Mr. 
Catt belongs to that class of Democrats known as 
Jacksoiiians. He has been Road Commissioner 
three years and Township Assessor eight years. 

Mr. Catt formed a matrimonial alliance June 25, 
1846, with Miss Cyrena Tibbits. She was born Jan. 
r, 1827, in Rush Co., Ind., and has borne her hus- 



band ten children — William G., born Oct. 3, 1847; 
Martha A., Dec. 25, 1848; George W., Feb. 7, 1850; 
Mary A.. July 18, 1852; Sarah E., May 28, 1855; 
James A., Oct. 12, 1856; Henry Lewis, Dec. 24, 
1858; Joel B., Dec. 24, i860; Cyrus D., Nov. 12, 
1862; Samuel E., Jan. 7, 1864, all of whom, except 
James, Henry L. and Joel B., are living. 

The parents of Mrs. Catt were Seth and Mary 
(Tolbert) Tibbets. They were married about 1824. 
Her father was born in Maine, in 1800, and died on 
the Ohio River in 1842 of yellow fever. He was a 
farmer by occupation. The mother of Mrs. Catt was 
born in 1808, and is still living, residing in Indiana. 
They have nine children — Missouri A., Cyrena, 
Frances L., Martha, William R., George, Elizabeth, 
Sarah E. and Samuel. 



— s6i- 



-^— 




R. Nevins, who is passing the sunset of 
\ his life in retirement in Roseville, and a 
gentleman whose success in life is attri- 
butable to his push, pluck and perseverance, 
was born in Mercer County, this State, Aug. 21, 
1838, The parents of Mr. Nevins, of this no- 
tice, William 1. and Mary A. (Pierce) Nevins, were 
natives of New Brunswick, N. J., and Clark Co., 
Ohio, respectively. The former was born Aug. 9, 
1801, and was one of the seven children of John W. 
Nevins. The latter was born Dec. 22, 1774- He 
has two sisters yet living; .^drianna was born July 
28, 1797, and, though living an advanced age, with- 
out the aid of glasses, she can make as fine a shirt as 
ai.y one a half century younger. She lives in Louisa 
Co., Iowa. Eliza was born Feb. 15, 1805, and lives 
in Millersburgh Township, Mercer County, this 
State. Mr. William I. Nevins was twice married, 
the first time being in 182 1, to Mary A. Curry, by 
whom he hail five children — Nancy E, Sarah A., 
Hannah M., Rachel A. and James, who died in in- 
fancy. By his second wife, who was Mary A. Pierce, 
he had nine children, as follows: Joel F., born 
April 21, 1831, died Jan. 21, 1833. The family 
lived at that time, three miles from any other house, 
and he was taken with the croup after sundown and 
died before daybreak; Mary E., their second child, 



^ 



*+* 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



AA1 



born Sept. 24, 1833; Rebecca E., Oct. 24, 1835, was 
the first white child born in Abingdon Township; 
John R. Aug. 21, 1838; William D., Sept. 21, 1840, 
who enlisted in Co. E, Ninth Reg. 111. Vol., and 
was lost in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862 ; Henry 
W., born Jan. 9, [843. He was drafted and served 
nine months in the late War; was taken prisoner at 
Kingston; marched to Richmond; was paroled in 18 
days and sent to St. Louis, and was mustered out at 
Springfield as a prisoner of war. From the time iie 
left camp at Springfield, he was not three days in one 
place until the first of March, when he arrived at 
New Bern:, N. C, nor had lie his clothes off, except 
to change. During these five months he was in 13 
diflTereiit States. David M. was born Feb. 8, 1845, 
and was drowned at Clarkesville, Tenn., March 6, 
1865, while serving in Co. D, 83d Vol. Inf ; Adrian na 
J., born March 30, 1847; Cornelia L.,'Jan. 9, 1851. 
Ten of these have lived to be married and nine are 
still living. William I. .Mevins lived to see 12 of his 
children united with the Church, and at the time of 
his death he had 50 granJchildre 1 and 20 great- 
graiJ-children. Two of his daughters h;ive borne 
twicis, as alio has oie of his granddaughters. Three 
of his sons volunteered in the late War and the 
■fourth was drafted. 

Mr. W. I. Nevins, with his family, came to Illi- 
nois, Oct. 25, t832, and " took up " 160 acres of land 
nine miles north of Monmouth, in Warren County, 
on which they resided for two years. They were very 
early settlers here, and when they first came, there 
were but three houses in Monmouth, one of which still 
stands on the west side of the square and is used as 
a blacksmith shop. His wife assisted in digging the 
first well north of Cedar Creek, turning the windlass 
in drawing up the dirt. The well was 50. feet deep. 
When he first came to Illinois, Mr. Nevins had less 
than $5, one-half of which he gave to building a 
church at Sugar Tree Grove, Warren County, and 
at that tnne had a wife and four children to support 
and had to walk eight miles to church. He had no 
stock and money would not buy any. He got his 
support mainly by working at the carpenter's trade, 
while his wife attended the crops. 

After passing two years on their claim, the elder 
Nevins sold his interest in ii and moved to Abingdon 
Township, Mercer County, where he rented land for 
two years. At the expiration of that time he pur- 
chased 320 acres in Ohio Grove Township, Mercer 



County, on which they moved and where the father 
engaged energetically and vigorously upon its im- 
provement and continued 10 reside until his death, 
which occurred June 9, 1877. He was the father of 
14 children, and was a gentleman of considerable 
property, having accumulated the same through his 
own industry and energy, and was always ready to 
assist in any and every good cause that tended to 
benefit the people. He was Provost Marshal for 
Mercer County during the War and enrolled that 
county three times, and was generally know as Col. 
Wm. I. Nevins. He raised a company to go to the 
Mexican War in 1846, but which was not accepted. 
William I. Nevins was a gentleman of more than 
ordinary ability as a business man and died in the 
faith of the United Presbyterian Church. 

The gentleman whose name heads this anicle, was 
an inmate of the parental household until he attained 
the age of 22 years. His education was acquired 
in the district schools, and the major poriio.i of his 
years, prior to that time, were passed on the firm.' 
After leaving home, J. R. worked out for a year, when 
he rented land and occupied his time for another 
year in its cultivation. His father then gave him 40: 
acres of land, on which he settled in April and re- 
mained until Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. 
D, 83d 111. Vol. Inf, and participated in the battle, 
of Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 1863. He was also en- 
gaged in every battle in which the company took 
part and served his country for about three years, 
during which time he was promoted to the rank of 
Corporal. 

After returning from the War, Mr. Nevins sold the 
40 acres his father liad given him and purchased 80 
acres in Mercer County. On the latter firm he re- 
mained for about three years, when he soM the same 
and came to Roseville Township, this cjunty, and 
purchased 6o acres on which he resided two and a 
half years; thereafter sold his 60 acres and pur- 
chased the 120 acres which he now owns and 
on which, since then, he has been actively engaged 
in fanning or stock-raising. In addition to his 120- 
acre farm, Mr. Nevins owns a residence and three 
lots in Roseville. 

The marriage of Mr. Nevins took place Nov. 29. 
1861, when Miss Elizibeth A. Barnes, a native of 
Indiana, became his wife. They have had no chil- 
dren. Mr. Nevins who is one of the oldest men liv- 
ing, born in Mercer County, is a believer in and 



*f^ 



JL:= 



r 



-4^ 



?r-T4- 



448 



WARREN COUNTY. 



supporter of the principles of the Republican party. 
He and his wife are members of the Congregational 
Chutch. 



=Di- 



emual Wagy is an enterprising and 
''liU^R^ thrifty farmer of the township of Point 

^^ 

i 



j^i*^ T Pleasant. His father was born July 4 | 
1805, in Virginia, and accompanied his parents i 
.J, to Ohio when he was six months old. Al)ra- 
} ham Wagy was among the earliest of the per- 
manent white settlers there, and he passed his early 
life in Ross County. He acquired a knowledge of 
the business of wagon-making, and married Loieo 
Cooper, a native of that State, and whose birth oc- 
curred in [806. In 1848 Abraham Wagy, with his 
family, removed to Illinois. He settled on a farm, 
which he bought in the vicinity of Oiena and also 
became a property owner i that village. Heopened 
a wagon shop there for the prosecution of his 
trade and worked at it while liis sons improved 
the land lie owned. He sold his farm after a few 
years and bought 160 acres on Haney Creek prairie. 
On this he resided from that time until r882 and then 
removed to his present place of abode, in Gladstone. 
Mr. Wagy remained in the family of hij father and 
mother until 1864. In that year he caught the gold 
fever and started with an ox-team for Montana. Af- 
ter two months of travel he arrived at Virginia City, 
and was glad to reach his destination after such an 
experience as he had had of the adventurous career 
of gypsies, as he had managed his own domestic af- 
fairs on the road. For a time he prospected and 
mined in that Territory, operating in the vicinity of 
Virginia City. He went thence to Boise City, in 
Idaho, wiiere he remained a short time only. He 
returned to Illinois with the intention of going i)ack 
soon to the Territories, but his father prevailed on 
him to remain and take charge of the homestead. 
He yielded to his solicitation and managed the place 
one year. He then rented a farm in the vicinity and 
operated on that through the next year. In 1866 he 
bought the northeast quarter of section i\, in Point 
Pleasant Township. The section was wholly unim- 
proved, and the proprietor has applied his time and 
energies with the best effect and the place is now in 



splendid cultivation. He is now the owner of the 
entire half-section lying in the north of section 32, 
which swells his possessions to 480 acres. He is en- 
gaged in raising fine graded stock — horses, hogs and 
cattle. 

Mr. Wagy has been twice married. March 29, 
1866, he formed a matrimonial union with Sarah A. 
Hill. She was born in Vermont and died in 1878, 
leaving six children. They were nained William S., 
Lemuel F., Elzie, Gracie, Lovisa and Sarah A. In 
June, 1885, Mr. VVagy was a second time married, to 
Virginia, daughter of James and Elizabeth Riggs. 
Mrs. Wagy is a native of Ohio. Mr. Wagy is a mem- 
ber of Raritan Lodge, No. 727, A. F. & A. M., and 
of Raritan Lodge, No. 201, A. O. U. W. 




ames Bagley, a former resident of Point 
gjiiL Pleasant Township, now deceased, was 
-''* one of the numerous class of citizens of ' 
whom the biographer can truly say, " he was a 
self-made man." He was a native of County 
Monaghan, Ireland, and was born in May, 
1835. He was of Scotch-Irish origin and was reared 
in the Presbyterian Church. He was bor.i and bred 
a farmer and was wholly educated in the district 
schools. He remained in his native country until he 
was 19 years of age, wlien he sailed for America and 
landed at the port of New York nearly out of money. 
He proceeded up the Hudson River until he arrived 
in Washington County, in the same State, and there 
he obtained employment as afarm hind. While there, 
he made the acquaintance of Mary King, who be- 
came his wife. She was the daughter of James and 
Margaret King, and was born in the same county in 
the old country as Mr. B., Dec 29, 1830. Their 
marriage took place in t854. Mrs. Bagley came to 
America in 185 i, and settled in Washington County. 
After a residence there of several years they came 
West. They made their first location in Henderson 
County, where they operated as renters six j'ears. 
At the end of that time they came to Point Pleasant 
Township and bought the west half of the southwest 
quarter of section 7, on which there were at that 
tittle no improvements of any kind. Mr. Bagley 



*% 



"T" 




Residence OF Mrs. Flora Sigafoos, Sec. 33. Spring Grove Townsh ip. 



-§-?^ 



. .Y. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^-^ 



45 1 



built a small frame lioiise and improved all the land. 
He also set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees, 
and lived on the place until the date of his death, 
which occurred Jan. 2r, 1883. Following is the rec- 
ord of the three children who are still living: Rob- 
ert S. lives in Raritan ; M argaret is the wife of Wil- 
liam Caldwell, of Roseville; tlie remaining child a 
daughter, is named Martha E. She resides with her 
widowed mother on the homestead, which is man- 
aged by a renter. The place is made lieautiful and 
valuable by a grove of natural timber, and is consid- 
ered one of the most pleasant homes in the county. 
The parents of Mrs. Bagley came to America in 
1858, and located in Henderson Co., 111., where their 
lives terminated. Of their sons, Joseph F. and Al- 
exander King live in Henderson County and Samuel 
resides in Iowa. 



^<X30€ 



,harles F. P. Yarde, a grocer at Alexis, is 
jj i'^ a native citizen of Warren County, where 

1^ "^ '""* ^^s '^o''" •''' ''''^ township of Kelly, Oct. 
^p 6, i8c;2. A sketcii of his parents will be 

j^ found elsewhere in this volume. Aaron and 

\ Charlotte (Cousins) Yarde, his father and 
mother, were pioneers of Kelly To.vnship, where the 
subject of this sketch was reared on the farm. He 
attended the public schools and at a suitable age 
became a student at the business college in Gales- 
burg, whence he was graduated when he was 18. 
After the termination of his educational course, he 
passed six months in farming. At the end of that 
time he came to Alexis and entered upon the duties 
of a clerkship in the employ of Thomas Leveridge, a 
merchant of that place. After an experience of 
three and a half years, he embarked in business in 
his own behalf, associated with M. G. Bollinger. 
They bought the grocery establishment of W. A. 
Elder and conducted their joint business four and a 
half years. At that time Mr. Bollinger sold his in- 
terest to Frank Wray, and the firm name became 
Yarde & Wray. A little less than a year after the 
change was made, Mr. Yarde bought the interest of 
his partner and has since managed his aifairs alone. 

Feb. I, 1881, Mr. Yarde was married to Rettie 
McKelvey. She is the daughter of John and Jane 



(McMillen) McKelvey, and was born in Belmortt 
Co., Ohio, in June, i860. She is the fourth in order 
of birth of a family of nine children, viz.: Robert 
S., Amy I., Mary A., Henrietta (the wife of Mr. 
Yarde), William S., Vernon, Joseph, and two de- 
ceased. The parents of Mrs. Yarde were born in 
Belmont Co., Ohio, the father Feb. 4, 1830, the 
mother Dec. 16, 1833. On the paternal side, the 
grandparents were born in Ireland, in the Counties 
Tirone and Kerry respectively, and on the maternal 
side her grandparents are of Irish descent. 

Mr. and Mrs. Yarde are members of the United 
Brethren Church. 



KJ— 4^ °^8Hilil)l>-»^c » { < - 



j^aJAci! 



j_rederiok Sorenson, a farmer of the town- 
JC ship of Spring Grove, is a citizen of the 
> "^ United States of foreign birth, having 
^^ been born in Sclilesswig-Holstein, Nov. 26, 
"^^ 1850. He was reared under the customs of 
i the land of his nativity, and, after completing 
the time which, by law, he was required to pass in 
school, he assisted his father on the home farm, until , 
1869, when he determined to seek a fortune in that 
far mote congenial clime, " The land of the free, and 
the home of the brave." To resolve was to execute, 
and April 22, 1869, he sailed from Hamburg and was 
landed in Portland, Maine. He came thence direct- 
ly to Warren County, where he had been preceded 
by an older brother, Martin He had no trouble in 
obtaining employment at farming, cheerfully going to 
work for $10 a month. He was wholly ignorant of 
the English language and when the winter season 
came he attended school for the purpose of familiar- 
izing himself with the language of his adopted coun- 
try. He not only accomplished that purpose but 
acquired a highly creditable English education. 

In 1870 his parents also immigrated to America, 
settling in Warren County, where his father bought 
40 acres of land on the northeast ([uarter of section 
21, on which Frederick and a brotiier went to woik, 
speedily putting it in a condition for profitable farming. 
In the succeeding year they became by purchase the 
owners of the remaining 120 acres of the quarter-sec- 
tion on which they had located. Mr. Sorenson has 
always been a part ow>er of tlie place in company 
with his parents. 

He was joined in marriage with Catherine John- 




LAr: 



nt 



•H^ 



,. 452 



— \c=: — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



■?-^ 



\ 



son in 1883. Slie is a native of the same German 
province in wliicli her husband was born. Two chil- 
dren have bee 1 born to this vvortiiy coujjle — Carl, a 
son, and one who died in infancy. The members of 
the household are connected in membership with 
the Lutheran (!hurcii. In politics, Mr. Sorenson is 
a Republican. .A view of Mr. Sorenson's home- 
place appears on page 450. 

Andrew C. Sor-'nson, the father of the gentleman 
whose biography has just been briefly sketched, was 
also born in Schlesswig-Holsiein, in r8ii,and was 
reared under the le.i;al regulations of his native land, 
receiving the education provided by law. He mar- 
ried Annie Mathiason of the same province. She 
was the daugliter of a well-to-do farmer, and on his 
death the son-in-law i)ecame the owner of the estate 
by purchase. It was his homestead and there his 
children were born and reared, until 1870, in whii h 
year the transfer of the entire family to the Continent 
of America took place, tiieir settlement in Warren 
County being effected as before mentioned. The 
elder Sorensons were the parents of eight children, 
and all save two are still living Hansine is the wife 
of Paul Sorenson, and they are settled in Iowa. 
Martin is a citizen of prominence as a farmer and a 
friend of good order and progress in Spring Grove 
Township, .\nnie is the wife of Peter Hansen, of 
the same township. Frederick is the next in order 
of birth. Mary is married to Martin Thuson, of 
Monmouth. Caroline, who is now a student at Mon- 
mouth College, lives in the same townsliip where her 
l)arents located. 




'amea Owen, of Point Pleasant Township, 
'^ is one of the prominent members of the 
farming community of Warren County. He 
^Ji is the owner of 400 acres of fine land located 
]t on secliin 12, which is in an exceedingly good 
condition for successful farming. Mr. Owen 
is a descendant from ancestors who, by their bravery 
in the contests with Great Britain, for the liberty of 
this cou.itry, earned for their succeeding generations 
the indisputable riglits of American citizens. He 
was borji in Tennessee (Hawkins County) Dec. 17, 



1 81 9, and is tlie son of James Owen. The latter was 
the son of William Owen, who was born in South 
Carolina, and was a soldier of the War of tiie Revo- 
lution. Among tiie battles in which he is on record 
as having been a participant, were King's Mountain, 
Cowpens, Eutaw Springs and Camden, besides many 
smaller engagements. He died in Hawkins Co., 
Tenn. His son, James Owen, was born in Anson 
Co., N. C. March 25, 1789, and he was only six 
months old when the family removed to Tennessee, 
where they were pioneers of Hawkins County. The 
Indians of that section of the country were still 
troublesome and for a short time after the arrival of 
the family in that State, they resided in a fort. 
James Owen, br., tliere reached the years of maturity 
and was still a young man when the War of 18 r 2 
again called the citizens of .America to defend her 
from British encroaclnnent. He enlisted and was in 
the action called the battle of Horse-Shoe. He mar- 
ried Sarali Lanior, who was born in Rockbridge Co., 
Va., about two miles from the Natural Bridge. After 
marriage, Mr. Owen settled on a portion of the large 
tract of land which his father had bought in Haw- 
kins County. Not being a friend to the slave ele- 
ment, however, he at last resolved to emigrate to 
some one of the free States, and, accordingly, made 
preparations to leave the section in which he had 
been born and reared. He set out with a horse and 
carri.Tge, containing all his household goods. His wife 
rode on horseback, carrying the two youngest chil- 
dren, while the two eldest daughters, aged respec- 
tively 14 and 16, walked the entire distance to their 
destination, in the State of Indiana. All else was 
abandoned by Mr. Owen in his eagerness to retreat 
from the liated institution, being determined that his 
children should not grow up within its influence. A 
location was made in Floyd County, where they set- 
tled on 80 acres of timber. A " patch" of land was 
cleared and a log house erected. The heavy timber 
was removed by hard and persistent labor and there 
the wife and mother died in 1835. In the year fol- 
lowmg that event, Mr. Owen sold his place and again 
set forth with his family for a new start in the role of 
a pioneer. He and his four children rode on horse- 
back to McDonough Co , 111., at which place they 
stopped and located, instead of going to Flint Hills 
(now the city of Burlington), Iowa, where they had 
originally intended to settle. They made their home 
in the northwest part of McDonough County, at a 



■< 



^t 



V 



■C T ^JL 



. -v. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^X-¥ 



453 




point designated as the " Job Settlement," where a 
tract of land was purchased, on which they resided 
until 1844. The father then sold out again and went 
to Missouri, but remained there only a short time, 
returning to Illinois and locating in Henderson 
County. There James Owen, the subject of this 
biography, who had never been separated from his 
father during the many migrations of the family, 
bought 80 acres of land on which his father died in 
October, 1845. 

On the small farm in Henderson County, where a 
frame house had been built and some other nominal 
improvements made, Mr. Owen resided until 1851, 
when he sold out and came to Warren C'ounty. He 
made his first purchase of land in Swan Township, 
of which he was the occupant between two and 
three years. He then sold out and bought the farm 
upon which he now lives, located on the northwest 
quarter of section 12, in Point Pleasant Township. 
No improvements of any character had been made on 
it, but the owner soon accomplished the necessary 
work which put it on a footing of equality with the 
numerous farms of value in the county. It is also sup- 
plied with all the needed outbuildings of substantial 
structure. Besides 400 acres under cultivation Mr. 
Owen is the owner of 50 acres of good timber land in 
Swan Township. 

Mr. Owen had small advantages for obtaining any 
education in the schools, but his mental calibre is 
such as to supply all deficiencies of that character. 
He was fond of reading and possessed ihe natural 
sagacity to render it a source of profit and a means of 
intellectual cultivation. His powers as a natural 
mathematician are something remarkable, and he 
probably stands at the head of that class of geniuses 
in the State. He is a Republican hy inheritance and 
inclination and has been a strong adherent of the 
party since its organization. 

July 23, 1846, Mr. Owen was married to Uemanis 
E. Enierich. She was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, 
July 14, 1829, and became the mother of 11 chil- 
dren. They were named James ('., Jacob E., Sarah 
A , John A., Joseph S., Mary J., Lucinda, Mary F., 
Cassius C, Willi un C. and George G. The eldest 
son (James C.) was born May 6, 1847, and died 
June 2, 1880, from disease contracted during his ser- 
vice in the late war as a member of Co. H, 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf He left a wife and four children. Mary J. 
s ' -X 



died at the age of nine years. Lucinda died in in- 
fancy. Mary F. also died in early childhood. Cas- 
sius C. was born May i, 1861, aid died Sept. 21, 
1885. He left a wife and one child. 

The parents of Mrs. Owen were Jacob and Abigail 
(Cooper) Emerick, natives respectively of Virginia 
and Ohio. They removed hither in 1832. The 
father died March 12, 1855, near Fort Scott, Kan. 
The mother died Nov. i, 1877. 




errit Paddock ranks among the well-to-do 

_ and well known agriculturists, vvlio in 
l^~^'' early life engaged actively and arduously 
in the labor incident to a farm, and whose 
efforts have been crowned with success, thus 
enabling him to spend the remaining years of 
his life in retirement in the peaceful village of Kirk- 
wood. He is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., and 
was born on the 19th of September, 1822; his par- 
ents are John and Polly (Christian) Paddock. They 
were natives of the State of New York, where they 
resided until their death, which occurred in Decem- 
ber, 1867, and in April, 1840, respectively. 

Merrit continued a member of the family until he 
attained the age of 20 years, attending the district 
schools and working on the farm. After leaving 
home he worked out for six months, receiving for his 
salary $10.50 per month, and in 1842 he rented a 
farm in Oneida Co., N. Y., of 60 acres, which he re- 
mained on for one year. He then moved to Lewis 
County, same State, and there worked a farm for two 
years having only rented it, when he made a pur- 
chase of some land, a tract of 50 acres, and began 
its improvement and cultivation, continuing for two 
years and then sold it. His ne.\t enterprise was to 
work a farm on shares, also occupying himself in 
other pursuits, until 1851, when he removed west- 
ward, locating in Prophetstown, Whiteside County, 
this State, where he purchased 130 acres of land and 
remained there until 1853. In the latter year he 
again returned to Lewis County, in his native State, 
and remained there for a couple of years, when he 
returned to Prophetstown and purchased 40 acres of 
improved land and erected thereon a good residence 



< 



V 



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454 



. r.VZ=: 

WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



*X 



and barn, fenced the same, planted trees, etc. He 
came lo Warren County in i86r, and settled in 
Tompkins Township. He purchased some land and 
engaged actively and energetically in its cultivation 
and improvement, and by subsequent purchases has 
increased his landed possessions until now he is the 
proprietor of 143 acres. He resided upon the same 
until 1872, when he came to Kirkwood and there 
purchased a house and lot where he has since lived, 
retired from the active labors of life. 

Mr. Paddock was married Feb. 20, 1845, to Miss 
Alvira T. Hall, a native of New York, the ceremony 
being performed in Lewis County, her native State. 
Mr. Paddock is a Republican in political views, and, 
with his wife, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is regarded as one of the solid and 
influential men of Warren County. 



ll'^^apt. Elisha C. Atchison, one of Warren 
County's successful farmers, and a gentle- 
man who has followed that vocation more 
or less all his life, is at present lesiding upon 
section r. Cold Brook Township. He was 
born in Sumner County, Central Tennessee, 
Jan. 20, 1820. The father of Mr. Atchison, whose 
name heads this notice, Nathan Atchison, was a na- 
tive of Virginia, having been born in Stafford County, 
that State, and was a fanner by occupation. He was 
a soldier in the war of 18 r 2, under command of Gen. 
Jackson. He was married in Tennessee, after at- 
taining his majority, his wife being Lucretia B.irnard , 
a native of North Carolina, who moved to Tennessee 
with her parents previous to her marriage. After 
their marriage, in 1829, they came to Gallatin Co., 
this State, from whence they removed to Madison 
County, where the father died in 1843, at the age of 
67 years. The motlier died in Bunker Hill, Macou- 
pin County, in 1872, aged 82 years. They were 
prominent citizens of the communities in which they 
resided, and her father was successful in liis chosen 
vocHtion, as an agriculturist. 

The gentleman whose name heads this notice was 
about nine years of age when his parents came to this 
State. He continued to reside with them until the 
death of his father, when he set forth to figiit the 
battle of life alone. He was married in Knox County, 




Nov. 24, 1846, to Miss Nabbie L. Fuller, the accom- 
plished daughter of Samuel and Hulda (Record) 
Fuller, nativesof Massachusetts and of New England 
parentage, who, after marriage, moved to Marietta, 
Washington County, Ohio, and afterwards, in 1844, 
came to this State, settling in Knox County, where 
her father died. Her mjther is yet living, with her 
daughter, Mrs. Atchison, and has attained the ven- 
erable age of 90 years. 

Mrs. Atchison, wife of our subject, was born near 
Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1826. She 
was educated in the public schools and resided at 
home, assisting her mother in the household duties, 
until her marriage to Mr. A. Of their union eleven 
children have been born, four of whom are deceased. 
The names of the living are George W., who married 
Mary Mitchell ; they reside in Cold Brook Town- 
ship, and are the parents of three cliildren, one of 
whom is now deceased. Hulda L. married George 
Harlan and they are the parents of five children, one 
deceased; they live at Dallas City, 111. John H., 
William E., Fred and Minnie reside at home. Mary 
M. is attending school at Galesburg. After their 
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Atchison located in this 
county and have continued to reside here, with the 
exception of a few years passed in Galesburg and 
Monmouth, until the present time. In 1856 M . 
.Atchison purchased a portion of the property where 
he now resides. He has, by subsequent [jurchases, 
increased his lai.ded interests in the county, until he 
is at present the proprietor of 240 acres, in Cold 
Brook Township, the major portion of which is under 
an advanced state of cultivation He and his wife 
are members of the Universalist Church. In politics, 
Mr. Atchison casts his vote with the Democr3»'c 
party. He has been Assessor and Collector and u j 
Justice of the Peace. 

In September, 1862, Mr. Atchison enlisted in Co. 
B, i02d 111. Vol. Inf., as private, and his regiment 
was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. Im- 
mediately after enlistment he was elected Captain of 
the company, ahicli he organized, and went into 
camp at Knoxville, Knox County. From there he 
went to Louisville, Ky , and afterwards did some 
skirmishing, but was in no active engagements. Mr. 
A. resigned lommand of his company at Gallatin, 
Tenn., and returned home, where he has since fol- 
lowed his chosen vocation, agriculture, meeting with 
success in that avenue of life. 



r 





j^4nuiff-r^y 



'% 



A 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f^ 



457 




%^0^ oseph B. Malony, manufacturer of har- 
1^' ness and dealer in harness and saddlery 
goods at Roseville, is a son of James ar.d 
Margaret (Cairnes) Malony, and was born in 
Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. i6, 1818. His 
larents were natives of Ireland and came to 
America about the year 1810, locating in the Key- 
stone Stale where the father was engaged as contrac- 
tor for stone work. In 1S24 he removed into Ohio 
and there engaged in farming, also following his 
trade at stone work, and laid the foundation for the 
first flouring mill on the Maumee River. He made 
the Buckeye State his permanent home and died 
there about 1826-7, his wife's demise occurring in 
1846. 

Joseph B., the gentleman whose name stands at the 
head of this biographical notice, went to learn the 
I ' trade of saddle-maker at the age of 16, at which he 
served an apprenticeship of three and a half years, 
and again ten months under the instruction of 
another firm. He followed the same in the Slates of 
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and finally settled down 
in Canton, Fulton County, this State, and opened a 
shop, which he tarred on for 12 years. At the ex- 
piration of that lime he removed to Vermont, same 
county, but remained only a year, when he again re- 
turned 10 Canton and embarked in the same busi- 
ness for four years. His next move was to Prairie 
City, McDonough Co , 111., where he engaged in 
business and rem. lined until the year 1861. 

In the latter year the call was made for brave 
hearts and strong arms to defend the Union flag, and 
Joseph B., a very patriotic gentleman, enlisted in 
the Seventh Regt. of III. Vol. Cav., and served two 
years and four months, having held the position of 
Serge.int Saddler, bit was disi-.harged on account of 
disability. He ihen returned to Prairie City and 
again embarked in business, which he continued 
until the year 187 2, then coming to Roseville and in- 
icrcbting himself in his present enterprise, in which 
he has met wnh remarkable success and is doing a 
constantly increasing business. He has gotten up 
many new improvements in harness that have come 



into general use. He invented ihe first pad for a 
saddle, padding for a saddletree and the roller at- 
tachment to the "Sensible Combination Buckle." He 
is also the inventor of a combination halter, which is 
not only tlie best in use but cheap and durable. 

In 1841, one of the most important events in the 
life of Mr. Joseph B. .Malouey occurred, it being 
his marriage to Miss Jane Anderson, and of their 
union were born four children — Richard A., Joseph 
C, Willia.n N. and James M. Mrs. Malony's de- 
mise occurred in 1850, and Mr. M. formed a sec- 
ond matrimonial alliance with a si-.ter of his first 
wife. Miss Catherine Anderson, and they have be- 
come the parents of five children, only four of 
whom survive, as follows: Mary E., Nathaniel L., 
Margaret J. and Emma. Mrs. Maloney died in 
1872. Mr. Malony is a Greenbacker in politics. He 
is a member of the United Brethren Church at Rose- 
ville. 




Kohn Wesley Bolon, Sheriff of Warren 
!«'" County, was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, 



Sept. 2, 1838. His parents, John and 
Eliza ( Jo)ce ) Bolon, natives respectively of 
It Pennsylvani.i. and Virginia, were married in 
the last named State; settled at once m Ohio, 
where their five sons and four daughter were born, and 
where the senior Mr. Bolon died in 1848, aged about 
63 years. John Bolon was a son of John and Mary 
Bolon and a descendant from a long line of English 
ancestry, who had emigrated to America many years 
prior to the Revolutionary War. John, the father of 
Sheriff Bolon, lived in Eastern Pennsylvania, where 
he was engaged in farming, and during the war of 
18 1 2, enlisted in the defense of his co mtry. After 
he grew to manhood he moved to Virginia, where, in 
Loudon County, he married his wife. During that 
s ime year he came to Ohio. His wife was the daugh- 
ter of Col. Thomas B. Joyce, a native of Ireland. He 
had come to Virginia prior to the Revolutionary 
War, and with three of his sons took part in that 
memorable struggle. He was likewise one of the 
p.itriots who assisted in repelling the British invasion 
during the war of 1812. He was Colonel of a Vir- 
ginia regiment, and proved himself to be a brave and 



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u 



458 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



gallant officer. After the death of his wife, he re- 
moved to Ohio, and subsequently to Illinois, and re- 
sided with his daughter, Mrs. Bolon, until his demise, 
which occurred at the advanced age of 97 years. In 
politics, he was an old line Whig. Mrs. Bolon 
brought her children to Warren County in 1855, 
after living four years in Indiana, and in Floyd 
Township, this county, spent the rest of her life, 
dying at the home of the subject of this sketch in 
1868, aged 76 years. 

John VV. Bolon was pretty thoroughly educated at 
Hillsboro Seminary, in Indiana, wliere lie spent four 
years, and after coming to Illinois taught school 
probably two years, which, for himself, was an e.xcel- 
lent means of further disciplining and forming his 
mind. Before leaving Indiana he read law some 
time with Judge Niblock, who has since served so 
many years upon the Supreme Bench of that State, 
but abandoned it and turned his attention to farming 
and stock dealing, which he followed uninterruptedly 
for 15 years. He now rents his fine farm of 160 
acres in Floyd Township. While a resident of the 
toivnship he s;rved the people 12 years as Road 
Commissioner, one year as Cojistable, eight years as 
Supervisor and 14 years as School Director. He has 
always been a Republican in politics, is a good stump 
speaker, and in 1882, as candidate for Sheriff, ran 
far ahead of his ticket. 

Mr. Bjlon was married in Floyd Township, Jan. 
21, 1857, to Lucinda Siginan, a native of Guernsey 
Cc.Ohi", and daughter of Isaac and Julia (Spears) 
Sigman, a farmer of Floyd Township. His ancestors 
were Cierman. Mr. and Mrs. Bolon's children are 
nanud: Alfred W., Charles M., Emeline, Nettie, 
Ella, John H. and Roy. The family are all con- 
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. .Mr. 
B0I0.1, hi.nself, has been a member of that Church 
for many years and for the last 16 years has had 
license to preach as a local preacher. He is recog- 
nized as a fervent and eloquent teacher and is 
capable of doing great good in the cause of Chris- 
tianity. 

Some of Mr. Bolon's children have been married, 
namely: Alfred W. married Minnie, the daughter 
of Dr. Blair, of Abington, III. They reside on the 
homestead in Floyd Township, and carry on the 
farm ; Charles Milton married Mary Ada Goddard, 
daughter of Henry Goddard, of Floyd Township, this 




county. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising 
in Berwick Township. 

Whatever of this world's goods, Mr. B. possesses, he 
has most diligently labored for. He inherited noth- 
ing in tlie way of property and when married had 
only $ioo in money. He has been a hard working, 
frugal man and has wjn for himself a most enviable 
position in the estination of his fellow citizens, as 
well as a fair co npetency. He is not only a genial 
gentle nan, but possesses most excellent judgment 
and nerve, and few men in the county are so well 
fitted for the position he holds. Among the portraits 
of the leading men of the county given in this 
book miy be found that of Mr. Bolon. He is a truly 
representative citizen, and honors the work contain- 
ing his features. 



^fe^jICohn A. Gordon, notary public, real estate 

^ and collecting agent, at Roseville, also a ^ 
surveyor and engineer, was born Jan. 10, I 
835, in Mercer Co., Pa., his parents being 
William and Sarah (Dilley) Gordon, natives of 
that State. The parents came to this State in 
1858, and purchased 80 acres of land located on 
section 32, Roseville Township, on which they lo- 
cated and where the father foUovved the occupation 
of a farmer until his death, in May, 1876 His wife 
still survives and resides on the old homestead one 
mile east of tlie village. The children were six in 
number, ^x'^i: of whom attained the age of majority. 

(ohii k. Gordon, of whom we write, was the eldest 
of his parents" cliildren, anl remained at home until 
he attained his 2 ist year, receiving a good education 
and assisting in the labors of the farm. He had, 
prior to attai ing his majority, engaged somewhat in 
surveying and also in teaching school. Daring the 
winter of 1855-56, he was engaged in the latter oc- 
cupation, in New Lebanon, Pa. In September, 1856, 
he came to Roseville, but previous to that, during 
the summer of that year, was employed by the Mil- 
waukee and Missouri River Railroad, in Iowa, mak- 
ing the preliminary survey. In 1856, the winter of 
that year, he taught school, and continued in that 
vocation for three years. He next engaged as clerk 



^ 



i 



WARREN COUNTY. 



459 



and book-keeper for Emans & Woodmansee and was 
with that firm one year. We next, in 1865, find him 
in Chicago, where lie is taking a regular business 
course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial 
College, from which he received a diploma. He 
then returned to Roseville and was elected County 
Surveyor, which position he held until August, 1870, 
when he engaged with the Rockford, Rock Island 
and St. Louis Railroad as station agent at Roseville, 
and held that position two years. At the expiration 
of this time he became interested in the furniture 
business and continued thus for ten years, when he 
sold out and opened an office on Penn Avenue, 
where he is at present located 

Mr. Gordon was married in 1861 to Miss Philena 
Dilley, a native of Mercer Co., Pa., and a daughter 
of Stephen Dilley, and he and his wife are members 
of the Congregational Church. 

In his political views, Mr. Gordon is a strong ad- 
vocate of prohibition, casts his vote with that party, 
and was an active and energetic worker in the cause. 
Mr. Gordon has held the position of Police Magis- 
trate and Village Trustee. He has quite an interest 
> in the village plat of Roseville, and is regarded as 
one of the leading business men of that thriving little 
village. 



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Ifejerrick Livermore, of Sumner Township, is 
il one of the pioneers of [839 who settled in 
^ Warren County, and is now one of the 
most prominent of the agriculturists of the 
township in which he is located. His birth 
took place Aug. 28, 1830, in Washington Co., 
Ohio. His father, Andrew Livetmore, was a native 
of Shirley, Middlesex C'o., Mass. The latter was 
the son of James and Polly (Kelsey) Livermore, 
The ancestral history of the family has been pre- 
served in the annals of Shirley, which were compiled 
by the Rev. Seth Chandler. The first progenitor in 
this country was John Livermore, who came, at the 
age of 28, to the New World, sailing from Ipswich, 
England, in .\pril, r634, in the good ship Francis, 
John Cutting, Captain. John Livermore located in 
Watertown, Mass., and there his life terminated, 
April 16, 1684. He was a potter by trade. Oliver 



Livermore, who was the first of the family to settle 
in Shirley, located in that place as nearly as can be 
ascertained about 1767. 

Andrew Livermore was but seven years old when 
his parents removed from the " Old Bay State " to 
the, then, far distant West. The journey was made 
in the fashion so often recounted in this and other 
works of similar character, peculiar to the time, 
when there were practically no means of public 
travel. The long and difficult route, however, was 
safely traversed by team, and the family homestead 
established in Washington Co., Ohio. Andrew Liv- 
ermore there attained to the age and condition of 
manhood, and there he was married to Betsey Ful- 
ler. She, too, was a native of Massachusetts, having 
been born in Essex County, in 1807. Her parents be- 
came pioneers of the "Buckeye State" when she was 
very young. After marriage, Andrew and wife set- 
tled on the homestead of his father, in Washington 
County, and resided there until their removal to 
Warren County, in 1839, that journey also being 
made in the primitive fashion of the earlier period, 
the family traveling to Illinois with four horses and a 
wagon. They brought with them all their portable 
propeity, and passed four weeks on the road. 

The senior Livermore bought a farm in township 
1 1 (now Kelly Township), and there proceeded with 
the work common to the pioneer residents of a new 
country. He built a hewed-log house and split 
" shakes " for a roof and puncheons for a floor. This 
place was occupied by the family until 1852, when it 
was sold and they removed to Point Pleasant Town- 
ship. The father bought a farm, on which there had 
been a log house erected. Of this structure they took 
possession until time and circumstances were favor- 
able for the building of a more suitable and conven- 
ient abode. The farm was put in the best possible 
condition and was the home of the father until hi? 
death. His demise took place Feb. 30, 1880. The 
family comprised ten children. Derrick, the subject 
of this biography, was the eldest. Russell was born 
April 3, 1832. His death transpired Aug. 28, 1850. 
Andrew P. was born Aug. 28, r834, and died Feb. 5, 
t88i. John K. was born Aug. 9, 1836, and is living 
in Henderson County. Western T. was born Dec. 
29, 1838. Jonas was born June 19, 184 1, and died 
May 8, 1862. Oliver was born July 29, and died 
Aug. 28, 1842. Socrates was born Nov. 10, 1843; 
Charles C, Oct. 24, 1847 ; William R.,Oct. 6, 1850, 



'J\^ 



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T 



^ T l 



460 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



j^ 



Derrick Livermore was nine years old when he 
accompanied his parents to Warren County, :ind in 
tliat county he has ever since made his home He 
was brouglit up on the iioniestead of his parenis and 
lived with them until he became liie head of a fam- 
ily of his own. His marriage to Betsey Steveis oc- 
curred Jan. 8, 185 1. She was born in Sangamon 
Co., 111., Feb. 15, 183 I, and is the daughter of James 
and Nancy (Miles) Stevens. Her father and mother 
were natives of the Stale of Kentucky, and joined 
the early pioneer element of the county where she 
was born. 

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Livermore bought 
80 acres of land on section 12, in the township of 
Cold Brook, in the same county where he h.id passed 
the years of his boyhood and youth, and entered 
upon the duties of nianliood and which he lias so 
thoroughly and creditably discharged. He built a 
small house on the estate and proceeded to the bus- 
iness of a farmer. There he continued to reside 
until he sold it and removed to Point Pleas- 
ant Township, in 1855, where he bought Bo acres 
situated on section 10, and where he repeated the 
experience of his former life in the township in which 
he at first located. He improved the land and made 
additional purchases, until he became the owner of 
his present estate of 400 acres, the whole of which is 
under thorough culiivaiion. The family of Mr. Liv- 
ermore includes six children. Andrew J. resides in 
this (Point Pleasant) township Joshua resides in 
Page Co., Iowa. Eugenie L. is married to B. L. Bird- 
sail, of Point Pleasant. Mary A., Alice E. and 
Clara are still at home. 

Mr. Livermore is a Republican in politics, and a 
Universalist in religious belief. 




-ohn Nicol Bruen, deceased, was born in 
^^ Essex Co., NT. J., Oct 25, 1825, and died 
in Monmouth, Nov. 21, 1884 His father, 
William Bruen, was a descendant from Scotch 
ancestry, and his mother, Jane (Williamson) 
Bruen, from the (lerman. They renred three 
sons and live daughttrs, Mr. Bruen being the eldest. 
John Nicol Bruen was educated at Bloonifield, N, 



LAJ 



J., and his father, who was a shoe manufaturer on a 
small scale, tried to educate him into the Order of 
the Knights of St. Crispin, but young Bruen protested 
after a few months' application to the rudiments of 
the trade, and the year 1844 found him fanning in 
Henderson County, this State. An uncle of his, 
Mr. Bruen, owned an unimproved farm of 160 acres 
some ten miles from Oquawka, and it was u|)on this 
tract of land that he gave our subject 80 acres if he 
would settle on it, and here he sought to establish an 
independency. Before assuming the dignity of a 
farmer o'l his own account, however, he hired him- 
self out to a neighbor who paid him the paltry sum 
of $7 per month, probably advancing him to $8 per 
n.onth when he had grown more proficient in the 
essential departments. He brought with him from 
New Jersey a scjuirrel rifle and a silver watch. The 
first he exchanged for fence rails, and the second for 
prairie-brc-iking. His start in life may be accurately 
surmised from these facts, and it is proper here to 
state chat he left his family a handsome competency. 
He owned a large tract of land in Mills, Montgomery 
and Pottawatomie Counties, Iowa, all of which is 
now in a good state of improvement. In r882 i.c 
had between 2,000 and 3,000 acres of corn, 300 acre. 
of wheat, 200 of oats and 1,200 head of hogs. He 
was also President of the Illinois Live Stock Com- 
pany in Colorado, in which he was a heavy stock- 
holder. 

His first marriage was in 1848, to Miss Jane Sharp- 
less, of Henderson Co., III., who died in 1863, leav- 
ing three children — Williarri S., Charles E. and Ida. 
Mr. Bruen came into Monmouth in 1875, and lo- 
cated, bringing with him the accomplished lady now 
his widow, who kindly lurnishes the data from which 
this sketch is written. Before her marriage to Mr. 
Bruen, which occurred in Henderson County, Oct. 
10, 1865, she was Miss Mary A. Martin. Her par- 
ents were Preston and Ann E. (Taylor) Martin, na- 
tives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. They 
were married in the first named State, came to Illi- 
nois in 183S and spent some years in Morgan County 
but the greater part of their lives was spent in Hen- 
derson County, where the present Mrs. Bruen was 
born. Mrs. Martin died Dec. 15, 1881. They had 
previously, on the 23d of March, 1881, celebrated 
their golden wedding. Mr. Martin resides at Biggs- 
ville. 111., now in the 82d year of his age. 

Mrs. Bruen was educated at Knox College, Gales- 



■< 



V 




Residence: of Wt^. A.Mitchell.Sec.3. Hale Township 




Drugstore of E.D.Alexander tC^MAiNSi. Alexis. 



.Y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 






463 



burg, 111., and taught four years in the public schools 
before her marriage. Her parents reared six sons 
and four daughters. Four of her brothers and one 
brother-in-law were in the Union army during the 
Rebellion. Slie is a consistent member of the l^res- 
byterian Church. Her husband also attended that 
Church, though not a member. He was always a 
liberal contributor to the support of the Church. In 
politics, he was a Democrat, though frequently voting 
for men identified with other parties. He was for 
several years a director and stockholder of the First 
National Bank of Monmouth. The success of Mr. 
Bruen may be attributed to his energy, perseverance 
and broad grasp of business enterprises. No man 
stood higher in the coutity in which he resided. His 
word was always as good as his bond. 



^^ 




*r 



jtenry Sigafoos, deceased, was formerly a 
resident on section 33 of Spring Grove 
^KS^" Township. He was born in Sussex Co., N. 
O J., Aug. 31, 1832. The death of his father 
! when he was in infancy left him in the sole care 
of his mother, and he remained with her until 
he was nine years of age, when she was again mar- 
ried. He then undertook the management of his 
own affairs and he gave his attention exclusively to 
the work of obtaining a good and available educa- 
tion. He had already made considerable progress 
and he prosecuted his studies until he was qualified 
to teach in the public schools. He ivas occupied in 
that business until his transfer of his interests to Il- 
linois, which took place in 1853. He was unmarried 
when he located in Warren County, and, associated 
with his brother, he bought a farm in Lenox Town- 
ship. He passed the winters in teaching and through 
the remainder of the year he devoted his attention 
to agricultural pursuits. 

March 18, 1858, he was married to Flora Shaw. 
Mrs. Sigafoos was born in Hartland, Genesee Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 27, r84o, and was the daughter of Wil- 
liam and Adeline (Stannard) Shaw. Not long after 
their marriage, Mr. Sigafoos bought the southeast 
quarter of section 33, in Spring Grove Township. 
They moved into a log house which stood on the 



place. There was besides a frame stable and some 
of the land was already broken to the plow. The 
new proprietor re-built the stable at once, and in 
187 1 he erected the commodious and good frame 
house, which has since been the family residence. 
His death took place April 29, 1881. The four chil- 
dren of which he and his wife became the parents are 
as follows : Warren H., residing in this township, 
born Dec. 2, 1859, and married to Dora Robinson in 
the same township; Hattie M., born Oct. 20, 1864, 
and now the wife of Charles Hart of Cameron ; Myr- 
tle A., born March 11, 1870; while the birth of the 
youngest child, Laura A., took place Nov. 19, 187D. 
Mr. Sigafoos was always prominent in his interest in 
educational matters and discharged the duties of 
School Director for many years. He was a Repub- 
lican of strong principles. 

William H. Shaw (father of Mrs. Sigafoos) was 
born in Hudson, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1802. He was 
reared to the estate of manhood in his native State 
and was there married to Adeline Stannard, March 
5, 1829, wlio was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July 
I, 1811. They located their home in Hartland, in 
the same county, and were there resident until 1841. ■■ 
In the year previous the husband had come to the 
West alone to seek a suitable location upon which 
to found a home. He came by the regular route of 
public travel to Chicago, whence he came to Warren 
County on foot. He had exchanged his farm in 
Hartland, Genesee Co., N. Y., for land in this county 
and on his way thither lie went to Whiteside and 
Henry Counties. He had made the exchange with- 
out seeing the property in Illinois, but on looking it 
over he was entirely satisfied with the bargain he had 
made, and concluded to make the necessary arrange- 
ments for the accommodation of his family in War- 
ren County and establish his home in the place of 
which he had become the owner. The farm was 
situated on section 1 1, in the township of Monmouth. 
There was a log cabin on the farm, of which he took 
possession and passed the winter on it. During that 
season he built a frame house for Mr. Talbot. He 
went back to his old home in the spring for the 
members of his household, and with them returned 
to Illinois for a permanent settlement. They reached 
their home in June. The log house was the abode 
of the family for a time, when the father erected a 
more suitable and comfortable home. 

Mr. Shaw died April 13, 1876, his wife having 



'Jyn 



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'£-t?! 



^^=-?+ 



464 



WARREN COUNTY. 



deparied this life July 8, 1872. Their family in- 
cluded seven children in .ill. Two only are now 
living. Flora is the widow of Henry Sigafoos and 
lives in Spring ("i rove Townshi|). Henrietta is tiie 
wife of Barne) Miller and they reside on the Shaw 
homesiead, in Monmouth Township. A view of the 
home of Mrs. Sigafoos appears on page 450. 



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4^ 



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1^ ewton P. Bruington, a resident of Alexis, 
has retired from the turmoil of an active 
business life He is a n.itive citizen of 
Warren County, having been born in the town- 
ship of Cold Biook, July 16, 1845. Thomas 
Bruington, his father, was born in Breckenridge 
Co., Ky., May 13, 1807. He was the son of James 
and Jane (McGlothlin) Bruington. He was of 
Scotch-English origin, the mother being of Scotch 
descent 

Thomas Bruington was reared on the liomstead of 
his parents, in the land of handsome women and 
good horses, and on the 22d day of January, 1822, suc- 
cumbed to the charms of one of the belles of the 
Blue-Grass country — Miss Jane McCilothlin. She 
was a native of the same county as her husband and 
was born Aug. 14, 1809. In 1833, the father, de- 
termining that there was a broader field wherein to 
rear his growing family, set out for the Stale of Illi- 
nois, traveling with his houseliold in the conveyance 
common to the journeyings of the pioneers of those 
days. He owned a pair of oxen and a wagon and 
by their aid the route was made. The method of op- 
eration was quite after the gypsy pattern and the 
journey was not wholly withuut interest and pleas- 
ure, notwithstanding its tediousness. The cooking was 
done by the wayside and the family slept in the wagon. 
Their destination was Warren Co. and on their arrival 
they made their first location in Barnett's Grove, in 
what is now Cold Brook 'I'ownship. Mr. Bruington 
took a timber claim and built a log house. He 
placed the structure in the midst of the timber and 
split logs to make its roof. He cleared a few acres 
of timber and held possession of the |)roperty there 
about ten years. On selling out he moved to the prairie 



*i 



in the same township and built another log house. 
This the f.imily occupied a few ye.irs and, as their 
circumstances improved, they erected a frame house 
for their accommodation. The father improved an 
entire section of land. .'Kbout the year 1856 he de- 
termined to make another change, and on again sell- 
ing out, he bought a farm in Kelly Township, or 
rather a large tract of land in the immediate vicinity 
of the line of Mercer County. There he erected a 
house, which was one of the first frame buildings in 
this locality. There he improved another farm and 
made the common additions of fruit and shade trees 
to his estate. This remained the homstead while he 
lived, until a very short time previous to his death 
he moved to the property belonging to the lady who 
became his second wife, in the same township. There 
he passed the latest years of his life. His demise 
took place Oct 9, 1882. His first wife died Sept. 18, 
1849. In 1859 he was married to Mrs. Annie Goflf. 
She is still living. The issue of the first marriage 
was nine children, and six are yet living. James is 
a citizen of Kansas; John M. lives in Texas. Eliza- 
beth and Jane are deceased. George is a resident of 
the township of Cold Brook. Thomas lives in Mer- 
cer County. Newton P. is the subject proper of this 
sketch and is a resident of the township already 
named. Eugene lives in Spring Grove Township, 
and one child not mentioned. 

Newton P. Bruington passed the years of his boy- 
hood and youth in his native county; was reared on 
the farm and educated in the public schools. In 
18*^1 he went to Idaho, crossing the plains with his 
brother John. They had a mule-train consisting of 
four animals and a wagon. They set out from War- 
ren County on the tst day of April, of the year 
named. They made a halt of a few days in Marshall 
County, Iowa, and with that single exception pushed 
on to Omaha without pausing. There they replen- 
ished their stock of provisions and started from there 
in the latter part of April. They arrived at their 
destination about the istot August. Mr. Bruington 
interested himself in mining and continued that ex- 
citing and delusive occupation about 18 months. He 
then commenced packing goods from Umatilla Land- 
ing to the camps in the mountains. In 1863 he re- 
turned to Warren County. As soon as he was fairly 
at home he resumed the occupation of a farmer. In 
1870 he bought land in North Henderson Township, 
Mercer County, and devoted himself to the rearingof 



¥ 



4: 



^^^^^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



465 



1- 



stock. He was the occupant of the farm in North 
Henderson Township until 1879, when he sold out 
and came to Alexis. He bought a suitable residence, 
which has since been his abode. It is located in 
that part of Alexis which is situated in Suez Town- 
ship, Mercer Co. Mr. Bruington is still the proprie- 
tor of 390 acres in North Henderson Township and 
also of 50 acres in Kelly Township, in Warren 
County. His acreage is all in first-class condition 
for farming, and he rents a part of the land ; the re- 
mainder is stocked and continues under his manage- 
ment. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., Alexis Lodge, 
No. 526. He and his wife are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

His marriage to Nannie Johnston occurred July 
13, 1872. Mrs. Bruington was born in Breckenridge 
Co., Ky., March 30, 1854, and is the daughter of P. 
W. and Martha (Hayes) Johnston. Her parents 
were natives of Virginia. On the paternal side she 
is of English origin. The grandfather came to this 
country at an early day and settled in Virginia. On 
the maternal side she comes from old Virginia stock. 
Blanche and Walter are the names of the children 
that have been born of her marriage to Mr. Bruing- 
ton. Blanche was born July 22, 1872; Walter was 
born Aug. 30, 1878. 



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4 



— 1- 



j illiam E. Porter, a member of that well 
known and highly respected pioneer tam- 

fy^- ily of which Joshua Porter was the head. 
> was born Sept. 16, 1839, and is the third 
child of Joshua and Mary (Tinkham) Porter, 
of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in tliis 
volume. William F. was born in what is now Spring 
Grove Township, where his parents had located as 
early as 1835. They came from New York, but were 
both natives of Vermont. They were of the agri- 
callural class and were highly esteemed residents of 
Spring Grove Township until their deaths. 

William E. received his early education in the dis- 
trict schools of the locality uhere his parents resided. 
When not attending school, his boyhood days were 
spent in assisting his father in his farm work. He 
first set out in life on his own account upon arriving 
at the age of 21. His father then gave him a farm 



of 80 acres. He subsequently inherited 40 acres 
more. He now has a well improved farm of 128 
acres, which is one among the best farms in Spring 
Grove Township. 

Upon the 21st of July, 1867, Mr. Porter was mar- 
ried to Martha E., daughter of Paul and Maria 
Mahn. They were residents of Knox County, 111., 
where Mrs. Porter was born. Her father was of 
German parentage and her mother a native of Ken- 
tucky. As the fruits of their union, Mr. Porter and 
wife had born to them three ddughters — Altha May, 
Edna L. and Kale E. Mrs. Porter died at her res- 
idence. May 13, 1874. In politics, Mr. Porter has 
always been a believer in and supporter of the prin- 
ciples promulgated by the Democratic party. 




ohn Hodgson, one of the prominent young 
^ business men of Warren County, carrying on 
the trade of a merchant in Larchland, is a 
son of George and Margaret (McKinn) Hodg- 
]L son, natives respectively of England and Scot- 
land. They settled in the latter country, where 
they died. Their family consisted of eight children, 
John, our subject, being the sixth in order of birth. 

John Hodgson was born in Scotland, on the 21st 
of June, 1843, and when about 14 years of age came 
to Canada and there remained about two months. 
He next came to Buflfalo, N. Y., and a year later to 
Henderson County, this State, remaining in the latter 
place until his enlistment in the army, which occurred 
in September, i86t, in Co. K, 36th 111. Vol. Inf. He 
served three years without receiving any serious in- 
juries. Upon his return from the war he located in 
Warren County and immediately engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits, which he continued for about eight 
years, when he bought out the stock of general 
merch mdise wliere he is at present located, in coin- 
pany with John M. Young, tlie latter gentleman sell- 
ing out his interest in 1877; and Mr. Hodgson at 
present conducts the entire business. He has an 
excellent trade and it is constantly increasing. Mr. 
H. has jjeen Postmaster of Larchland for nearly 11 
years. 

His first marriage was celebrated on the 24th of 
December, 1865, in Monmouth, the other contract- 



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V 




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466 



WARREN COUNTY. 



ing party being Mary F. Stormont. Tliey became 
the parents of one child, who died in infancy, and 
Mrs. Hodgson's demise occurred near Kirkwood 
abont ten months after her marriage. Mr. Hodgson 
was again married Sept 5, 1872, near Kirkwood, to 
Ella S. Moore, who was born in Warren County, 
Dec. 23, 1845. Of the latter union nine children 
have been birn — Rol)ert R.. Horace J., Margie M., 
Ada M., Minnie E., John, Willie, George and one 
who died in infancy. Mr. H. has been Township 
Clerk, Justice of the Peace and held other minor 
offices within the gift of the people of the community 
in which he resides. Himself and wife are members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church, and politically 
Mr. H. affiliates with the Prohibition party. 




jlfames S. Kyner, a resident on section 21, 
Spring Grove Township, became an inhab- 
itant of Warren County in 1838, when he 
was ten years of age. Jacob Ryner, his father, 
was born in Montgomery Co., I'a., wliere he 
married Rachel Spencer, In the paternal line 
the family is of German origin and on the other side 
it is of English extraction. The grandfather of 
Jacob Ryner was born in Germany. The wife of the 
latter was a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. 
In 1829, Jacob Ryner removed with his wit'e and 
children to the State of New York. He passed four 
years in the State trying to tind what he considered 
a suitabi'- place for a permanent location, and event- 
ually removed to Lorain Co., Ohio. The family re- 
mained there until 1838, when the transfer to Warren 
County was made. The elder Ryner was well-to-do 
and he came to Illinois with a couple of two-horse 
teams and two wagons, and they journeyed all the 
intervening distance with their aid. They drove a 
small red cow which supplied the necessary ac- 
companiment to the corn mush which foimed the 
principal part of the daily bill of fare. After a jour- 
ney lasting nearly two months they arrived in War- 
ren County. The father at first rented land of Ban- 
nister Gates, in Monmouth Tp., and in this manner 
continued to operate three years. In 1841 he bought 
a farm of a man named Talbot which was located on 



section i in the same township. This was the home- 
stead until the death of the father, when 80 acres 
had been improved. The mother is still living. She 
has borne 11 children, nine of whom still survive: 
Spencer resides in Alexis. Daniel is a citizen of 
Wayne (^o., Iowa Josiah lives in Cold Brook Town- 
ship. Jonathan is a resident of Clinton Co., Iowa. 
Emmeline married Ethan Cox,of Independence, Ore- 
gon. James S. is the next in order of birth. Henry 
lives in Clinton Co., Iowa. Jacob resides on the 
homestead. Eliza is married to Edward Morrow, of 
Nebraska. About the year 1845, the parents, Mr. 
and Mrs Jacob Ryner, went to Philadelphia on a 
visit. They journeyed with their own team, making 
the entire trip with horses and a lumber wagon. 
They started in August and returned to their home 
in Warren County in November of the same year. 

Mr. Ryner, of this sketch, was in the first year of 
his life when his parents removed to New York, and 
was a small lad when tlie transfer of the family was 
made to Ohio. After their removal to Warren County 
he remained with them until 1852, .when he joined a 
party whose i)urpose it was to cross the country to 
the Pacific coast He drove an ox-team to Oregon, 
and arrived there after five months of travel. He 
remained there two years, and during the time was 
engaged in farming. In 1854 he started for another 
overland journey with packed mules across the 
plains toward the scenes of his early childhood. 

Sept. 14, 1854, he was married to Mary E. Wal- 
lace. She was born in Kentucky. After their mar- 
riage they located in Cold Brook Township. They 
maintained a residence there for \7. years when they 
sold their property pre|)aratory to a removal to 
Monmouth Township. Mr. Ryner bought a farm 
there on which he was the resident owner t^o years. 
He sold out again and went to Iowa and bought a 
farm in Wayne County. .Vfter a residence of six 
years in the Hawkeye State he returned for a per- 
manent location to Warren County. He bought a 
farm of satisfictory location, upon which he is now 
living. It is in good agricultural condition and is 
well supplied with farm buildings. 

Mr. Ryner's wife died in July, 1859, leaving two 
sons, George and Charles. He was subsequently 
married, Oct. 29, 1859, to Mary E. Gordon, the 
daughter of William S. and Anna (Wilson) Gordon. 
The former was a native of Washington Co., Ky., 
and a son of Rev. Joel and Nancy Gordon. Rev. 



*% 



'-X^ 



^■■■"% 





■ C i * 



!?^H^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



469 



Joel Gordon was a native of Scotland, and at a very 
early day emigrated to the United States, and settled 
in Kentucky, where lie lived until his death. He 
was a minister of the Baptist Church, yet was the 
owner of slaves. He reared a large family, and his 
son, William S., became a planter. He married and 
reared a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Ryner 
was the fourth child. All of the children are living, 
married, and have families. The following is the 
record. Elizabeth J., wife of William White, of Stark 
Co., 111. ; Joel VV. lives in Oregon; Nancy A., wife 
of George Taylor, of Harrison Co., Mo. ; Carrie, wife 
of James Bryner ; Lucinda B., wife of John Gowings, 
of Burke Co., Iowa ; Melinda, married Milton Bryner, 
of Warren Co., 111.; Harriet is the wife of Peter 
Conniff, a resident of Ford Co., 111. ; Joseph lives in 
Benton Co., Iowa, and John near Youngstown, this 
County. 

Mrs. Ryner was born Aug. 4, 1838, in McDonough 
Co., 111., where her parents moved several years be- 
fore and settled on a farm. Her father and mother 
were both members of the Christian Church. In 
politics the former was a Whig in early life, but later 
became a Republican. He subsequently moved to 
Cold Brook Township, this county, where his death 
occurred in the autumn of 1859. His widow now 
lives wiih her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Bryner, a twin 
sister of Mrs. Ryner, at Mt. Auburn, Iowa. Nellie, 
Eugene, Laura and OUie are the names of the chil- 
dren of the household of Mr. and Mrs. Ryner. Nel- 
lie married Adamson Shriver, and lives in Wayne 
Co., Iowa. They have one son, Carl. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ryner are members of the Christian Church at 
Gerlaw, and in politics Mr. R. is a staunch Demo- 
crat. 



" fW^ C. urney Jones 



I 



Among the energetic and 



r successful farmers of Warren County, is 



gi9 



A 



Mr. Furney Jones, who resides on section 
34, Tompkins Township. He was born in 
:^K^ Washington Co., Virginia, on the 13th of 
April, 1846, his parents being Calvin and Re- 
becca (McQuown) Jones, natives of the same county 
and State as their son. They came to the State of 
Illinois and settled in Henderson County, in 1854, 
where they rented land, on which they remained, 
cultivating and improving the same for four years. 
They then came to Tompkins Township, this county, 



where, in i860, he purchased 80 acres on section 26, 
which, after living on for six years, he sold and 
bought land on section 34, to the amount of 160 
acres, where they still reside. 

Furney Jones, our subject, has always resided 
with his parents, and now owns 1 20 acres of the 
original purchase, and also has 80 acres in Ellison 
Township. He has all of his land in an advanced 
state of cultivation, and is well equipped with farm 
implements. Mr. Jones was married in 1877, to Miss 
Ellen J., a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of 
Peter and Henrietta M. (Habliston) Mundorff. They 
were natives of the Keystone State, and are at pres- 
ent settled in Tompkins Township, having come to 
Illinois in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Jones' family com- 
prises four children, Calvin O., Roscoe D., Henrietta 
and Fanny O. 

Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican, and belongs, 
with his wife, to the Methodist Protestant Church. 
He has served his township as Assessor and School 
Director, and is one of Warren County's most sub- 
stantial and leading men. 

— ^-5— S — o-®Mi»>-$e-o — ^^-«— J 

tr. A. G. Vanhoorebeke, one of the most 
i- e.xtensive and widely known importers of 
'^ French draft horses in America, as well as 
a distinguished breeder of the famous Bou- 
lonnais horses, and a veterinarian of wide repu- 
tation, is a native of France. He was born at 
Ghent, capital of the French Flanders, Sept. 23, 
1808. His father, Lucas Pierre Vanhoorebeke, 
was for over a half century Receiver of Revenues 
and Customs for the French Government in Bel- 
gium, and afterward held the same position some 
years under the Belgium Government. 

The Vanhoorebeke family is one of the oldest in 
Belgium. They can trace their genealogy back to 
the 13th century, and many of its members have 
held honorable positions under the Belgium Govern- 
ment. Ferdinand Vanhoorebeke, brother of Dr. A. 
G, was a distinguished and most honored lawyer at 
the court of appeal at Ghent, Belgium, and his 
cousin, Emile Vanhoorebeke, was also a lawyer and 
member of the Belgium cabinet in capacity of Secre- 
taty of Public Works till the time of his death, in 
1870. Several of the Vanhoorebeke family yet oc- 
cupy honorable and confidential positions. 




V 



ic T ' 



=?^^4-^ 



470 



f- 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Dr. Adolph Gustav Vanhoorebeke was second in 
the family of four sons, and at the institutions of 
learning in liis native country received a thorough 
education in the French and Flemish languages. At 
'he age of 25 he entered the renowned Veterinary 
College of Utrecht, Holland. From that institution 
he graduated with distinguished honors in 1831, and 
immediately afterward entered the French army as a 
veterinary surgeon, in which capacity he faithfully 
and honorably served his country for ten consecu- 
tive years. During this period of his life he traveled 
all over Continental Europe and carefully studied 
all the various breeds of horses known to that part 
of the globe. 

In 1841, he quit the army and located in Antwerp, 
Belgium, where, for the space of nearly 20 years, he 
practiced his profession with marked success, and at 
the same time gave special attention to the heavy 
equine stocks that are bred in the Netherlands and 
in Morthern France. But being a liberal in his re- 
ligious notions. Dr. Vanhoorebeke became a victim 
of pious persecution, and having been arrested for 
expressing views antagonistic to the dominant Bel- 
giac theology, he resolved to go where he could 
breathe the air of freedom and enjoy the right of free 
speech. It was in the year i860 Dr. Vanhoorebeke 
sailed from Europe to the United States and settled 
in Illinois. Here, in the very heart of the virgin 
West, he found an ample field for the employment of 
his rare attainments in veterinary science and his 
thorough knowledge of the horses of Europe. 
Throughout a broad area of rich and ra[ndly grow- 
ing country, he had not a single competitor, nor has 
he to this day. His spleridid abilities, his varied 
experience were, at all points of the compass, in 
supreme request. It was not long, however, till ihi 
growing demand fjr powerful freight teams in this 
country literally compelled him to subordinate the 
practice of his chosen profession lo the work of an 
importer, and in 1865 he brought from France the 
premium draft stallions Hercules and Lucifer. The 
former of these was a Boulonnais of bay livery ; the 
latter was an Anglo-Boulonnais of black livery. Both 
of them had brilliant reputations as breeders in 
Europe, and iluy have fully maintained it in Amer- 
ica. To the Doctor, therefore, rightfully and un- 
questionably belongs the honor of being the first 
importer who ever brought heavy horses directly 
from France to Illinois. J. \V. Edwards, who was a 



co-operator with James A. Perry, made, in 1868, the 
second importation from France to Illinois, which 
importation consisted of Success and French Emp- 
eror. The latter animal soon died and Mark \V. 
Dunham is the present owner of the former. 

E. Dillon & Co. made the tliird importation from 
France to Illinois, and Mark W. Dunham, in 1872, 
made the fourth importation from France to Illinois. 

It will thus be seen that it is certainly meet that 
Dr. Vanlioorebeke should have been the pioneer im- 
porter and breeder of French draught horses in 
Suckerdom ; for it is perfectly safe to say that he 
knows vastly more about those animals than any 
other horseman in the United States. For nearly 
50 straightforward years, he made a close, intelli- 
gent study of tiie powerful etjuine motors of France 
and the Netherl.inds, right in the regions where they 
originated, and where the very best specimens of 
them have always been produced. He published 
several books on the subject, having in view the im- 
provement of this useful breed of horses, and has 
without any doubt been one of the most active con- 
tiibutors to the desired result. Any man at all 
acquainted with the history of French heavy horses 
knows that the most e.\-ellent of them are ever to 
be found in Bologne and French Flanders. So say 
Moll, Magne, Gayot, Lefour, and all other standard 
authorities of France. Dr. Vanhoorebeke, being 
himself a French veterinarian, who always ranked in 
Europe with the great authors just named, and hav- 
ing an experimintal knowledge of more than 
half a centuiys careful observation and comparison 
in the field of French horse production may, without 
egotism, claim to be a full head and shoulders above 
all other men in America, who are now or ever have 
been engaged in the introduction of the draught blood 
of France into the United States, and his residence 
in Illinois is an honor to the State. 

While yet he was at New Boston, he imported, in 
1868, Brilliant, a Boulonnais bay; Pakolet, a Bou- 
lounnais bay; a:d Leon, a Boulonnais gray. All 
these were prize breeders in France, having received 
both first and second jjremiums of the French Gov- 
ernment. 

In 1869, he moved to Monmouth, where he soon 
obtained the confidence of the best men of that 
section of the country, who seeing the usefulness of 
his enterprise patronized his work. Here he en- 
tered fully upon that career of importing and breed- 



^ 



V 



TV 



. -Y- 

WARREN COUNTY. 



471 II 



4 



ing which will constitute one of the brightest and 
most indelible pages of the agricultural history of the 
West. Almost every year since he located in Mon- 
mouth he has made an importation from France, 
having brouglit the last one in 1880. It has ever 
been his motto not to excel in numbers but in qual- 
ity. That motto he has abundantly verified. He 
has never dazzled the American eye with his scores 
or his hundreds at one draw, but he has imported to 
the United States more horses that have stood A 
No. I in France than have all liis competitors put 
together. Of the 85 stallions (all either pure Bou- 
lonnais or Belgium Boulonnais) which he has brought 
over, every one of them was a prize animal — most of 
them first-prize animals — in the land of their na- 
tivity. Many of his imported horses were awarded 
prizes at the great expositions of Paris, 1878, Lon- 
don, 1879; Amsterdam, 1883, and Antwerp in 1885. 
These horses were the very cream of the Boulonnais 
(the horses of Bologne), and the Boulonnais are the 
very cream of French draught animals, if the ac- 
knowledged equine standards of France may be pre- 
sumed to know anything upon the subject. 

Dr. Vanhoorebeke has now 40 head of his cele- 
brated horses at his beautiful place in the environs 
of Monmouth. Since engaging as an importer of 
these aniii als, he has crossed the Atlantic Ocean 49 
times. 

He was first married in his native country, when 
about 35 years of age, to Hortense Adelaide Wouvver- 
mans, who died in 1855, leaving four children, one 
of whom, a son, has since died; another, a daughter, 
is in Europe, and two are now living in the United 
States. At Kingston, Mo., the Doctor was again 
married, Aug. 18, 1866, to Mmle. Henriette Biart, a 
highly educated and accomplished young lady, native 
of Belgium, and daughter of French parents. Their 
three children are named respectively, Adolphe, 
Florence and Alida. Adolphe has been attending 
school in France for the past four years, but is now 
a student at Monmouth College. 

Mrs. Vanhoorebeke was born at Antwerp, Jan. 
28, 1849, and belongs also to a distinguished family 
whose several members occupy high and honorable 
positions. Mr. Constant Biart, the cousin of Mrs. 
A. G. Vanhoorebeke, is a learned lawyer, a Senator, 
and President of the aim houses and orphan asy- 
lums at Antwerp, Belgium, and is much honored; 
and many of this family occupy in France and Bel- 



gium places of honor and distinction. Mrs. Van- 
hoorebeke was the third in order of birth of a 
family of ten children. Her parents came to this 
country in 1864, and settled in Iowa, where they re- 
mained about a year. They then came to this 
State, and after a stay of two years moved to Kan- 
sas, where they remained one year and then re- 
turned to Europe. After remaining in the land of 
their nativity for a period of two years, they again 
set sail for America. Since then the family have 
resided in various places in this country, and at this 
writing (January, 1886) the father is in California 
with one of his sons, Victor, wiio is a surgeon in the 
regular army, but now on a leave of aljsence. Dr. 
Biart is a graduate of the St I-ouis Medical College. 
The mother of Mrs. Vanhoorebeke is of Holland ex- 
traction and is now living in Omaha with one of her 
daughters. Of the ten children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Biart, four are deceased. Of the others, Celina 
married Herman Hoffman and resides in Leaven- 
worth, Kan. ; Hortense married Joseph Haag, and 
also lives at that place; Charlotte m.irried Dr. 
Charles Biart and resides in Omaha; Henry is now 
living at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. 

Dr. Vanhoorebeke, as we see, is a believer in orig- ' 
nal qualities, and has in every circumstance applied 
this immutable principle. 

The portrait of Dr. Vanhoorebeke, appearing on a 
preceding page, will be welcomed by the pitrons of 
the Warren County Album with as much satisfac- 
tion as the publishers experience in adding it to the 
unexceptional collection presented in this ivork. 




dward L. Blodgett, a fanner of this 
county, having a good title to 2S0 acres 
of land, located on sections 4 and 9, Hale 
Township, where he resides and is engaged in 
its cultivation, was born in Orleans County, N. 
v., Feb. 4, 1834. He received a common 
school education in Indiana, his parents having re- 
moved to that State when he was but six years of 
age. In the latter State, Edward L. lived, labored 
and developed into manhood. One year after at- 
taining his majority, in 1856, he came to this State, 



lJL: 



r 



^ 



t* 



472 



iVARREN COUNTY. 



locating in Henderson County, where he resided for 
upwards of a year, engaged in farming, then return- 
ed to Indiana. Two years lie remained in the Hoos- 
ier State, and in the spring of i860 came back to 
Illinois, this time locating in Warren County. 

On coming to this county, Mr. Blodgett worked 
out for about four years, when he settled in Hale 
Township. He was a soldier in the late civil war, 
having enlisted Feb. 20, 1864, in the Tenth 111. Vet. 
Inf., and served his country for about 18 months. 
He was engaged in all the battles in which his com- 
pany took part, participating in the grand review at 
Washington; was with Sherman in his march to the 
sea, and received an honorable discharge at the 
close of the war. He then returned to Warren 
County, and engaged in the vocation of agriculture, 
and has lived here following that occupation until 
the present time. The major portion of his land is 
under an advanced state of cultivation. 

The marriage of Mr. Blodgett dates July 3, 1866, 
at whicli time, in Henderson County, Miss Dolly 
Vanwinkle became his wife. She was born in Jeffer- 
son Co., Iowa, and has borne her husband eight 
> children, whose names are recorded as follows: 
Wilson M., Joseph R., Margaret, Mary B., Edward 
L., Clara, James A. and Emma. 

Mrs. Blodgett is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and her husband politically is a be- 
liever in and a supporter of the principles advocated 
by the Republican party. 




jleri Eodgers Graham, M. D., a medical 
practitioner at Little York, was born in the 
township of Hale, in Warren County, Aug. 
24, 1854. His parents are pioneers of the 
township where he was born, and are John 
R. and. Mary (Rodgers) Graham. 
Dr. Graham obtained a good common-school edu- 
cation as a foundation, in his boyhood, and after- 
wards attended Monmouth Academy one year. In 
1878, he commenced the study of medicine under 
the preceptorship of the medical firm of Hamilton, 
MarsTiall & Holiiday, at Monmouth. Alter leaving 
their office, he matriculated at Rush Medical College 



in Chicago, and took his degree as M. I), at that 
institution in 1881. 

He inaugurated his careeer as a physician and 
surgeon at Cameron, in his native county, and oper- 
ated there two years. Since 1883, he has prosecuted 
the business of his profession at Little York. He is 
building u[) a popular and prosperous practice, and 
his thorough preparation for the responsibilities of 
the calling to which he has devoted his life, is fast 
winning for him the confidence of a substantial pat- 
ronage. 

In political belief and relations, Dr. Graham is a 
Democrat. 

The marriage of Dr. Graham to Miss Emma 
Alcock, was celebrated Feb. 14, 1880. They have 
one child, named Frederick. The motlier was born 
in Saffolkshire, England. The Doctor and his wife 
are members of the United Presbyterian Church. 




jf'ohn Coddington, holding a good title to 
If 200 acres of A No. i land, located on sec- "^ 

tion 15, Berwick Township, where he re- ■ 
sides and is engaged in the vocation of an 
agriculturist, was born in Warren County, Ohio, 
.Aug. 9, 1S28. He is a son of Wm. Codding- 
ton, born in the State of Maryland, and who married 
Miss Naonia Ervin. She died in 1828, after having 
borne her iuisband nine children — Anner, Polly, 
Sarah, Angeline, Eliza, Benjamin, Samuel, James and 
John. 

John Coddington, the subject of this notice, was 
married to Miss Emily Whitman, in 1851, in this 
Stale. She was born in Warren County, Dec. 23, 
1834, and was the daughter of Wm. Whitman, a 
pioneer settler of this county. She died March 30, 
1880, and of her union with Mr. Coddington the fol- 
lowing children were born: Naonia, March 17, 1852 ; 
Wm. C, Aug. 9, 1854; Harriet A., Nov. 12, 1856; 
Ella M., Oct. 7, 1858; Etta, March i, i860; Elmer 
E., Jan. 6, 1862 ; Mattie, March 25, 1866; Frank B., 
Aug. 23, 1869; Cora B., July 22, 1872. Three of 
whom are deceased, namely : Naoma, who died April 
20, 1854; Wm. C, July 31, 1855, and Harriet A., 
Sept. 29, 1857. 

The second marriage of Mr. Coddington occurred 



vr 



^ 




Residence or M.S. Rees, Sec. 32., Kelly Township. 




Residenceof Aaron Yarde, Alexis. 



<4r 



WARREN COUNTY. 



47S 



April 26, 1883, at which time Mrs. Julia Williams, 
born Jan. 9, 1850, became his wife. They have one 
child, Roy, born April 19, 1884. 

Mr. Coddington is pleasantly situated on a fine farm 
of 200 acres, and he has the same under an advanced 
state of cultivation. On the place is a good resi- 
dence, two stories in height, surrounded by good sub- 
stantial outbuildings. In addition to the cultivation 
of his land, Mr. Coddington is devoting considerable 
of his time to the raising of fine stock, his specialty 
being the Short-horn, of which he has 27 head ; and 
in the raising of fine horses, his specialty is the Nor- 
man. 

He and his wife are members of the Christian 
Church, and in politics Mr. Coddington votes with 
the Republican party. 




4 



^!## -^ 



aron Yarde, a well-known and highly re- 
[ spected resident of Alexis, is a pioneer of 
" Warren County of 1847. 



He is a native of 
Somersetshire, England, and was born Nov. 
II, 1810. His father was a farmer and he 
was brought up on the same place where his 
ancestors had lived for many years. He was the 
second in order of birth of a family of five children, 
namely: John, who was married to Mary A. Cle- 
ment, a native of Somersetshire, England, and the 
mother of four children ; Mary A. became the wife of 
Isaac Hooper, and was the mother of eight children ; 
she is now deceased. Moses died at the age of 23 
years; Daniel resides in his native place and is 
married to Miss Mary Rowland. They have a family 
of nine children. 

The maiden name of Mr. Yarde's mother was Ann 
Cousins, who was the daughter of Bartholomew and 
Mary (Hawkins) Cousins, both of whom were born 
in 1778. The father died when Aaron was 17 years 
old, and he was then at liberty to choose a business 
in which he hoped to do better than as a farmer. He 
apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a stone- 
cutter and a general stone-mason, and followed that 
business 12 vearj, in his native shire. After that, 
until 1843, he was occupied in farming. In April of 
the year named he sailed for this country. He 



was accompanied by his wife and five children, aud 
the family took passage from Plymouth. They 
crossed the ocean in a merchant vessel and landed 
at the port of New Yoik after a voyage of six weeks. 
From New York they went direct to Geauga Co., 
Ohio. Mr. Yarde bought a farm of 45 acres at the 
rate of $8.50 per acre. About one-third was under 
the plow, and the remainder was not cleared of the 
natural forest. Mr. Yarde built a small frame house 
sufficient for the accommodation of his household 
and proceeded to the work of removing the forest 
growth. He cleared 15 acres. In the spring of 
1847 l''s sold his place for $10 an acre. While he 
lived there, in addition to the work of clearing the 
acreage mentioned, he had been engaged in work at 
his trade also. After making sale of his land he 
came to Warren County. He bought 80 acres of 
land on section 3, on what was then designated Town- 
ship 12, and is now named Kelly Township. The 
whole place was entirely without improvements and 
the proprietor proceeded first of all to erect a struc- 
ture for the shelter of his family. He built a small 
log house and stables, and broke and fenced 25 acres. 
He retained the ownership of the place until 1850, 
when he sold out and bought a farm on section 10, 
in the same township. It had been improved to 
some extent, a frame house had been built on it, and 
it was all fenced. Mr. Yarde built a good barn and 
other farm-buildings and planted fruit and shade 
trees. The place contained 160 acres, and at the 
time he determined to sell it, it was in an excellent 
condition for profitable operations. 

In 1872 Mr. Yarde came to Alexis and took pos- 
session of the residence which is now occupied by 
his family. He is still an extensive landholder and 
the proprietor of a farm comprising 160 acres in 
Mercer County, situated two and a half miles from 
the village of Alexis. He also owns 17 acres of valu- 
able land adjoining the place where he resides. 

Mr. Yarde was married May 7, 1835, to Charlotte 
Cousins. She was the daughter of Bartholomew and 
Jane (Sweet) Cousins, and a native of Somersetshire, 
England. She was born Nov. 12, 1806. Of the 
eight children of whom they became the parents, six 
are yet living. Caroline H. is married to John M. 
Richardson, now deceased. She resides in Iowa 
and has seven children. Jessie, the widow of Charles 
Pine, resides in Kelly Township, and has a family 
of six children. Lucy is the wife of Isaac R. Greene, 



LAJ" 




A 



476 



. "y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



r 



of Galesburg, 111., and has a family of seven chil- 
dren. Albert lives in Kelly Township, on tiie old 
farm and was married to Eliza Lyddon ; they have five 
children. Charlotte is married to B. F. Gilmore, of 
Nodaway Co., Mo. Charles F. P. is a citizen of 
Alexis, and a sketch of his business relations appears 
on anotlier paf;e. Mrs. Yarde died Oct. 6, 1870, on 
the old homestead in Kelly Township. Mr. Yarde 
contracted marriage a second time with Patience M. 
(Fraber) Allen, March 7, 1872. They were married 
in Knox t"o.,Ill. She was the widow of Nelson 
Allen, ftlrs. Yarde is a native of Saratoga Co., N. 
Y., where she was born July 4, 1810. She is the 
daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Herrick) Fraber; 
the former wns a native of Germany and came to this 
country when quite young. The mother was born 
in New York, of English ancestry. Mrs. Yarde was 
the mother of three children by her first husband, 
all of whom died in infancy. She has a great fond- 
ness for children, and has reared no less than five, 
whom she has taken by adoption. 

Among the many views of residences given in the 
pictorial department of this Album may be found 
that of Mr. Yarde on page 474. 



^.w^«\tacje>©>l@« 



@*^<3fOT»v.'\/v\~ 




Joseph W. Vorwick. The only manufac- 
turer of the Vorwick celebrated road-cart 
is located at Monmouth, where he began 
in a limited way to operate a shop u[)on his 
own responsibility in 1879. He first opened 
out as a repairer of all sorts of veiiicles, his 
capital consisting of his strength and skill, Init from 
the very beginning, almost, the capacity of his shop 
showed increasing business, until he now stands at 
the head as a manufacturer in his line in this coun- 
try. 

The patent of Mr. Vorwick, being an anti-horse 
motion road-cart, is the nearest a perfect success 
that has ever been reached in that most useful and 
economical of all vehicles. Mr. Vorwick was born 
at Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. i. 1849, and was the 
eldest of five sons born to Joseph and Elizabeth Vor- 
wick, natives of Germany. He was schooled at Fort 
Madison and Burlington, Iowa, and at the latter 



place, when about 1 6 years of age, began the trade 
of carriage painter, which he perfected at Galesburg, 
111 , some three years later. From 21 to 29 years of 
age, Mr. Vorwick did "jour" work through the vari- 
ous cities of the country, and in 1875 planted him- 
self at Monmouth, with the determination to man a 
shop of his own by the time he should arrive at the 
age of 30 years. That he succeeded has already ap- 
peared. In addition to tlie Vorwick Road-Cart, he 
manufactures all sorts of first class carriages and 
buggies, and the truth compels us to place his name 
in the Album as the representative man, in iiis line, 
at the city of Monmouth. 

Mr. Vorwick was married at Monmouth, in 1876, 
to Miss Jennie Eilenberger, daughter of Daniel Eil- 
enberger, who died while a soldier in the Union 
army. Mr. and Mrs. Vorwick have two children — 
Ida and Maudie. 



-o-S- 



■g>-«- 



'(^ddUlliam S. Paxton, a nioneer carpenter, 
i^a!i.W contractor and builder, at Monmouth, was 

jl^!n ^°'^" '"^^ ^°^^ Bridge Co., Va., Dec. 22, 
J^Y 181 1. His fathe-, ^Villiam Paxton, was a 

" ' native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch- 
Irish ancestry. His mother, Margaret 
(Struthers) Paxton, was born in Scotland. The sen- 
ior William Paxton was a farmer, and brought his 
four sons up to that occupation. The family removed 
from Virginia to Ohio in 1812, and resided there up 
to 1 83 1, at which time they came to Monmouth, set- 
tling soon afterward on a farm six miles northwest 
from town, where the old gentleman died in March, 
1861, in the 82d year of his age. His wife died 
in 1845, when about 6? years of age. 

William S. Paxton received a fair education at 
Xenia, Ohio, and from 16 up to 18 years of age, 
worked at milling. He then learned the carpenter's 
trade and followed it almost without interruption un- 
til 1854. Since tlie latter date he has been engaged 
in wagon making. As a carpenter and contractor he 
erected the first court house in Warren County, 
and roofed the first hotel. He returned to Ohio, in 
1854, and lived in Erie County ten years. While 
there he enlisted in the Third Ohio Cavalry, but be- 



*t 



r 



■ cT-1- 



. .y-. . ■ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



Ju 



477 



fore muster was disabled by falling off his horse, and 
consequently saw no service in the war. 

The subject of our sketch was married in Erie 
County, Ohio, to Almira Harrison, wlio was born in 
Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., April 7, 1815, 
and their only child, a daughter, Ella, is now (Octo- 
ber, 1885) an accomplished teacher in the public 
schools of Nebraska. 

Mr. Paxton has long been a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Was an old line Whig, from the 
the funeral of which party he joined the Republican 
procession. 

It will be seen by the date of his arrival here, that 
he was indeed an early settler, and he probably had 
more to do with the very inception of the town of 
Monmouth than any other man living. In fact his 
brother and F. B. Talbot, now living in Iowa, broke the 
first ground for the erection of the first building at 
this place. We should not forget to mention that he 
was Adjutant of the First Warren County regiment 
of Illinois Militia, in 18,34, and was connected with 
the organization until it was disbanded. 




^ 



rs. Mary Osborn is a pioneer of Warren 
County, and is one of the oldest living of 
£. ''\he early settlers of Sumner Township. She 
«as born in Gallia Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1810, 
'X and is the daughter of Daniel and Annie 
(Thorp) Moler. She is the daughter of pioneer 
parents, who located in the earliest period in the 
county in which she was born, and they lived there 
until 1825. In that year they went to Indiana and 
located about six miles from La Fayette. There 
their daughter was married to James Moffit. Their 
union took place Oct. 16, 1828. Her husband was 
born in the vicinity of Zanesville, in the Buckeye 
State. They lived in Indiana until the fall of 1832, 
and started thence for Illinois with an o.\-team. They 
had at that time two children. They took with them 
the machinery for housekeeping and performed all 
the duties relating to the business of living on the 
route. When they arrived at the Illinois River, on 
their way, they determined to pitch their tent there 
for the winter. They moved into a vacant log house 

-^ • -Xj 



and when the spring opened they again yoked their 
oxen and pushed forward to Warren County. Mr. 
Moffit made a claim on the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 19, in the (then) township 12, now Sumner 
Township. He proceeded to cut logs, and built a 
shelter of the primitive kind, common to pioneers. 
They were well off for cows, having driven three from 
Indiana. These furnished a good portion of their 
living while on the road and after their arrival at the 
places where they took up their abode. 

On the 8th day of June, 1832, Mr. Moffit suddenly 
died. In the midst of the newly made widow's dis- 
tress, the Indian difficuhies that preceded the out- 
break of the Black Hawk War made it necessary to 
put aside every other consideration. A block-house 
was erected for the protection of the settlers and for 
some time '.he women and children were kept in it 
for safety, while the men were in the fields. They 
were there when the murder of William Martin oc- 
curred, and saw the savages when they rushed from 
the field where their victim had been at work, bear-- 
ing aloft the scalp. Mrs. Moffit was terrified and 
took one of her children in her arms and fled into 
an adjoining corn field. Her sister took the other-< 
and followed her. They ran into a field of buck- 
wheat, where they laid down. They were in terror 
lest the children should cry out and reveal their hid- 
ing place. But the little ones kept still, and vifhen 
the other men of the settlement returned from the 
fields they went back to the block-house. 

Many of the women remained in the block-house 
until the termination of the Black Hawk War, and 
the defeat of the haughty chief who instigated it 
converted the Indians into fiends and made them 
subservient to the whites for personal considerations. 
Mrs. Osborn remained in the block-house until the 
fall of the year, when shs again took possession of 
her cabin home. She was its occupant until her 
second marriage, but the land was managed by rent- 
ers. 

Aug. 2r, 1834, she became the wife of John C. 
Osborn. He was born in North Carolina, Mar. 30, 
1804. He passed the early years of his life there, 
and was married while he remained in the State of 
his nativity. His first wife survived her marriage but 
a short time. In 1832 he came to Warren County. 
He made iiis first location near Monmouth. When 
he married his second wife he became the manager 
of her estate and continued to attend to its interests 



;sts 1 



-£4^ 



478 



WARREN COUNTY. 



n 



until his death. Under his care it greatly increased 
in value and he erected a fine set of farm buildings 
on it. He died March i8, 1874. 

The children of Mrs. Osborn by Iier first husband 
are both deceased. George P., Permelia A., Mary 
Jane, John M., Sarah E and Maria are the names 
of those who were born of the second marriage. 'I'iie 
oldest is the manager of the homestead of his mother 



"> 




i)f(|IHlliam A. Mitchell. Among the promi- 

PAl) iit;nt citizens of Hale Township, as well as 

* successful fiinners, we [)lace the name of 

'' William k. Mitchell. He has a clear title 

to 240 acres of good farm land, in an ad- 

' vanced slate of cultivation, located on section 
3, Hale Toivnship, where he is engaged in the voca- 
tion of his life. He is a native of Ohio, having been 
born in Oreene County, that State, July 13, 1838. 

When William A. Mitchell was about five years of 
age, his parents moved to this county, and here, in 
the public schools, he received his education, alter- 
nating his studies therein with labor on the farm. 
We say his education was acquired in the public 
schools, but it was only the rudimentary portion of 
the same, for he supplemented it by a course of two 
years' study at Monmouth College. 

Soon after the Southern Slates had seceded and 
had demonstrated their intent, by firing on Sumter, 
and President Lincoln had called for troops to aid in 
the perpetuity of the Union, Mr. Mitchell responded. 
He enlisted in August, 1861, in the 36111 111. Vol. 
Inf, and for four years and three months did valiant 
service in the Union Army. He enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Co. C, and was promoted to Second Lieu- 
tenant of the same company. After participating in 
all the battles in which his regiment engaged, Mr. 
M. was mustered out of service at New Orleans, 
Oct. 8, 1865, whereupon he returned to this county, 
entered upon the peaceful pursuits of a farmer and 
has continued to reside here until the present lime. 

The marriage of Mr. Mitchell to Miss Sarah E. 
Caldwell, was solenmized in Sumner Township, 
March 8, 1866. Mrs. Mitchell was born in the 
township in which she was married, Sei)t. 5, 1S48. 



The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are: 
Frank M., Robert J., Mary E., Effie D. T., Fred- 
relta I. and Minerva J. 

Mr. Mitchell, in politics, votes with the Republi- 
can party. He has held the office of Highway 
Commissioner and School Director, and, socially, is 
a member of Post No. 81, G. A. R., at Kirkwood. 
He and his wife are members of the United Presby- 
terian Church. 

The parents of Mr. Mitchell, Robert K. and 
Rachel E. (Townsley) Mitchell, were natives of 
Ohio. They came to this county in 1843, ^"t' ''^^ 
mother died in Hale Township, July 14, 1851, and 
the father in the same township, Jan. 5, 1865. Their 
family comprised four children, of whom William A. 
is the eldest. The parents of Mrs. Mitchell, Thomas 
J. and Mary (Allen) Caldwell, were natives of Ohio 
and Illinois respectively. They were married and 
settled in this county, where her mother died July 
29, 1868. Her father yet survives and lives in Sum- 
ner Township. We give a view of the residence and ' 
farm building on page 474. 

The grandfather of Mr. Mitchell was of Scotch- 1 
Irish origin. 'i'he grandmother was of English 
ori"in. 




E. Lamphere a successful farmer, resid- 
K' ing on section 36, Tompkins Township, 
where he is the owner of 180 acres of good 
farm land, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
April 7, 1843, and is the son of Washington 
and Mary (Hall) Lamphere. The parents 
were natives of New York, from which State they 
came to Illinois, settling in Greenbush Township, 
where they remained for two years and where the 
father was engaged in far.ning. From the latter 
[)Iace the father moved to Tompkins Township and 
became the owner of 80 acres of land located on sec- 
tion ti. He settled on this land with his family 
and entered actively upon his labors as an agricul- 
turist, and, by economy and laborious effort, suc- 
ceeded in accumulating sufficient to purchase an 
additional 240 acres. He, with his family, continued 
to reside on his land in Tompkins Township until 



*x 



V 




^ ^ %c<j^d^a^>^ 



JeH 



^ T ± 



:^^!:-4-^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



481 



he passed to the land beyond the river, his demise 
occurring in 1872. 

J. E. Lamphere, the gentleman of whom we write, 
assisted his father on the farm, and received the ad- 
vantages afforded by the common schools, develop- 
ing into manhood. On arriving at the age of 25 
years, he left the parental homestead and purchased 
80 acres of land on section 36, where he is to-day 
residing, actively engaged in following his chosen 
vocation, that of an agriculturist. Possessing the 
same qualities as his father before him, of saving 
what he made, he has been enabled to add to his 
original purchase until he is at present the owner of 
180 acres in Tompkins Township. He has just 
completed a fine residence, costing $2,200, and in 
addition to the cultivation of his land he is engaged 
to some extent in stock-raising. 

Mr. Lamphere was united in marriage in 1867, 
with Miss Emma, the accomplished daughter of A. 
B. Billings, by whom he had two children — Ralph, 

- who was born March 12, 1867 ^ and Grant, who was 
born Feb. 5, 187 i. At the present writing they both 
are living at home. The wife and mother died in 

. 1880, and Mr. Lamphere was a second time married, 
the lady chosen to share his joys and sorrows, suc- 

I cesses and reverses, being Miss Mary Efnor, a native 

I of this State and a daughter of George and Harriet 
Efnor. 

Politically, Mr. Lamphere votes the Republican 
ticket, and, in reHgion, he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church. 





JSenjamin H. Gardner is a pioneer of War- 
2^ ren County of 1834. He is a native of 
Virginia, and accompanied his parents to 
Kentucky when he was a mere lad. In the 
fall of the year named, in company with a 
considerable number of persons who, with 
himself, were desirous of finding a location in a free 
State, he came to Illinois. They came with ox 
teams and wagons, brought their provisions with 
them, and lived while en route in the Gipsy fashion. 
They arrived in Monmouth, Warren Co. Nov. 3, and 



Mr. Gardner built his own cabin in township 1 2, range 
I, (Kelly Township) and in March, 1835, went to this 
township and made a claim of 125 acres of land on 
section 30. When the land came into market, he went 
to Quincy and secured it by purchase from the Gov- 
ernment. He built a log cabin on the place the 
same season, and the farm has been his property 
ever since. He has been, meanwhile, a resident of 
Abingdon in Knox County, but has never relin- 
quished the management of the farm. He removed 
to Knox County to give his children the benefit of 
the schools there. He has been the owner of other 
tracts of lawd and at one time was the proprietor of 
more than 400 acres in Kelly Township. His prop- 
erty is well improved and supplied with excellent 
farm buildings. 

The year after he settled in Kelly Township, Mr. 
Gardner went on horseback to Greenbush, a dis- 
tance of 25 miles, to procure iron to make a plow, 
and brought the material back with him in a sack. 
He then obtained the services of a blacksmith in 
making a " barshare" plow. In 1836 he opened one 
of the first coal banks in Warren County. It is lo- 
cated on section 30, and the blacksmiths for a dis- • 
tance of 25 miles around came there for their 
supplies of coal. 

Mr. Gardner was born July 14, 181 1, in Louisa 
County in the "Old Dominion." He is the fifth son 
of William and Catherine (Hollen) Gardner, both 
of whom were born in the same State in which their 
son first saw the liglit of day. Their parents were of 
English origin. They removed to Kentucky in 1815, 
crossing the intervening mountains with their 
team of four horses. They located in Warren Co., 
Ky., and were among the first of the settlers there. 
Two of the uncles of Mr. Gardner, Asa and Reuben, 
were soldiers in the War of 181 2. The former was 
a lieutenant. 

The advantages for the education of children in 
Kentucky were then very limited, and consisted of 
such as the common schools of that State at that 
time afforded. Mr. Gardner went from three to 
four miles on foot daily for the few months yearly in 
which it was possible for him to do so, and studied 
in a log school-house which had no windows. He 
was 23 years old when he started from his home for 
the purpose of finding a place to live beyond the 
line of slavery, which he believed to be the " sum of 



-JTJ^l 



r 



^ 



482 



WARREN COUNTY. 




all villanies." He was a Democrat, but nevertheless 
an abolitionist of the most decided type, and a Free- 
State man. He left home on the 7th of October, as 
has been stated, and arrived in Monmouth Nov. 3 
following. 

His marriage to Jemima R. Wallace took place 
Jan. I, 1835. She was born in Warren Co., Ky., 
April 27, 1 8 16, and was the daughter of William and 
Nancy (Smith) Wallace. She died Feb. 4, 1861, 
after giving birth to nine children. Nancy C. is the 
wife of H. J. Adcock, of Kelly Township; William 
is deceased; Mary A. married A. M. Johnston, of 
Nodaway Co., Mo.; Robert is a citizen of Fremont 
Co., Iowa; Amanda is deceased; George W. lives 
in the township of Cold Brook; Rebecca is not liv- 
ing; Benjamin F. has been dead some years ; Ben- 
jamin E. lives in Kelly Township. 

Aug. 23, 1864, the father was again married, Mary 
A. Deatherage becoming his wife. She was born in 
North Carolina, in Stokes County, March 28, 1824. 
She was the daughter of Achillis and Susan (Death- 
erage) Deatherage, who were of English ancestry, 
and was third in order of birth of a family of 13 chil- 
dren, six of whom are living. She came to this 
county with her parents, who first settled in Mc- 
Lean Co., 111., in 1832. Here they remained for 
four years, when they pushed further northward and 
found a desirable location in Knox County. Mrs. 
Gardner was first married Oct. 14, 1841, to Samuel 
F. Patton, and by him became the mother of four 
children, two of whom are now living — ^(Jeorge W,, 
one of the county officials of Johnson County, and 
Julia, the wife of G. W. Gardner, of Cold Brook 
Township. Myra is the name of the only child of 
the second marriage. She married Emmet Barnett 
and now lives in Cold Brook Township. Mr. Gard- 
ner is a member of the Christian Church at Talbot. 

There are few men in Warren County more widely 
known or liighly esteemed than " Uncle Benjamin 
Gardner." He is one of the venerable pioneers who 
located here before the hand of civilization had dis- 
turbed the magnificent scenery of prairie and wood- 
land. The green flowery carpet which covered tlie 
undulating surface of the broad prairies, skirted by 
forests and groves, must have formed a delightful 
aspect. The beautiful native flowers and the tall 
prairie grass have given place to fertile fields. All 
is changed, and no doubt the pioneers often long to 
behold the unsurpassed beauties of the scenery so 



common to them for a long time after they came 
here. As one of the most worthy of the pioneers, 
and a truly representative citizen of Warren County, 
the portrait of" Uncle Ben" Gardner is presented in 
this volume. 



-«4=r^=r=fE^ 



^l^^l ndrew W. Simmons, owner of 479 acres of 
^^^^Ji land, all of which is located in Greenbush 
^'i^iM Township, except a tract of 80 acres, which 
j!!}4k lies in Berwick Township, resides on section 
8, of the former township. He is a native of 



Kentucky, having been born in Warren Co., 
that State, Sept. 2, 181 6. He came to Illinois with 
his parents in October, 1816. The father of Mr. 
Simmons, James Simmons, married Miss Sarah Slice, 
in 1815, in Kentucky. She was born in 1798, in 
that State, where her husband also first saw the 
light, in 1795. They both died in this township, the 
father in 1873 and tiie mother in 1855. Of their 
union 12 cliildren were born — Andrew W., Sally, R. 
M., Alfred W., Francis M.,C. R., William J., Nancy, 
Joanna, Diana, Arminda and M. V. W. Of this 
large family, eight survive; W. J., Sally, Nancy and 
Martin having passed to another world. 

James Simmons came to Illinois in 18 16, and set- 
tled in Madison County, near Troy, remaining there 
till 1833, when he removed to Warren County and 
located on wliat is now known as Greenbush Town- 
ship, on section 5. He is credited with building the 
third house in that section of the county. Mrs. Sim- 
mons was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Lee) Brooks. Her father was born in the State of 
Virginia, Feb. 22, 1791. The family came to War- 
ren County in 1836, settling in Berwick Township, 
where they both died, the father Sept. 19, 1842, and 
the mother Feb. 19, 1847. The fruits of their union 
were six children, four of whom survive. 

The subject of this biographical notice formed a 
matrimonial alliance March 2, 1848, with Miss Ase- 
nath Brooks. She was born in Warren County, Ky., 
Jan. 7, 1825, and has l)orne her husband seven chil- 
dren, namely : Thompson F., Alfred, James, William 
W., Amanda, Freeman and Rowland. Of the chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, Thomas F. married 



i* 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



483 



Emily Hahn, and two olive-branches have blessed 
their union. Alfred lives at home. James is a farm- 
er in Berwick Township, and the head of a family, 
his wife's maiden name being Margaret Holeman. 
Amanda, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Charles C. 
Ray, and has borne him one child. VVm. W., Alfred 
Freeman and Rowland M. reside on the old home- 
stead. Mr. Simmons is the owner of 479 acres of 
land, 80 of which is located in Berwick Township, 
and the remainder in Greenbush. All of this large 
tract is under an advanced state of cultivation. He 
has a brick front residence on his home farm, 60 x 40 
feet in dimensions and two stories in height, which 
was built in 1848. The place is also improved with 
a good barn, of commodious dimensions, which is 
36 feet long by 30 feet in width. In addition to the 
cultivation of his land, he is interested in the propa- 
gation of a superior grade of cattle. 

Mr. Simmons and wife are members of the old 
school Baptist Church. Mr. Simmons was elected 
Supervisor from Greenbush Townsnip, and has held 
that office for the past 17 years, being re-elected to 
the position last April by a large majority. He has 
also served r6 years as Justice of the Peace; as 
Collector, 11 years, and has held minor offices in his 
township for the past 25 years. 

In his politics, he supports the Democratic plat- 
form. Considering that his accumulations are the 
reward of his own indomitable energy and persever- 
ance, and that he is to-day the possessor of a com- 
petency, we are enabled in this work to justly record 
that the subject of our sketch is a model representa- 
tive of his class, not only in Greenbush, but also in 
Warren County. 



fW^^avid Terpenning, is a citizen of Kelly 
j' 6a^^l^> Township, and came to Warren County 
^ loiy- within the first year of his life, with his par- 
j*]«< entSjOf whom an account is given on other 
^J^ pages of this work in connection with the 
5 sketch of another son. (See sketch of John 
P. Terpenning ) 

He was born Dec. 23, 1835, in the township of 
Clifton Park, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. He came to 



this township and county in 1836, and grew to the 
age of manhood within its limits. He lived with his 
father and mother until he was 31 years of age, and 
was most of the time, particularly at first, engaged 
in the pursuits of the farm. He was occupied also 
in the capacity of a collector, and traveled in the 
States of Illinois and Iowa. 

His marriage to Catherine J. Kiger took place Feb. 
25, i8!;6. Their children are named Albert L., Jes- 
sie A.. Ulysses G., Perley D., iNIindwell E., Jennie 
M. and Daisy R. 

Mrs. Terpenning was born Oct. 17, 1836, in Gal- 
ia, O., and removed from there to Stark Co., in 1839. A 
few years later another removal of her family was ef- 
fected to Kno.x County. At the time of their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Terpenning settled on the farm on 
which they are now living. It is a part of the home- 
stead of his father, and is in good agricultural con- 
dition. In 1875 his buildings and the timber stand- 
ing on his farm were badly injured by a tornado 
which swept over the place. His loss was estimated 
at $3,000. 



IlUam Meachum, the possessor of a good ■' 

title to 1 60 acres of land located on section 

,,^ 21, Berwick Township, is a native of Liv- 

^> ingston Co., N. Y., where he was born Aug. 

22, 1843. He came to this State with his 

I ' parents in 1854, and since that time has been 

actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. In fact, 

we may say he has spent his life until this date in 

that vocation. 

Mr. Meachum was married Jan. 26, 1870, to Miss 
Mary M. Griffith, who was born in Indiana, July 23, 
1840. She was the daughter of Judah Griffith, a 
native of New York, where he was born in 1796. 
Her father was of Scotch ancestry and moved from 
New York to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, with his 
brother, where he remained until 1839, when, in 
company with his brother and some six other fam- 
ilies, he moved to a small town in Indiana, called 
Cadiz. At the latter place lie remained some three 
years, working at the boot and shoe trade, and then, 
in 1842, came to this State and located near La 




Harpe, Hancock County. In 1848 he left that sec- 



jl^_ 



4^ 



■*-4h- 



484 



WARREN COUNTY. 



tion and came to Warren County, where he resided 
until 1876, when he moved to Fremont Co., Iowa, 
and there followed his chosen vocation, agriculture, 
until the date of his death, in r88i. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Maria Rockwell, who was born in York 
State in 1808. She died in 1851, in this county, 
leaving to the care of her husband nine children 
namely: Patterson, Griffith, Eveline, Armina, Ma- 
linda, Carlos, Mary M., Ardin, Ambrose, Ansel and 
Phebe. 

William Meachum and his wife are the parents of 
four children — Riley, born Sept. 8, 187 i ; Pearl P , 
April 21, 1873; Lucina E., Dec. 22, 1875; and 
Laura B., Oct. 21, 1877. Mr. Meachum is pleas- 
antly situated on his fine farm of 160 acres on sec- 
tion 21, Berwick Township, and in addition to his 
agricultural duties, is devoting considerable of his 
time to the raising of Norman horses. In politics, 
he votes with and endorses the principles advocated 
by the Greenback party. 



#^ 




. ohn E. Alexander, attorney and counsellor 
1^" at law, at Monmouth, was born in Freder- 
ick Co., Md., March 4, 1833. His parents 
were John and Elizabeth (Beckenbaugh) Al- 
exander, natives of Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania respectively and of English and German 
extraction. They reared seven sons and one daugh- 
ter, John E. being the third in order of birth. The 
senior John Alexander, whose father, Jacob A., was 
a Colonel in the American Army in the War of 
18 1 2, was a carpenter by trade, but he failed lo 
transmit any great deal of love for hard labor to the 
junior Jolin. In fact, it is not known that he wished 
to, for it ajjpears that the youth was kept pretty 
closely at school. He received a good preparatory 
training in the High Schools at Middletown, Md., 
and graduated with honors from Franklin and Mar- 
shall College, at Lancaster, Pa., in the class of 1853. 
For ten years succeeding his graduation he taught 
school as a profession, the two years of 1853-54 be- 
ing as Professor of English Branches at the Landon 
Military Academy at Urbana, Md. Tire dis- 
tinguished General John R. Jones, afterwards of 



Confederate fame, was the founder of the academy 
and was its principal. Col. John F. Keenan, Pro- 
fessor of Languages and Tactics, was in the Mexican 
War and served on Gen. Butler's Staff. Col. 
Keenan was also the author of the 39 articles or the 
" Code of Honor." 

In 1857-8, Prof Alexander was Principal of the 
Mercersburg (Pa.) Female Seminary, and in May, 
1859, came to Monmouth and taught school for 
about a year in the basement of what is now Unity 
Church. From i860 to 1863, he clerked for E. S. 
Sweeney in the County Clerk's office, and in 1863-4 
had charge of the Sheriflfs office, under Riggs. 

In 1864-70 he was engaged in the hardware trade, 
and in the latter year, in company with Col. Robert 
HoUoway, laid out the town of Alexandria, now 
known as Alexis. He was tlie first inhabitant of the 
place and first agent there of the Rockford, Rock 
Island & St. Louis Railroad. While in the County 
Clerk's office he began the study of law, which he 
dropped for a few years ; took it up again, was ad- 
mitted to the Bar in 1877, and began practice at 
Alexis, from whence he came to Monmouth in 1883, 
and has occupied a most honorable position at the 
District Bar. Though coming late into the practice, 
his superior education and most thorough business 
training made the otherwise devious roads lo an 
elevated position in the first profession in the land, 
to him one of comparative ease. He is regarded as 
a painstaking, careful lawyer, and an able advocate. 
He has been the recipient of no gratuities; whatever 
of this world's goods he has acquired, and his pos- 
sessions are ample, he has earned by individual 
effort and energy. 

In politics, he is a staunch adherent to the prin- 
ciples of Democracy, and while an active worker in 
the interests of that great party, he is in no wise an 
aspirant to any official preferment. He was one of 
the founders of the Warren County Library, and is 
at this writing a Director in its Board. 

Mr. Alexander was married in Washington Co., 
Md., Feb. 24, 1857, to Miss Mary C. Reichard (see 
biography of J. T. Reichard in this volume), and has 
had borne to him three children, namely: Bertha 
(Mrs. C. T. Page), Edward D. and Anna M. To- 
gether with his family, he is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and in Masonry, Mr. A. is a 
prominent member of the Chicago Consistory. 



*X 



T 



4^4t!^ 



r VTmzi; 

WARREN COUNTY. 



-^--^ 



485 



<yx> 




4 



^aj. William G. Bond, a citizen of Mon- 
mouth, retired from active business, was 
' born in Jackson County, Ala., April 2, 
1823, and is a son of Major John C. and 

tMary (Grimsley) Bond, natives of Tennessee, 
who combined in their make-up the blood of 
Celt and Teuton. (See biography of John C. Bond). 

The subject of this sketch accompanied his father 
to Warren County in 1S34, and grew to manhood 
upon the farm ; in fact, he followed farming uninter- 
ruptedly up to 1862, and left it only to join the army 
in defense of his country. Aug. 26, 1862, Mr. Bond 
became Captain of Co. H, 83d 111. Vol. Inf. In Feb- 
ruary, 1863, he was promoted to Major of the same 
regiment and was in full command thereof from 
June, 1863, until he was mastered out of the ser- 
vice, at Nashville, Tenn., June 23, 1865. His first 
battle was at Garrettsburg, Ky., in November, 1862 ; 
his second. Fort Donelson, February, 1863 ; next was 
with Wheeler, along the Great Louisville & Nash- 
ville Railway, in 1864, where they were engaged ev- 
ery day and sometimes twice a day for a month or 
more; later on at Franklin and the six weeks' fight- 
ing of that campaign. The Major was twice wounded 
at Fort Donelson, once by a minnieball and again by 
a shell, both times in the leg, but neither proved se- 
rious. From February to August, 1864, he was seri- 
ously ill from an attack of pneumonia, which seized 
him at Nashville and left him at Clarksville. Wiiile 
at the latter place and before sufficiently recovered 
to report to his command for duty, he acted as Pres- 
ident of the Military Course. 

Leaving the regular service, he went into the 
Quartermaster's department at Fort Donelson, and 
was there employed up to 1868, hunting up the dead 
and depositing their remains in the National Ceme- 
tery at that place. From here he entered the Reve- 
nue department and was employed as store-keeper 
on the Cumberland River for two years, going thence 
into the secret service of the Government, with head- 
quarters at Clarksville, Tenn., up to 1873. In Janu- 
ary, 1874, he returned to Monmouth, and the follow- 
ing December received the appointment of Deputy 
Sheriff, a position he filled for two years. His next 



and last official duty was performed as Sheriff of 
Warren County, being elected to that office three 
times in succession, namely: 1876-78 and '80, clos- 
ing his services in 1882. 

With such a record any man might be content to 
retire to private life. Wherever Maj. Bond has been 
placed, either by force of circumstances or of his vo- 
lition, he has done his duty, and there is in neither 
his military or civil career any skeleton to haunt the 
closet of his prosperity. Maj. Bond was first united 
in marriage in Joe Daviess County, this State, when 
about 22 years of age, to Miss Elizabeth Henry, who 
died in 1863, while the Major was in the army, and 
left four children — ^Clarissa Ann, Looney M., Jesse 
W. and George C. To his present wife, Mrs. Mary 
E. Moore, nee Taylor, he was married at Dayton, 
Ohio, in 1868. 

Maj. Bond went into the army a Democrat, but 
came out a Republican. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity and is an officer in the G. A. R., and 
one of the respected and well-to-do citizens of Mon- 
mouth. ■ 



ll^artin Sorenson is a farmer in the town- 
ship of Spring Grove. His farm is lo- 
'f^ cated on section 9, and contains 80 acres. 
He is the son of Andrew and Anna (Ma- 
thaison) Sorenson, and he was born in Schles- 
wig-Holstein, Denmark, now a province of 
Germany, March 25, r844. He is the oldest son of 
his parents, of whom an account is given on another 
page of this work in connection with that of the 
son and brother Frederick Sorenson. His father 
was a farmer in Denmark, where he was the owner 
of a tract of land, and the son was brought up to a 
knowledge of the business. He received the edu- 
cation common in thit country. 

In 1867 Mr. Sorenson came to the United States. 
He left the ship on which he made the voyage at 
Quebec, and came thence at once to Illinois. He 
first found employment with a farmer in Henderson 
County, and worked there through the first summer 
after his arrival. In the succeeding fall he came to 
Warren County and operated as a farm assistant un- 
til, in i87r, hewent to Burlington, Iowa, and ob- 




'A^- 



% 



* 



486 



. Y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•^-^^ 



tained a position to work in the railroad shops at 
that place. After a year there he came back to 
Warren County. In 1874 he bought land on section 
30 in tlietownshipof Spring Grove, on which he was 
six years resident. He then sold the place and 
bouglit the farm on wliich he is now living. It con- 
tains 80 acres, and is all practically under cultiva- 
tion. The buildings are good and substantial. 

The father of Mrs. S. died July 25, 1864. The 
mother is now in this country, and living witii her 
daughter. She was born March 20, 18 18. There 
were two children in tlie family; the name of the 
other sister is Maggie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson, have three children — An- 
drew, Annie and Thora. The mother was born in 
Schleswig-Holstein. Mr. Sorenson is a Demo- 
crat. 



uther C. Hibbard, a farmer on section 16 
in the township of Kelly, comes of some of 
the best New England Stock. His ances- 
tors on the paternal side distinguished tiieir 
names in the first great struggle for their rights 
and carried the sign manual of their bravery 
from more than one battlefield of the Revolution. 
Luther Hibbard, his father, was born in tlie State of 
Vermont, or what became such, in 1791. About 
1800, accompanied by his fether and three brothers, 
he went from liis native State to New York. They 
made the journey there with ox-teams and took with 
them all their belongings. They were among the 
earliest of the settlers where they located. Luther 
Ethernet Hibbard, the father of Luther Hibbard, 
was an officer in the Revolution. His sons, Luther, 
Harry, Shubal and Henry, bought land in tiie cele- 
brated " Holland Purchase " in Erie Co., N. Y. The 
Holland purchase included an immense tract of 
land in the central part of the State of New York, 
whicli the government gave to Robert Morris to re- 
imburse him for money advanced to defray the ex- 
penses of the Revolutionary War. When the second 
war with Great Gritain succeeded, father and sons all 
enrolled in the military service of their country. 
Henry became a Captain and the father a Major. A 
son-in-law of Major Hibbard, and Uncle by mar- 




riage of Mr. Hibbard of this sketch, was a Colonel 
and was killed by Indians in the same war. Shubal 
Hibbard was wounded in the arm and underwent 
amputation. Major Hibbard died in Erie County, 
about 1825. His son Luther cleared a farm in the 
same county and lived there until 1S32. In that 
year he sold out and went to Pennsylvania. He lo- 
cated in Warren County and remained there until 
1 840. His wife had died and he started thence for 
Ilhnois alone, on horseback. He came direct, as 
nearly as he could, crossing the State of Michigan. \ 
He passed the first winter at Rock Island and in the 
spring came to Warren County. He was an inmate 
of tlie home of his son, the subject of this account, 
until his death, which took place Aug. 7, 1847. The 
wife of Luther Hibbard was Sarah Yaw, before her 
marriage to him. She was a native of New England 
and was the mother of a son and a daughter. The 
latter died at the age of 18 years. 

Luther G. Hibbard was two years old when his , 
mother died. He was cared for by his grandmother . 
uniil her death, at whicii time he was 15 years old. 
After that event he was again under the care of his 
fatlier. He was born May 20, 18 r 6, and was there- .' 
fore 24 when, in 1840, he determined to find a home ' 
and a field for operation as a business man in the 
West. He set out for Illinois o.i a raft on the Alle- 
gany River, and proceeded in that manner to Pitts- , 
burg. He made his way thence on the Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers to Rock Island, and from there 
to Warren County. He rented land in the township 
of Spring Grove, which was situated on section 25, I 
and passed two or thtee years as a farmer. He went 
next to Galena, where he beca(ne interested in the 
business of a butcher. He had previously operated 
somewhat as a buyer of groceries and leather, which 
he disposed of to the farmers for hides, which he 
sold in Cliicago. He took his first crops to that city 
with ox-teams, and sold his wheat for 50 cents a . 
bushel. He took his provisions with him and camped ; 
on the route. He was in business at Galena two 
years, and at the end of that time returned to War- 
ren County. ' 

In 1850, Mr. Hibbard bought 40 acres of land on | 
section 16 in Kelly townshi[), where tiiere were a 
few acres under the plow. He found a small frame 
house, which he bought and removed to his farm, 
and he then entered upon the further improvement 
of his land. His estate noiv includes 260 acres, 



*4r 



LAr; 




■£ 4 ,^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



487 » 



which is in an advanced state of cultivation. In 
1870 he built a large and substantial farm house, 
which is now the home of the family. 

His marriage to Esther Presson took place Feb. 
26, 1848. Her father, Samuel Presson, was born in 
Vermont, and the birthplace of her mother was in 
Massachusetts. The name of the latter before her 
marriage was Esther Wiswell. Mrs. Hibbard was 
born in Windham Co., Vt., April 20, 1825. After 
their marriage, herself and husband located in Che- 
nango Co., N. Y., fixing their abode there about 
1830. In 1844 they came to Warren County and 
settled in Kelly Township. The life of the father 
terminated in 1852 ; that of the mother ended in 
1854. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hibbard are 
now five in number. Scoville L. is a resident in 
Kelly Township. Fannie is the wife of William 
McCulloch, of the same part of Warren County. 
Lucy A. is a teacher and resides at home. The two 
youngest are named Clark G. and Charles L. The 
first-born child, Edwin L., died at the age of two 
months. George, the second in order, died at four 
months of age. Henry Samuel was born July 4, 
1852, and died Feb. 27, 1883. 

Mr. Hibbard was Postmaster at Ionia ten years, 
and his daughter Lucy was his successor. She 
served two years. He has always taken an active 
interest in the cause of education and has give, his 
children the advantages of the colleges at Abingdon 
and Galesburg. He has acted as Director, and has 
assessed the township twice. In political affinity 
and belief, he is a Democrat. The members of the 
family belong to the Advent Church. 





i^enry L. Harrington, M. D., at Mon- 
iil mouth, was born at St. Tohnsbury, Vt., Dec. 
Zf^ 28, 1846. His parents, Jubal and Harriet 
(Locke) Harrington, were natives of Massachu- 
setts and New Hampshire respectively, and 
were descended from Irish ancestry. They had 
two sons and one daughter, and Mrs. Harrington died 
when the subject of our sketch was about five years 
of age. His father died at Vineland, N. J., in 1869, 
at the age of 64 years. 

Dr. Harrington received his literarv education at 



Brookfield (Mass.) Academy, and began the 
study of medicine when 24 years of 
age, at Toulon, 111. He graduated from Rush 
Medical College, in the spring of 1875. After 
graduating he spent 18 months as resident physician 
at Cook County Hospital. He came to Warren 
County, in 1877, and located for the practice of his 
profession at Little York, where he remained upward 
of four years. In the spring of 1882, he went to 
Europe and spent one year in the various great hos- 
pitals of London, traveling through France and Italy. 
His numerous certificates and diplomas from the 
several distinguished institutions in which he prac- 
ticed and studied while abroad, attest his industry 
and energy in the pursuit of professional knowledge. 
He returned to Monmouth in 1833, and at once took 
a prominent position in the very foremost ranks of 
the profession. 

Dr. Harrington does not figure in politics; he be- 
longs to the United Presbyterian Church, and is de- 
voted to the welfare of his patients. •. 

He was married at Little York, Warren County, 
Nov. 17, 1870, to Miss Martha Taylor, daughter of 
Dr. A. Taylor, and a native of Indiana. His four -<; 
children bear the names of Mabel, Grace, Paul and 
Marion. 

* -€^- ^ 



,enry H. Kidder, engaged as an agricultur- 
ist on section 23 of Swan Township, where 
he is enjoying success in his vocation and 
is regarded as one of Warren County's substan- 
tial and well-to-do citizens, was born May 25, 
1 84 1, in this county. He is the son of Larnard 
Kidder, a native of Connecticut, having been born in 
that State in March. 1806, and emigrated to the 
State of Illinois in the year 1837. He located south 
of Youngstown. Before leaving his native State, 
in the year 1837, March 22, he was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary A. Hoising- 
ton, and they became the parents of seven children, 
as follows: Almon, William O., Henry H., Benja- 
min H., Nathaniel, Olive M. and Eliza A. 

Henry H. married Miss Elizabeth Woods, Dec. 10, 
1868 ; she was born June 20, 1838. Of this union four 
children have been born, namely: Lora D., born 




lAj 




-4 



488 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Nov. 29, 1869; Melvin A., Oct. 3, iSyi ; Robert L., 
June 1, 1876; and Henry W., Jan. 3, 1879 Mrs. 
Kidder's parents were named Robert and Martha 
(Morford) Woods. Robert Woods was born Aug. 
19, 1802, and died Feb. 10, 18S3 ; and Martha Woods 
was born Jan. 31, 1806, dying March 12, 1876. Of 
their union, four children — Seth, Eb'zabeth, Nancy 
A. and Adeline — were born. 

Mr. Kidder is the proiirietor of 218 acres of land, 
upon which he resides and is engaged in raising 
horses, hogs and cattle, making hogs a specialty. 
He has been very successful in his chosen vocation, 
agriculture, attributing it all to his own indomitable 
energy, economy and perseverance. 

Mr. Kidder purchased 80 acres of land on section 
23 of Swan Township. He moved here in 1867 and 
has resided here until the present. Under the 
second call for 300,000 troops to put down the Re- 
bellion, by Abraham Lincoln, issued in July, i86r, 
Mr. Kidder responded by enlisting in Co. H, Second 
■ 111; Cav. The Company was organized at Macomb, 
III., Capt. Walker commanding. The regiment was 
organized Aug. 12, and mustered into service; went 
into Camp Butler, at Springfield, III. The regiment 
was ordered to the southern part of the State in Sep- 
tember of the same year. Picketing along, the regi- 
ment was not attached to any brigade, but was 
' under the immediate command of Lew Wallace ; 
then was attached to the 13th Army Corps. The 
first engagement in which the regiment participated 
was at Union City, Tenn., then under command of 
Gen. Buford when that place was captured, and 
they acted as scouts, and skirmishers on the Black 
River; were at Vicksburg during the charge on the 
23d of May, 1863, after which they were ordered to 
the department of New Orleans. 

The subject of our sketch was furloughed for 
60 days after the battle of Vicksburg. He re- 
ceived a wound in the left thigh at Mansfield, on the 
, Red River expedition, when he was compelled to re- 
main in the hospital for two months, being mustered 
out Aug. 12, 1864, at Baton Rouge, La. Coming to 
Springfield, he was paid off, and then returned home. 
Mr. Kidder now draws a pension on account of the 
wound received while fighting for his country. Since 
1864, the time of his return home, he has been en- 
gaged in farming, principally raising stock 
] Mr. Kidder received opportunities for acquiring a 
fine education, having attended College at Lombard 



University, Galesburg, for two years, besides other 
excellent schools of learning. He studied the arts 
and sciences, and is a well educated man, as well as 
one of the prominent and representative citizens of 
this county. Politically, Mr. Kidder is identified 
with the Republican party. 



-o^- 



-e>-c- 




w 

Jghavid B. Stewart is a farmer on section 6 
||, of the township of Kelly. In 1855 he 
started from his home in Pennsylvania to 
seek a suitable place for a permanent loca- 
tion, and visited the States of Illinois, Mis- 
souri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. He 
concluded to locate in Illinois, and returned to his 
native State to make the necessary preparations. 
In the spring of 1856 he came to Warren County 
and entered eighty acres of land on the south 
half of section 15 in Spring Grove Township. He 
also bought 40 acres adjoining, where he built a _ 
house and proceeded to improve the property. He ' 
lived on that place until the winter of 1872, when he 
sold out and bought the property where he is at 
present located. He is the owner of 151 acres of 
excellent land, all of it being in a good state of till- 
age and supplied with the recpiisite farm implements. 
The place is beautified by several varieties of trees. 
We are pleased to be able to present a view of the 
home i)lace in this Album on page 428. 

Mr. Stewart was born Sept. 30, 1826, in Washing- 
ton Co., Pa. Thomas Stewart, his father, was born 
in County Armagh, Ireland, and was a Presbyterian 
of Scotch descent. The latter was nine years of 
age when he accompanied his parents, Robert and 
Mary Stewart, to America. He was reared in Ad- 
ams and Washington Counties in the Keystone 
State, and was married in the county last named. 
The lady whom he made his wife. Miss Mary Welch, 
was born in Adams Co., Pa., and they resided there 
until 1835, when they went to Moundville in West 
Virginia. Mr. Stewart bought a farm and was a 
resident there as long as he continued to live. His 
wife afterwards came to Illinois to see her children 
and died while in this State, in 1856. They had 11 
children, and five of them are still living : Robert 



*+ 



V 



. .Y- . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



491 



is a citizen of Kirkwood. William lives at Little 
York. Joseph lives in Elmwood, Peoria Co., 111. ; 
he is a retired merchant and is holding the office of 
Police Magistrate. Mary is the widow of James 
Graham, and lives in Page Co., Iowa. 

Mr. Stewart is the youngest. He was nine years 
of age when his parents removed to West Virginia, 
where he was reared on the farm. He was educated 
in the school which was maintained by its patrons 
and called the subscription school, because its ex- 
penses were defrayed by subscription. When he 
attained the period of his legal freedom, he went to 
Somerset Co., Pa., and, associated with another 
young man, he engaged in the manufacture of farm 
implements. He operated there four years, and 
went thence to Bedford County and was similarly 
occupied there until the year in which he made his 
prospecting tour in the West. 

Aug. 6, 186 1, he was married to Sarah Pilkington, 
and they had eight children. They are named Jen- 
nie B., Orlando P is a teacher in the High School at 
Keithsburg, Harry J., Archie G., Guy, Fred G., 
Erma and Erla (twins). The third child born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart died when about a year old, 
in 1867. 

Mr. Stewart was formerly a Democrat but is now 
a prohibitionist in political principles. He was Jus- 
tice of the Peace for 12 years while a resident of 
Spring Grove Township. His wife was born in 
Somerset Co., Pa , May 26, 1838. She is the daugh- 
ter of Benjamin W. and Jane (Henry) Pilkington. 
Mr. Pilkington was born in Adams Co., Pa. He 
died May 24, 1844, in Somerset County. 



~¥~'kf< — 



>Jias» 




tarry G. Harding, one of the best known 
_j_^ men in Warren County, and whose portrait 
is given on the opposite page, resides on a 



J bro 

4^ 



fine place, in the suburbs of Monmouth. He was 
born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 25, 18 11, and 
was a son of Chancy and Anna (Gates) Hard- 
ing,* natives of Connecticut and of old English de- 
scent. Nathan Harding landed at Cape Cod, in 

*The father of Mr. Hardiiin; n.«e(l the {%) in his name 
in the early part of liis life, but left it off about tlie .same 
time as did his son. Chancy (see sketch), wlio is the only 
brother of Harry G. 



1640, and from him sprang the Hardings of this 
country. His grandson, Chancy Harding, named as 
the immediate ancestor of the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Middle Haddam, Conn., Jan. 8, 1775, 
and died at Iowa Falls, Dec. 11, 1876 ; his first wife, 
mother of H. G. Harding, was also born at Middle 
Haddam, r r years later than Chancy, and died while 
yet a young woman, at Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., 
April 6, i8ig. The Chancy Harding here mentioned 
married a second time, his last wife being Sally Mar- 
tin, who was born at Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 3, 1794, and died at Iowa Falls, in April, 1885. 
Thus it will be seen the families upon both sides 
have been uniformly long lived. Chancy 's first mar- 
riage occurred at Chatham, Conn., and he removed 
thence to Otsego County, N. Y., probably in 1809. 
From there he removed to Iowa Falls, Iowa, after 
having buried his wife, who died April 6, 18 19. She 
bore him two sons, H. G., the eldest, and his brother, 
Chancy. 

He was brought up to farming, an occupation he 
has claimed all his life. The common schools of 
Otsego Co., N. Y., and an academy at Hamilton sup- 
plied him a good education, and from 16 to 26 years 
of age he alternated the seasons with farming and 
leaching. In 1857, he came to Warren County, 
bought a farm, now part of the city of Monmouth, 
laid a portion of it off as Clark's addition to the 
town, and later on, in 1859, he purchased a 40-acre 
tract in connection with Gen. Harding and laid oat 
Haley's addition. At this writing (October, 1885), 
he lives upon a part of his original purchase, owns 
several hundred acres of the finest farms in the 
county, and has given his children a handsome com- 
petency. He was one of the organizers of the Mon- 
mouth National Bank, in 1870; was a director therein 
up to 1874; sold out, and, assisted by his brother. 
Chancy, and others, in January, 1875, organized the 
Second National Bank of Monmouth, with which he 
is now connected as a director. Mr. Harding has 
long been one of the wealthiest men of Warren 
County, and yet, aside from a few hundreds inher- 
ited from his father, he has acquired it by his indi- 
vidual effort and industry. 

Away back in 1844, before leaving New York, Mr. 
Harding was elected to the State Legislature from 
Otsego County, but, to his credit, it must be written 
that he was wise enough to profit by his first lessons 
and to steer clear of such a fate in Illinois. The 



f 



< 



IZJVJ 



{■ 



-§-?-r^ 



492 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



*l 



most the people here have been able to get out of 
him, in the way of public service, has been to push 
him into an aldermanship, and twice into the mayor- 
alty. He has always been an ardent Republican and 
during the war he was an active supporter of the 
cause of the Union and good government. 

After returning from the Legislature in New York, 
he resumed his farcning operations. He was soon 
thereafter elected Justice of the Peace, and served 
the people in that capacity for several years. He was 
a member of the Bo.xrd of Education for about 15 
years, during his residence in Otsego County, and 
contributed to the best of his ability in fostering and 
encouraging general education. He was also a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education in Monmouth for 
about 15 years. 

At the time of the laying out of what is known as 
Haley's addition to the city of Monmouth, in con- 
nection with General Harding, the lots were di- 
vided and Mr. Harry G. Harding adopted what was 
then a new plan in this Western country, in get- 
ting his property into market. This was by selling 
lots and assisting many poor people to build small 
•houses thereon, with the understanding that they 
should become owners after complying with the spec- 
ified agreement. This was, that they should pay 
■him a monthly installment of but little more than 
ordinary rent. By this arrangement the prudent and 
economical mechanic was enabled to secure a home. 
Mr. Harding in this way disposed of about 100 lots, 
at prices ranging from $150 to $300 each, and also 
contributed largely to the building up of the city 
of Monmouth, as well as performing a most com- 
mendable act towards his fellow townsmen and neigh- 
bors. Careful business methods like these will nat- 
urally bring a fair financial return to their projectors. 
Mr. Harding also furnished most of the lumber with 
which to construct the dwelling, and in exceptional 
cases, where the man was very poor, he furnished 
all the lumber and gave long time for payment. 

May 17, 1838, he was married, at Exeter, N. Y.,to 
Salinda Brainard, a native of Otsego County, and 
daughter of Nathan Brainard. She died at Kxeter, 
Aug. 15, 1843, leaving two sons — Delavan, who died 
soon after hr:r, and De Lloyd. On Nov, 17, 1844. 
Mr. Harding, at the same town, married Elvira C. 
Hubbard, daughter of Scth and Lucy (Swan) Hub- 
bard, and had borne to liim four children. Of his 
children, De Lloyd, the eldest son, married Mary 



Bacon; they have one daughter, Elvira, now a young 
lady, who has been educated at Knoxville. The son 
resides near his parental home and owns a splendid 
farm of 225 acres, a mile from the city limits. He is 
principally engaged in stock dealing and farming. 
Fred E. was born Sept. 20, 1847, attended Mon- 
mouth College and completed his business education 
at Schenectady, N. Y. He is now Cashier of the 
Second National Bank of Monmouth. He was mar- 
ried to Lucy Nye, of that city. Frank W. was born 
March i, 1849, and was united in marriage with 
Nannie Davenport, of Monmouth. They have three 
daughters. He was educated at Monmouth College 
and is the Assistant Cashier of the Second National 
Bank, at Monmouth. Jennie L, born Sept. 4, 1885, 
died June 2, 1861. Willie, the youngest, was born 
Oct. 22, 1857, died Sept. 6, 1858. 

Mr. Harding's life has been devoted to the prose- 
cution of his business and the education of his chil- 
cren. He has ever been careful and methodical in 
all his operations, and his course has won the esteem 
and respect of his neighbors. He is public-spirited 
and liberal, and any object having for its aim the ad- 
vancement of the material or moral development of 
Monmouth or WarrenCounty, finds in him an able and 
earnest supporter. We are pleased in being able to 
present a portrait of this good and prominentcitizen. 



tBjea'©^* 



K<j— >*^-a/3OT»*» 



fpDsli^glg 




1^ illiam M. Lair, a well known farmer of 



8'i,l' Kelly Township, is the son of \\'illiam 
"lt'-'> ^^^'i, one of the earliest pioneers of Warren 
''ffln^P County. The senior Lair was born in War- 

™^ ren County, Ky., April 3, 1797. His father 
was a German by birth and his mother was 

'•^ born in North Carolina. They were among the 
very first settlers in Warren Co., Ky., and their son, 
the father of the gentleman who is represented in 
this sketch, was the first white child born there. He 
was reared to be a farmer, and passed the whole of 
his youth in his native county. He was married 
there, Feb. 5, 1827, to Sarah R. Wallace. She was 
the daughter of William and Nancy (Smith) Wallace 
and was also a native of Warren Co., Ky. Her grand- 
father, Robert Wallace, came from Ireland. She was 



'Jyl 



V 



t 



. .YTZ . ■- 

WARREN COUNTY. 



493 



"f* 



^ 



born May 8, 1809. In 1832 they left their native 
county with their family, setting out with their own 
conveyance, for the State of Illinois. They brought 
with them their household appurtenances and camped 
and cooked by the wayside. They were four weeks 
on the road. They passed a year on the Spoon 
River, in Knox County, and after reaching Warren 
County settled for a summer in Monmouth. Mr. 
Lair then bought land on section 30, in "Township 
12, Range i,"now Kelly Township. He set about 
perfecting the arrangements common to pioneers, 
built a log house for the temporary accommodation 
of his household, and proceeded with all possible 
dispatch to the work of improving his claim. Soon 
after, the first log cabin was replaced by a double- 
hewed-log structure of goodly dimensions, which 
constituted their home until 1858. In that year 
the family removed to the southeast quarter of the 
same section and once more lived in a pioneer's 
cabin. This they inhabited until 1861. They then 
removed to a school-house, in which they lived six 
weeks, while their own house was in preparation. 
The new house was a commodious frame building, 
^ and was the home of the senior Lair during the re- 
maining portion of his life. His demise took place 
April 7, 1872. Six of the children born to him and 
"■ his wife (thirteen in all) are still living. They are 
Robert W., who married Mary A. Quinn, and to 
them were born four children, viz. : Annie, William, 
Addison and Fannie. Addison is deceased. Robert 
lives in Spring Grove Township. Harriet is the wife 
of Dwight Corning, and is the motherof ten children; 
the names of the six living being Benjamin, Jennie, 
Jessie, Clark, Helen and Alice. The family reside 
in Crawford County, Kas. Helen is the wife of Sam- 
uel McKahan, and they are also residents of Craw- 
ford County, and the parents of five children, name- 
ly : Charley, May, Hattie, Altie and an infant de- 
ceased. Sarah E. married R. B. Ball. Rosa and 
Fielding F. are the names of their children. They 
reside in Rice County, Kas. Ella J. is the wife of 
Ferdinand Burtschy, a resident of Nodaway County, 
Mo. Four children were in their family — Etta, Ada, 
Freddie and Gracie. Freddy is deceased. The next 
in order of birth was William M., the subject of this 
notice. Catherine, who is now deceased, was the 
wife of James T. Gilmore. Fielding A. is also de- 
ceased, but had married Margaret S. Pedigo. Anna 
E., who is also deceased, became the wife of Irvin 

»L 'i t 



Robinson. The remaining five children died while 
young. 

William M. Lair was born on the homestead of 
his father, in Kelly Township, Feb. 5, 1853. He had 
the training and education of the farmers' sons of 
that period and, in connection with his mother, ably 
manages the estate left by his father. A view of the 
old homestead is given on page 428. He was 
married Aug. 2, 1876, to Nancy A. Pedigo. Their 
family now includes four children — Florence, Clark, 
Maggie and Robert. Mrs. Lair was born in Ken- 
tucky, in the same county in which her husband's 
parents were early settlers. The date of her birth 
was Sept. 4, 1857. She was the daughter of William 
and Elizabeth (Millegan) Pedigo, who were natives 
of Warren County, Ky. They came to this county 
about i860, and settled in Kelly Township. The fa- 
ther died in 1872. His widow is still living and re- 
sides in Iowa. Mr. Pedigo had previously been 
married, by which union he had five children, and 
by his second marriage had ten children. Three of 1 
the fifteen are deceased. 



-^■ 



A A 



T~T" 



•^ V Y ' 



ES- 




pamuel Marvin Eldred, was born in Fulton 
County, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1828. His parents 
John and Hannah (Fox) Eldred, were na- 
tives of Rhode Island. They spent most of their 
married life in New York. The father came 
to Illinois to see his children, and died while 
here at the advanced age of 75 years. The death of 
the mother occurred in 1864, at the home of her 
daughter in Michigan. Marvin Eldred remained at 
home until he was 21 years old, receiving, meantime, 
a good common-school education. He spent a few 
years in a lumber mill at Inghams' Mills, New York, 
until he decided to come West. He came to Illi- 
nois in 1852 and located in Roseville Township. He 
purchased 160 acres of land, and by subsequent in- 
vestments increased his landed interests, making him 
the owner of 360 acres of good, valuable land. 

In 1864 Mr. Eldred was united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah Chase, who was born in Princeville, Peoria 
County, Oct. 4, 1843. She was a daughter of S. P. 
and Ann (Houston) Chase, who were nativesof New 



^i:^ 



4 



494 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



Hampshire. They removed to Peoria County, this 
State, in 1842, where they bought wild land. They 
succeeded in cultivating it and making a comfortable 
home, where the family remained until the death of 
Mr. Chase, which occurred in 1870. The demise 
of the mother occurred in 1875, at the residence 
of her daughter, Mrs. Eldred. 

The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eldred 
was one daughter, Anna May, born Oct 14, 1866. 
The family lived upon the farm until 1874, when they 
removed to Roseville and the ensuing year pur- 
chased a lot on Main Street, and erected a resi- 
dence upon it. Here Mr. Eldred resided until his 
death, which occurred Jan. 5, 1885. 

Mr. Eldred was interested quite extensively in 
buying and feeding cattle for the market. He served 
his township as Supervisor and his village as Trus- 
tee. He was careful of his financial standing, and 
valued his word or any contract or verbal "agree- 
ment as thoroughly binding as his bond, and, as was 
remarked, he" always paid 100 cents on the dollar." 
He was a strong Republican, and as a citizen and 
neighbor always kind to the poor and enterprising, 
and was recognized as one of the leading men in this 
part of Warren County. 



*i^-€^^ 




eorge Jacob Kobler, born in Rhine, Bava- 
ria, Germany, July 6, 1836, came to Amer- 
S^ ica in 1853. His parents, Henry and Anna 
Mary (Faath) Kobler, reared two sons and 
two daughters, George J. being the second in 
order of birth. Mr. Kobler, of tliis sketch, 
was faitly educated in his native country, where he 
learned the trade he has since so successfully fol- 
lowed, that of butchering. Landing first in New 
Yotk city, Mr. Kobler proceeded at once to Buffalo, 
and thence to Cincinnati, where he spent one year, 
going from there to Louisville, St. Louis and 
Burlington, Iowa, and stopping some time in each 
place, up to the one last named, which claimed him 
as a citizen some three or four years. He was next 
in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, probably two years, and the 
year i860 found him in Monmouth. While at Mt. 
Pleasant, Mr. Kobler was married, D^c. 9, 1859, to 



Anna Mary Stenz, a native of Germany, and a daugh- 
ter of Philip and Anna Mary (Myers) Slenz, who 
came to America when the daughter was only 6 years 
of age. Anna Mary grew to womanhood in Utica, N. 
Y., and from there accompanied her parents to Iowa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kobler have had six children — Mena, 
wifeofMr. E. Alexander, D.D., druggist at Alexis, 111.; 
Henry, Ella, Lula and Frederick, at home, and Ma- 
mie, deceased. 

Mr. Kobler ranks among the substantial and high- 
ly respected citizens of Monmouth. He has been 
strictly honest and upright in all his transactions, and 
has conducted his business so successfully that he 
possesses a competency for himself and family. 

Politically, Mr. Kobler votes with the Republicans. 



^<>00€ 




ndrew J. Cayton, whose homestead com- 
. prises 360 acres of excellent farm land 
^ on section 21, Swan Townsliip, was born in 
Edmonson Co., Ky., Sept. 22, 1830. Hisi,' 
widowed mother came to Illinois when Andrew f 
was three years old, and after residing one 1 
year in Morgan County, located in Swan Township,] 
on section 11. Abel Cayton, the father of our sub- , 
ject, was a native of Tennessee, his demise having , 
occurred in Kentucky. He married Miss Lively 
Harrington, who was born in the State of Kentucky 
in 1808. They became the parents of four children, 
— Nancy, George, Andrew J. and Maranda. (ieorge 
and Nancy are deceased. 

Mr. Andrew J. Cayton belongs to the pioneers of 
Warren County, having passed his boyhood and ma- 
ture years in this county. In 1856 he purchased 60 
acres on section 21, on which was built a small frame 
house. All the improvements that are now upon his 
land, are the result of his own industry and skillful 
management. He married Miss Nancy C. Lieur- 
ance, Nov. 12, 1857, She was a native of Illinois, 
where she was born in 1837, and bore her husband 
three children, — Clarence A., born Jan. 14, 1859; 
Jed. O., in 186 i, and Lewis Grant, in 1863. Clar- 
ence is the only survivor. He is in the mercantile 
business in Youngstown. He married Miss Abby 
Johnson. Mrs. Cayton died in December, 1862, and 
Mr. Cayton married a second wife. Miss Mary Eliza 



"T" 



4^ 



4 



■ V. 
WARREN COUNTY. 



_!^ T > 



495 



Clevenger, in 1865. She bore him one child, — Mary 
Eliza, who died in infancy, and in 1866, the mother 
also was carried to her final resting place. 

Mr. Andrew J. Cayton formed a third matrimonial 
alliance, Feb. 15, 1873, ^'th Miss Ruby L. Bond, 
who was born June 30, 1827, in Morgan Co., 111. 
She is a daughter of Major John C. Bond, a native of 
South Carolina, where he was born in December, 1799. 
He died May 22, 1882. In 1827 he came to Illi- 
nois, and located in Morgan County, and was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Grimsley,in 1817, she also being 
a native of the Sunny South, where she was born in 
1790. Of their union, five children were born, — • 
Susan C, born August, 1819; William G., April 2, 
182 1 ; Ann, who died in infancy; Jesse W., born in 
September, 1826, and Ruby L., born June 30, 1827. 
Mrs. Bond died in Morgan County, this State, in 
1828. Mr. Bond was a Democrat in political affilia- 
tions. Religiously, he was a member of the Chris- 
tian Church. 

Mr. A. J. Cayton's farm of 360 acres is under the 
finest improvement and cultivation. He has 15 head 
of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle; has a fine house 
and barn, with other necessary outbuildings upon 
his land, his house being a two story, 45 x 50 feet in 
dimensions, with a good cellar under the entire build- 
ing. Owing to his own indomitable energy, perse- 
verance and economy, Mr. Cayton has now sufficient 
of this world's good to enable him to spend the sun- 
set of his life in ease and comfort. Besides his farm, 
to which he devotes considerable of his time, he owns 
a fine vein of coal about 36 inches thick. Religiously, 
Mr. Cayton is a member of the Christian Church, 
and in his political opinions, he affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



-»- 



-^^^ ^ 




K^lizabeth Van Tuyl, residing upon section 

3, Tompkins Township, this county, is the 

widow of Isaac Van Tuyl. He was born 

in New Jersey, May 31, 1808, and his parents 

were Michael and Sopliia (Coberly) Van Tuyl, 

natives of New Jersey. Michael Van Tuyl 

was born March 17, 1775. Sophia Coberly was born 

Nov. 10, 1782; they were married Dec. 9,1797. 

J ^ ' K 



The parents moved from their native State to Ohio 
m 1814. The father was a farmer by occupation 
and was the proprietor of 1,280 acres of land, be- 
sides a saw and grist mill, in the Buckeye State. 
There he resided, following his chosen vocation, un- 
til his death, in 1848 ; the death of his wife occurred 
in March, 1857. 

Isaac Van Tuyl, husband of the subject of this no- 
tice, remained at home until 1847, where, in his 
younger years, he attended the common school and 
assisted his father, and later became a partner with 
his father and elder brother. In the year mentioned, 
he sold his interest and moved northeast of Dayton, 
Ohio, where he purchased 160 acres of good farm 
land, on which he located and for si.\ years was en- 
gaged in its cultivation. He then sold it, and, in 
1854, came to this State and settled in Biggsville 
Township, Henderson County, where he became the 
owner of 200 acres of land. On this latter tract he 
Hved for 12 years, cultivating and improving it, and 
then sold the same and came to this county, where 
he purchased 152}.^ acres on section 3, Tompkins 
Township, which acreage he afterward increased by 
an additional purchase of 480 acres in the same ■ 
township and 160 acres in Henderson County. He 
moved on his land in Tompkins Township and was 
engaged in its improvement and cultivation until his 
death, which took place in 1880. 

The first marriage of Mr. Van Tuyl was with Miss 
Sarah A. Williams, and they had five children, three 
of whom are living, and named, Michael, Anna and 
Sophia. The deceased are. Lewis W. and Sarah. 
Lewis enlisted in the loth 111. Vol. Inf., August, 
1861. He remained in the service during the war, 
and participated in 13 different engagements. Among 
the most noticeable was Island No. 10, Lookout 
Mountain, Nashville, and he was with Gen. Sher- 
man when he made his great march to the sea. He 
enlisted as a private and was mustered out as First 
Lieutenant, passing through the whole period of the 
war and not receiving a wound. He was accident- 
ally killed by being shot with a gun while in Texas, 
in 1869. Asher D. and John I. were both in the 
service, John I. serving three years in the 83d 111. 
Vol. Inf. He was wounded at Fort Donelson. As- 
her D. was in the 104th Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. F, and 
served one year, participating in several battles, the 
most notable being the battle of the Wilderness. 
James Morgan, the husband of Anna VanTuyl, was 



l* 



^■M^ 



:?^-4^ 



496 



r 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



also engaged in the war, as First Lieutenant of Co. 
F, S3d III. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battle of 
Fort Donelson, serving his country three years. 
Henry Francis, husband of Addeliza Van Tuyl (child 
of second wife), was in the 83d 111. Vol. Inf, serving 
three years. Geo. M. Jamison, husband of Sophia 
Van Tuyl, was a member of Co. K, 84th 111. Vol. 
Inf., having served one year and being discharged on 
account of sickness. 

The second wife of Mr. Van Tuyl was Mrs. Eliz- 
abeth A. bhauman, formerly the wife of Isaac Shau- 
man, by whom she had two children, both sons — 
Asher D. and John I. By her union with Mr. Van 
Tuyl eight children were born, namely : Addeliza, 
Henry, Lucy B., VAVx K., William E., Alexander H., 
May and A. Elmer. Michael Van Tuyl, son by the 
first marriage, married Fannie Phillips, and they had 
three children, two of whom survive — Luella and 
Frank R. Lewis Edward died July 31, 1880; 
Anna, daughter of the first marriage, became the 
wife of James Morgan, and to them two children 
have been born — Flora and Lewis H., both of whom 
are deceased, the former dying June 13, 1885, and 
the latter Oct. 7, 1869. Sophia, second daughter of 
the first marriage, became the wife of George M. 
Jamison, and to them five children have been born. 
Their oldest child, Lewis, died Ai)ril 27, 1863, and 
those remaining are Frederick, Blanche, Herbert and 
Howard. Asher D. Shauman, first son of Mrs. Van 
Tuyl's first marriage, was united in marriage with 
Laura Swihart, and to them four children were born 
— Hallie, Harry, Harvey and Willie. The first wife 
of Asher died in April, 1882, and he was again mar- 
ried, to Miss Mary Brown. John I. Shauman, sec- 
ond son of the first marriage of Mrs. Van Tuyl, 
formed a matrimonial alliance with Emily Claybaugh, 
and to them four children have been born. Their 
eldest child. Birdie, is deceased, and the names of 
the others are William W., Lewis V. T. and Emma 
A. Addeliza Van Tuyl was united in marriage with 
Henry Francis, and their family comprised seven 
children. The demise of their eldest, Nellie M., oc- 
curred Jan. 28, 1S69. Lewis V. T., Ralph, Lucy B., 
Laura, May E. and Henrietta still survive. Henry 
Van Tuyl married Sophronia A. Reed, by whom he 
had four children — George, Olive M., William and 
Lewis H. William is deceased. Ella K. Van Tuyl 
married Henry Boston, and they became the parents 
of seven children — John I., Eugene, Ann E., Ira L., 




May, Ono and Otis are their names. William Van 
Tuyl married Hannah M. Wilkins, and they have 
one child, Chester. 

Mrs. Van Tuyl was born Jan. 15. 1824, in Ger- 
mantown, Montgomery Co. Ohio. Since the death 
of her husband she has remained on the old home- 
stead and, with the assistance of her four youngest 
children, two sons and two daughters, manages and 
cultivates the same The parents of Mrs. Van Tuyl 
were Asher and Catherine (Cox) Davis. Mr. Davis 
was born in 1797 and Mrs. D. in 1800. They were 
natives of New Jersey and Maryland respectively, 
and were married in 1819. They came to this State 
in 1865 and settled in Henderson County, where 
they continued to reside until their deaths, which oc- 
curred in February, 1881, and June 9, 1875, respect- 
ively. I 



-««4- 



I illiam R. Thorn, a settler in Warren Coun- I 
ty of 1855, is a resident on section 9 of 
ij^SV^ ' Spring Grove Township. He is a native 
^' of Indiana and was born in Jennings County 
July 24, 1819. He is of Scotch-Irish origin. 
William D. Thorn, his father, was a native of J 
the State of Kentucky. He removed from Scott 
County to Indiana in 1818. He was a pioneer in 
Jennings County in the Hoosier State and bought a 
large tract of land which was covered with timber. 
He built a log house and in.i)roved a farm, In that 
pioneeer home the subject of this sketch was born. 
In 1832 the family removed to Jefferson County and 
later to Rush County, where the father died, in i860. 
The maiden name of the mother of Mr. Thorn was 
Elizabeth Rankin. She was born in Woodford Co., 
Ky., and after she was widowed by the death of her 
husband, she came to Warren County and passed 
the remaining years of her life in the care of her son. 
Her death took place in 1869. Three of the seven 
children of whom she became the mother are still 
living. Ann Eliza is the widow of M. A. Thompson, 
who lost his life in a skirmish in the Civil War, in 
the vicinity of Fort Donelson. John D. lives in 
Spring Grove Township. 

Mr. Thorn was reared and educated as a farmer 
in Indiana. In 1846 he became the husband of 
Susan H. Matthews. She was born in Fleming Co., 



'JKl 



^ 



-f4— 



!?HH^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



497 



( qua 



Ky. The newly married people located on land 
owned by the senior Thorn in Rush County, and 
that was his field of operation until 1851, when he 
engaged in mercantile business in Mill Roy in the 
same county. After a commercial experience of 
three years, he resumed the profession of a farmer. 
In the autumn of 1855 he removed to Illinois. He 
passed the first winter in the west part of the town- 
ship in which he now resides, where he obtained the 
use of a vacant house. Meanwiiile he bought a por- 
tion of prairie land on section 9, and in tlie course 
of tlie winter erected a frame house on his ]jlace. In 
the spring of 1856, he and his family removed to 
their own home, and it has since been tlie family 
homestead. The farm is favorably situated for 
farming purposes and is watered by flowing streams. 
It has also natural groves. Mr. Thorn raises stock 
and grain. 

Seven children were born to him and his wife, and 
of the number four are now living. Mary A. is mar- 
ried to Robert F. Mulinx and they settled in Taylor 
Co., Iowa. George W. resides in Page Co., Iowa. 
Lizzie H. is the wife of William L. Douglass, also of 
Page Co., Iowa. Alma A. is the wife of Frank N. 
White, also of Taylor County. Tlie parents are con- 
nected in membership with the United Presbyterian 
' Church. 

The father and mother of Mrs. Thorn, George and 
Esther (Palmer) Matthews, were born respectively 
in Washington Co., Pa., and the State of New Jersey. 
They were among the earliest settlers of Fleming 
Co., Ky., and removed about 1850 to Boone Co., 
Ind., where they passed the remaining years of their 
lives. She is of Irish extraction. 



-**'4#-^»- 



ohn Miles, deceased, was a pioneer of Kelly 
?• Township of 1830, being one of the first to 
locate in that township. He made his 
claim on section 25. He was more fortunate 
than many of the pioneers in that he possessed 
both oxen and horses, and after building his 
cabin of logs he proceeded to the work of improving 
his claim. During the first year he broke quite a 
quantity of land, and succeeded in raising a good crop 




of corn and a fair quantity of vegetables. When the 
Black Hawk War broke out, he joined the " Regu- 
lators.'' For the services he rendered in that de- 
cisive confli'^t, the Government of the United States 
gave him a patent of 160 acres of land. 

Mr. Miles was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Oct. 2, 
1794. His parents removed to Harrison Co., Ind., 
when he was 12 years of age, and there he passed 
the remaining years of his youth. On attaining to 
the age of manhood, he studied law, and was admit- 
to the Bar of Indiana, at Corydon in Harrison 
County. He went to New Albany, in Floyd County, 
and opened his career as an attorney there, where 
he remained and engaged in his profession until 
1829. He came then to Illinois and passed the first 
winter in that part of Sangamon County which now 
belongs to the county of Menard. He remained 
there until the spring of 1830, when he came to 
Warren County as has been stated. 

After the termination of the hostilities of the Black 
Hawk War, he was at once admitted to the Bar of his 
adopted State and practiced law to a limited extent, 
at the same time giving his attention to the improve- 
ment of his land. He was prominent in local affairs 
from the first, and was elected the first Justice of the 
Peace in the part of the county where he resided. 
He was the first Supervisor of the township. He 
was active and energetic, and always accomplished 
a great amount of other business while improving a 
large farm and erecting a good set of frame buildings 
thereon. He died May 23, 1872. 

In 1822, Mr. Miles was married to Sarah Froman. 
She was born Jan. 21, 1800, in Indiana. Their 
children numbered 12 and nine of them are now liv- 
ing. Harriet married Samuel Brown, and they lo- 
cated in Vancouver, Washington Territory. Mary 
is the wife of J. I. Myers, a citizen of Marshall, 111. 
Evaline is the widow of George Weir, a resident of 
Bourbon Co., Kan. Henry C. is a farmer and busi- 
ness man of the township of Cold Brook : a full ac- 
count of his connection with the development of this 
part of the State of Illinois is given on other pages 
of this volume. Joseph W. and Fielding are resi- 
dents of Willes, Kan. James F. lives in Brunson in 
that State. John J. is an attorney-at-law in Ash- 
land, Wis. Sarah J. is the wife of Theodore F. Bull- 
man, who is the manager of the Miles homestead. 
(See sketch.) Their mother died June 14, 1855. 



J(_ 



u 



I 



-4 



498 



« I* Y • ■ > 

WARREN COUNTY. 



±* 



OOO ' 



^^^f 




alvin W. Postlewait, is a prominent mer- 
lin chant of Alexis, and has lived in or near 
that place since he was a small ciiild. He 
was born Oct. 8, 1845, in Huntington Co., 
Pa., and in nationality is of mi.xed extrac- 
tion. His father, Matthew F. Postlewait, was 
of German and English parentage, and the paternal 
grandmother was a Campbell and of Scotch-Irisii 
descent. His mother, Mary J. Yocum, was of Irish 
descent on the maternal side,and German on the pa- 
ternal. Both parents were born in Pennsjlvania. On 
coming to Mercer County in 1847, the family located 
in the township of Suez. They settled on a farm, 
and were among the first of the permanent settlers 
in that locality. 

At the time the father purchased the farm but 10 
acres had been placed in tillage, and there was a 
small log house on tiie place. The small acreage 
that had been broken was also fenced. The new 
owner broke a few acres additional, and was the oc- 
cupant of the place until 1856. He then sold it and 
bought another in the township of Rivola, in the 
same county, and is yet the occupant of the place. 
It includes 145 acres, all under excellent tillage. 
The senior Postlewait is also owner of 80 acres in 
the township of North Henderson. 

The son, who is the subject of this sketch, is the 
oldest of the mule cliildren in the father's family, 
and he was reared on the farm after the manner com- 
mon to the training of the sons of farmers in a new 
country. He obtained a fair education in the public 
schools, and was afterward sent for a time to a select 
school in the same township where he lived. At the 
age of 20 he commenced teaching. He followed 
that business principally for five years, and then ob- 
tained employment in a store as a clerk. 

He held his position at New Windsor until 1874, 
when he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, and 
removed to Aledo. He continued to reside in that 
place two years, and in 1876 formed a partnership in 
business with S. T. Gibson and H. R. Gilliland. 
They established themselves as general merchants 
at Alexis, under the firm name of Gibson, Postle- 
wait & Co. The senior member of the firm was the 



gentleman with whom Mr. P. clerked. They con- 
ducted their affairs jointly until 1879. In that year 
Mr. Gibson sold his interest, and the style of the 
reconstructed house was C. \V. Postlewait & Co., 
until 1882, when another change was efTected by the 
sale of his interest by Mr. Gilliland to William Durs- 
ton. In March, 1885, Mr. Postlewait became sole 
proprietor by the purchase of the claim of his part- 
ner, and has since managed the business alone, in 
which he is now engaged extensively and prosper- 
ously. 

Matilda E. Durston became the wife of Mr. Pos- 
tlewait May 22, 1876, and they haveone child, named 
Orion. The mother was born in Mercer County, 
and is the daughter of James and Philadelphia 
(J5ridger) Durston. Her parents were pioneers of 
Mercer County in 1837. They were both natives of 
England,and removed to Mercer Co., 111., in 1837, 
and they both died there. 

Mr. Postlewait is independent in his political prin- t 
ciples. "i 

He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and holds | 
membershipof Alexander Lodge, No. 702, and has [; 
been W. M. for the past three years. "s 



-A/N^'.— < ■ 




• arker S. Jones, owning 80 acres of land 

; on section 35, Tompkins Township, where 

'Ji'f'c^ he is following the vocation of an agricul- 
^hsJ turist, was born in Washington County, Vir- 
j/R* ginia, July 28, 1848, his parents being Calvin 
' . and Rebecca (McQuown) Jones, natives of 
the same county and State in which their son was 
born. They moved from their native State to Illi- 
nois, and located in Henderson County, on a farm, 
in 1854, and at present reside on section 34, Tomi> 
kins Township, this county. 

Parker S. Jones, whose name heads this notice, 
received a fair education in the common schools, 
and remained with his parents until six years after 
attaining his majority. After leaving home he con- 
tinued the occupation which he had followed from 
boyhood, and soon thereafter iiought 80 acres of land 
on section 32, Tompkins Township, and on which he 
was located some seven years. He then sold the 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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SOI 



place and purchased the 80 acres on which he is al 
present residing. 

Fel). 15, 1877, Miss Sarah M. Martin, a native of 
this county, became the wife of the subject of this 
notice. She was born May 3, 1859, of parents who 
were named John and Elizabeth (Roberts) Martin, 
natives of Indiana. They came to this State and 
located at this county in an early day, were pioneer 
settlers of the county, and here continued to reside 
until their death in 1866 and 1867 respectively. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of two chil- 
dren, Leo M. and Mabel E. 

In politics, Mr. Jones votes with the Republican 
party, and in religion he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

Mr. Jones is prominent as a farmer of Tompkins 
Township, and his accumulations of this world's 
goods are due to his energy and perseverance. 




'haddeus S. Clarke, who was at one time 

prominent in the newspaper circles in this 
^ section of Illinois, and whose portrait we 
give on the opposite page, was born at Ma- 
comb, 111., June -27, 1833. He was a son of 
the late David Clarke, who was one of the 
pioneers of McDonough County, as well as one of 
the founders of Macomb. David Clarke, before 
leaving Kentucky, his native State, was married to 
Miss Eliza S. Russell, also a native of Kentucky, 
and a member of a family of early pioneers of Mc- 
Donough County, this State. Her father, Samuel 
Russell, came to Macomb very early in the history 
of that city. Shortly after his marriage, David 
Clarke, with his wife and two children, set out on 
the trying journey incident to a trip to the fertile 
prairies of the Military Tract. He located on the 
site of Macomb and assisted in laying out that place. 
Here they reared a large family, and the father lived 
until the death of his wife, which occurred suddenly 
in the autumn of 1875. She was a most energetic, 
gentle-heartedold lady, never idle, and the doors of her 
hospitable home were always open to both friends and 
strangers. Even when her hair was whitened with 
the snow of 75 winters, she was a ceaseless and tire- 



less worker, and on the fatal morning when she was 
stricken down, she was busily engaged attending to 
her household duties. She was a devoted Christian 
lady, and for half a century a faithful member of the 
Christian Church. The noble and loveable traits of 
her character endeared her to all with whom she 
came in contact. She was exceptionally unselfish, 
the labors of her industrious life being almost wholly 
devoted to others. David Clarke survived his wife 
for almost 10 years, he dying in the early part of 
1884, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. S. S. 
Chapman, Vermont, 111. He was a gentleman of 
the old pioneer type, a characteristic Kentuckian, 
scrupulously honest, was widely known, highly es- 
teemed, and in the early history of this section of 
the State bore an important and influential part. 

Thaddeus S. Clarke was reared and educated at 
Macomb, and in early youth developed a great pas- 
sion for books. He was a tireless reader, spending 
many leisure hours in that profitable pastime. Early 
in life he began the struggle incident to a life of self- 
dependence, and was always found faithful and in- 
dustrious in whatever he undertook. He was one of 
the pioneer mail carriers of Western Illinois, and as 
early as about 1840, we find him making the long 
and lonesome journey from Lewistown to Warsaw, 
on horseback, with the mail sacks. He was so small 
that once dismounted it was necessary to have as- 
sistance to remount, and a number of times he was 
compelled to walk miles for that assistance. 

The inclinations of young Clarke, as above men- 
tioned, led him to where there were books and pa- 
pers, and, in 1850, he began the study of the "art 
preservative " in the office of the Quincy Herald, 
which paper at that time was edited by the late Aus- 
tin Brook. Early in 1854, Mr. Clarke having be- 
come thoroughly inspired with the doctrines upon 
which the (then) young Republican party was found- 
ed, although " born and raised " a Democrat, deter- 
mined to further advance the principles of the party 
in the publication of a newspaper, and selected as 
the central point from which to disseminate his senti- 
ments, Carthage, in Hancock County, the newspaper 
appearing as the Carthage Republican. While at 
the head of this, his first newspaper enterprise, he 
made a trip to Quincy, Adams County, and there 
married Miss Octavia Shaw, on Feb. 9, 1854. Af- 
ter the close of the campaign of 1854, Mr. Clarke 
returned to Macomb and launched forth a newspa- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



per known as the Macomb Enterprise, which was 
the foundation of what is now the Macomb Journal, 
the leading paper of that city. 

At the first firing on the flag at Fort Sumter, Thad- 
deus S. decided to go to the defense of his country's 
honor and integrity. Leaving his wife and four chil- 
dren to the care of friends near the mother's old 
home, he enlisted in Co. F, 50th Regt. 111. Vol. Inf., 
and was mustered in at Camp Wood, near Quincy. 
His career under arms was of only eight months' du- 
ration, he being marked as one of the first to con- 
tract disease incident to the exposure of army life, 
and was ever after an invalid from dysentery and 
pulmonary troubles. What a sad returning to his 
home was it for him, for during his absence he had 
been bereft of two bright children, whose untimely 
taking off was unknown to him until his arrival 
there. 

Although unable, physically, to longer defend his 
country at the front, Mr. Clarke did effective and 
faithful service with his pen, the power of which was 
felt mainly through the columns of the paper he 
founded in 1855. He was a ready and vigorous 
writer, his productions not only being pleasant to pe- 
ruse, but were forcible in carrying conviction to the 
mind of the reader, and few men of local reputation 
during the trying days of our country's peril, exerted 
a greater influence with the pen. His influence was 
also felt in crystalizing the principles upon which 
the Republican party was builded. He was a fear- 
less writer, but not a maligner, honest in every pur- 
pose and always produced an interesting and valua- 
ble paper. His newsp.iper enterprises, however, were 
successes mainly far others, the faculty of successful 
financiering having been denied him. 

Removing to Monmouth in 1868, he was employed 
in various capacities on the Atlas and Review for 
a time, when, in 1873, he launched another paper on 
the uncertain sea of public opinion, and named it 
the Monmouth Leader. It proved one of the best 
local papers ever published in the West, and bid fair 
to \>t a power under his pen, but the fatal hour was 
near and the months were few that he was to pass 
on earth. He died at his home in Monmouth, Oct. 
2, 1873, and his remains were conveyed to Macomb, 
his native town, and interred in Oak Hill Ceme- 
tery. 

Surviving the subject of this sketch is the widow 
and five children : Eugene J., of whom a sketch is 

-A 



given elsewhere ; Ida B., the wife of Jacob Leighty, 
whom she married Jan. 20, 1880; Nellie M., David 
E. and Bessie E., all residents of .Monmouth. 

Mrs. Clarke is deserving of the highest commen- 
dation for her devotion to her family and the earnest 
efforts she made after the death of her husband to 
keep the children within the home, and to give them 
the best possible advantages. She made a noble, 
and, we are pleased to say, a successful struggle in 
this direction. As the children grew up they re- 
mained by her side, and with a devotion born of 
love and gratitude, cheerfully assisted her in carry- 
ing her burdens. 

Mrs. Clarke is a devoted mother, and a Christian 
lady of the best and truest impulses. She is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. 



|#-^ 




IP Oct. 5, .i 
y|\. public sc 



rail' erry Anderson, who represents the lumber 
trade at Ale.\is, was born in Sweden, at 
Nasum, in the province of Christianstadt, 
[853. He was well educated in the 
schools, and was trained in the pursuit 
of agriculture. In 1873, when he was 20 years of 
age, he resolved to come to the United States. He 
left his native land and reached Warren County in 
the same year. He obtained employ as a farm as- 
sistant near Alexis and passed two seasons at work 
by the month. He tlien rented land and interested 
himself in general farming until i88r. After two 
years' residence he took out his first naturalization 
papers, so that he might become a citizen of his 
adopted country soon as possible. Mr. Anderson 
had thus far been successful in his agricultural op- 
erations, and in 1881, in company with \. A. Mc- 
Clanahan, he bought the lumber business of J. E. 
LafTcrty at Alexis. The firm continued business un- 
til July, 1S85, when Mr. McClanahan sold his inter- 
est to his father, Dr. I. P. McClanahan. The mem- 
bers of the present firm of McClanahan & Anderson 
manage iheir business in the careful, well adjusted 
manner that insures success. 

During the time he operated as farm assistant Mr. 
Anderson passed the winter seasons at school, at Al- 
exis. He passed five successive winters in study, 



r 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



•^^X^ 



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acquiring the English language and becoming famil- 
iar with the customs of his adopted country. The 
sixth winter he attended the business college at Dav- 
enport, Iowa, with the purpose of acquiring a ecu - 
plete iiiiowledge of business methods. He then ac- 
cepted a position as clerk in a dry-goods store for R. 
C. Sargeant, of Annawan, 111., which he retained 
until his purchase and entry into the lumber busi- 
ness above referred to. 

On Aug. 23, 1883, he was united in marriage to 
the daughter of Daniel W. Burt, a prominent busi- 
ness man of Alexis. Mrs. Kate A. Anderson was 
born Oct. 6, 1862. They have onechild, Burt T., 
born Oct. 3 c, 1884. They are members of the Meth- 
odist Church at Alexis. Mr. Burt is represented in 
this work by a personal narration of the events of his 
career, which will be found on other pages. Mr. 
Anderson is a Republican in politics. 




|; obert H. Henry, retired carriage manu- 
facturer of Monmouth, was born at VVes- 
nv'K'i ton,Vt., Feb. 13, 1822, and was one of 10 
iV^ children, seven sons and three daughters, 
born to William Y. and Fannie (Cox) Henry, 
natives of the State of Vermont, and dating 
their ancestry back to the earliest settlers of New 
England. 

Wm. Y. Henry was engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness at the time of his death, which occurred when 
the subject of our sketch was only about seven years 
of age. The older sous, at least some of them, were 
mechanics, and when Robert H. was still a mere 
boy, he began handling tools, so that before he had 
arrived at man's estate, he was a pretty thorough 
workman. He was about 21 years of age when he 
began manufacturing buggies at Barry, Mass., and 
was there five or six years. In 1847, he came to 
Monmouth and started a shop for making and re- 
pairing carriages, etc., a business he was engaged at 
very regularly up to 1884. At this time he rented 
out his shop and retired from active labors. 

While at Barry, Mass., he married Miss Mary Ann 
Harding, who has shared his joys and his sorrows 
since he was about 21 years of age. 




tjr 



Mr. H. is a member of no Church or secret order. 
What property he has — and his possessions are am- 
ple — he has earned by his own earnest and hard 
labor. 



ewis B. Davis, deceased, fovmerly a stock- 
raiser and farmer, residing on section 5, 
S?W T Cold Brook Township, was a son of Greely 
6(j Davis, a native of Venango Co., Pa. His father 
l^ was an early settler in that county, coinmg 
.^ there from Steuben Co., York State. After set- 
tling there he married Miss I.ucy Dow, also a native 
of Pennsylvania. Greely Davis was a successful 
farmer and was also owner of a mill in Venango Co., 
Pa., and resided there until his death, at the ad- 
vanced age of 74 years, his wife surviving until three 
years later. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this notice, one year after he had attained his major- 
ity, set forth to fight the battles of life alone. Hop- 
ing to better his financial condition, he accepted the 
advice of Horace Greely and came West, locating in 
this county. On arrival here he was poor in pocket, 
but rich in determination, and at once engaged as a 
general laborer, which occupation he followed for 
some months. About this time, he concluded to 
unite his destiny with another, and, Oct. 16, 1845, 
was married to Miss Harriet Amanda Wright, born 
in Bradford Co., Pa., July 9, 1824. She was a daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Minerva (Barnuni) Wright, the for- 
mer a native of West Chester, N. Y , and the latter 
of Middiebury, Vt. They were married in Luzerne 
Co , Pa., where her father was a distiller and miller 
for about ten years, when he emigrated to Indiana, 
in 1831. He continued to reside in Crawford Co., 
the latter State, until the spring of 1835, when he 
caine to Warren County, and established the first 
distillery in the county, which at that time was of 
much value to the corn producing citizens, furnish- 
ing a market for their produce. In 1850, during the 
excitement in the gold regions of California, in com- 
pany with others, he crossed the plains with teams 
and wagons, and after spending three years in the 
land of gold, and meeting witli a fair degree of suc- 
cess, he returned to Warren County, and purchased 
320 acres of land in Cold Brook Township. On this 
) [■ . 



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504 



WARREN COUNTY. 



land he located and engaged actively and energetic- 
ally in its improvement and there resided until Jan. 
13, 1876, the date of his deatli, his wife having pre- 
ceded him to the land of the hereafter 12 years pre- 
vious, Nov. 22, 1864. She was the eldest in order 
of birth of a family of nine children, six of whom are 
deceased. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Davis lived in 
Monmouth Township for a time, afterwards settling 
in Cold Brook Tp. He was respected and honored 
in his township and held the minor offices of the 
same. In politics he was a staunch supporter of the 
principles of the Democratic party. Mrs. Davis is at 
present the proprietor of 200 acres of good farm 
land, in Cold Brook Township, and 300 acres of 
partly improved land in Osborne Co., Kansas. By 
her union with Mr. Davis five children were born — 
Theron married Miss Julia Chapin, and resides on a 
farm in Cold Brook Township; Mary A. became the 
wife of James Hartzell, a farmer by occupation, re- 
siding in Spring Grove Township; Ellsworth and 
Worden, twins, reside at home and carry on the farm ; 
one is deceased. Mrs. Davis is conducting the home 
> farm of zoo acre? with success and is one of the 
most respected and honored ladies of her township. 



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'ohn S. Robinson, a farmer on section 31, 
Ij^ l^ Kelly Township, is the son of a pioneer of 
tWf.W^ Warren County, Andrew Robinson, who 
was born in North Carolina, in 1794. He was 
four years of age when his parents removed to 
what was then the Territory of Ohio. They 
located four miles north of the present site of Day- 
ton, and were among the earliest to settle in the 
Buckeye State, where they remained until 1822, when 
they removed to Indiana and lived there until the 
year 1829, in which the father of Mr. Robinson, of 
this narration, settled in Warren County. He came 
hither with his wife and six children, and traveled 
after the manner common to pioneers of that period, 
namely, ox-teams. They arrived in Warren County 
Sept. 12, of the year 1829. Mr. Robinson had been 
here in the spring previous, and had secured a claim 



on section 33, Township 12, Range i. It had a log 
house on it, and this was the shelter of the house- 
hold while a more suitable and convenient dwelling 
was in process of construction. The latter was but 
a log house, and had clapboards for a roof, which 
had been split from the logs cut for the purpose. 
They were held in place by poles instead of being 
nailed. In this they lived until 1835, when the oc- 
cupants learned that their title to the place was not 
good, and they removed to section 31, in the same 
township, where the father secured a claim of which 
the title could be proved. .Soon after takmg pos- 
session the title was secured by regular entry in the 
land office of the government. 

On this property Mr. Robinson built a hewed log 
house, in which he lived a year. At the end of that 
time he removed to Monmouth, where he leased a 
building and engaged in keeping a hotel. He con- 
tinued in that business a year, and then returned to 
his farm. Several years later he removed again to 
section 26, of Cold Brook Township, and there his i 
death transpired, Aug. 6, 1849. 

Mr. Robinson married Nancy Stidt, a native of | 
Pennsylvania, where she was born May 12, 1794."= 
They were the parents of nine children : Isabella j 
and Mary, the two older, are deceased ; Garrett lives | 
in Kelly Township; John S. is the next in order of J 
birth; William F. is not living; Martha J. married 
Mr. C. Hanna, and they reside in Spring Grove 
Township; Margaret A. is married to James Gard- 
ner, of Cold Brook Township : Nancy E. is also de- 
ceased; Columbus is a farmer in the township 
named, and resides on the old homestead. The 
mother has been deceased some years. Her demise 
took place in March, 1876. 

John S. Robinson was but seven years of age when 
the family removed to Warren County. He was born 
in Parke Co., Ind., July 17, 1882. When Mr. Rob- 
inson had grown to manhood, in company with his 
brother Garrett he settled on the farm which he now 
owns. It is located on the southwest tjuarter of sec- 
tion 3r, and he is the proprietor of 145 acres of 
prairie in an unbroken body, and all under improve- 
ments. On section 29 he owns 40 acres of timber 
and pasture. The buildings and other farm fixtures 
are of a character to correspond with the advance- 
ment of the place generally. 

The first wife of Mr. Robinson, nee Martha Sibley, 
was born in Pennsylvania. They were married 



N^ 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



50s 



April 28, 1846. Her death took place in April, 
1852. 

In October, 1859, he contracted a second mar- 
riage with Elizabeth Gardner, and they had ten chil- 
dren. Eight of the number are now living : Clark 
is a citizen of Comanche Co., Kas. ; Nettie is mar- 
ried to Mr. J. P. Miller, of Kelly Township ; Mar- 
tha married Henry Ruark, and lives in Comanche 
Co., Kas. ; Cora married Curts Moshier, and lives 
in Wayne Co., Towa ; Perley, Ivory Q., Itla M., 
Clarence and Emmett are unmarried and still at 
home. The first wife became the mother of three 
children, of whom but one is living. His name is 
Irvin, and he is a resident of Comanche Co., Kas. 
The second wife of Mr. Robinson was born April 
S, 1836, in Kentucky, in Edmonson County. Her 
parents, Thomas and Catharine (Lair) Gardner, were 
born respectively in Virginia and Kentucky. Her 
father died in Kentucky, where her birth took place, 
and in 1848, her mother, with six children, came to 
Warren County. The names and residences of the 
brothers of Mrs. R. will be found below : James 
Gardner, married Margaret A. Robinson, and resides 
in Cold Brook Township; Jefferson married Silva 
Mosher, and lives in Lucas County, Iowa ; Walter 
M. married Martha Hall, and lives in Cold Brook 
Township; William married Mary Hinon, and he is 
now deceased; Sarah married B. H. Kindel, and she 
is deceased. The mother died Feb. 28, r88r. 

The fatherofMr. Robinson was a genuine pioneer, 
and possessed the spirit which characterizes those to 
whom it sometimes seems that the propensity for fron- 
tier life is given that the spirit of progress may con- 
tinually move on. His house was always the home of 
the traveler in the unsettled country, and his "latch- 
string was always out." 

Mr. Robinson is a Republican in political senti- 
ment. 

- >5 4 — a^ifi-tSM^" — *— S<- — • 



Ross Hanna, Secretary of the Weir Plow 
Company, at Monmouth, was born in Hen- 
derson Co., III., Sept. 30, 1852, and was 
the only son of William and Sarah (Findley) 
%V Hanna. (See biographical sketch of William 
\ Hanna, this volume). While a lad he worked 
upon his father's farm in the summer seasons and 




attended the common schools during the winters. 
He was 15 years of age when the family removed to 
Monmouth, and he entered Monmouth College, 
graduating with honors in the class of 1875. He at 
once entered the Law Department of Harvard Col- 
lege and two years later graduated therefrom. Re- 
turning to Monmouth he embarked in the practice of 
law, which he prosecuted with flattering success until 
greater interests took him into the Weir Plow Com- 
pany, of which his father was Cashier, and on Sept. 
S, 1881, he accepted his present position. (See his- 
tory of Weir Plow Company, this volume). 

Mr. Hanna was married at Union City, Ind., May 
30, 1878, to Miss Lizzie Merridith, daughter of Dr. J. 
H. Merridith, of that city, and has had borne to him 
two children, John F. and Alice. Aside from his in- 
terests in the Weir Plow Company, Mr. Hanna is a 
large stock-holder in the Monmouth Mining and 
Manufacturing Company, and also has an interest in 
the Dallas National Bank, of Dallas, Tex. 

In 1882 he headed the Democratic ticket as their ' 
candidate for State Senator, but soon afterward aban- 
doned that party and espoused the cause of temper- 
ance. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Prohibition ' 
Convention, at Pittsburgh, and took an active part 
in support of the candidates there nominated. He 
is an able speaker, a thorough scholar and earnest • 
and honest in his support of the cause of temper- 
ance. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
identified with no secret order and possessed of no 
ambition for political [jreferment. 




alter Carson, deceased, for many years a 
prominent resident of Warren County, 
, was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, June 

'> 19,1816. The family of the Carsons were 
'^KjJ^ original settlers in Londonderry, in the 
J north of Ireland, having emigrated there to es- 
cape religious persecution in Scotland. The first 
ancestor in America came to this country in 1740, 
and at the time of the War of the Revolution inter- 
ested himself in the struggle, together with five of 
his sons. He was by trade a saddle and harness 
maker and located in New Jersey. Walter, one of 
his sons, who was with him in the war, was the 



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~' . -v. — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



grandfather of Walter Carson, whose name stands at 
the beginning of this sketch. Jolin Carson, father 
of the latter, was reared in Pennsylvania, and lived 
there until his death. He married Hannah Rogers, 
who was of English extraction. In the year 1806 
John Carson, wife Hannah and two children, set out 
for an overland journey to what was then the far 
West. Their means of transportation consisted of 
one horse and a wagon, and with its aid they came to 
Harrison Co., Ohio, or what is now known by that 
name, and were among the earliest settlers in that 
portion of the Buckeye State. The cash in the family 
treasury at that time included the exact sum of 50 
cents. The father went to work for the wealthier 
class of citizens and soon obtained tlie means to en- 
ter and to secure his claim to a portion of real estate. 
The War of 1812 came on and he became a soldier 
in the defense of his country. After tlie close of the 
war he devoted his time to the improvement of his 
land, which was covered with timber and required 
' the outlay of an immense amount of labor to put it 
in good paying condition. It was Iiis home the re- 
mainder of his life. 

Walter Carson was there reared to the estate of 
manhood. He was brought up on the farm and 
educated in the common schools. He was married 
in 1837 to Harriet Millman. Her parents, Jacob 
and Hannah (Lewis) Millman, were pioneers of Har- 
rison County, where she was born. The family was 
formerly from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Car- 
son settled on 80 acres which was given him by his 
father in the county where he was married, and as the 
major portion was covered with timber he set him- 
self to the task of clearing a place for a home. He 
placed 40 acres of the farm in a condition for culti- 
vation and was its owner and occupant until 1854. 
In that year he sold his claims to property in Ohio, 
and with his wife and five children started for Illi- 
nois. They made the journey overland and were on 
the road 27 days. Mr. Carson rented land in War- 
ren County for the first two years, and in the fall of 
1856 bought a tract of unimproved prairie on the 
southwest quarter of section 34, Spring Grove Town- 
ship. A house was erected by the new owner during 
the same autumn and in the following spring the 
family removed to it. Mr. Carson devoted the re- 
mainder of his life to the improvement of the estate, 
and there his earthly pilgrimage came to an end Dec. 
16, 1865, after a residence in Illinois of 11 years. To 



him and his wife eight children were born. William 
manages the homestead. John W. resides in Trego 
Co., Kan. Hannah died in Ohio at the age of three 
years. George L. died in the same State when he 
was two years old. Sarah M. died in Spring Grove 
Township at the age of 11. Francis P. lives in 
Leavenworth, Kan., and Lucinda J. and Nancy B. 
reside at home. Both daughters and their mother 
are connected in membership with the Christian 
Church. Mr. Carson was a Whig in the days of his 
early connection with political matters and later was 
an Abolitionist. Eventually he became a Republi- 
can. 

Mr. William Carson is devoting his time and at- 
tention to the management of the estate of the family 
and has charge of the personal well-being of his 
mother and sisters. The farm is in good hands and 
exhibits the evidences of good management and 
thrift. It is well equipped with all necessary build- 
ings and fixtures, a view of which is given on page 
450. He is also a staunch supporter of the princi- 
ples of the Republican party. 



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arren E. Taylor, M. D., Health Officer, 

and one of the prominent young physi- 

Jj^^f)" cians and surgeons of Monmouth, was born 

1^^ at Waukesha, Wis., May 24, 1854. His par- 
ents, Evander T. and Isabetle (Irving) Tay- 

_, lor, were natives respectively of the States of 
Vermont and New York, and descended from the old 
Puritan stuck of New England ; were married in 
Genesee Co., N. Y., and subsequently were among 
the pioneers of Waukesha Co., Wis. 

The gentleman whose name heads this biograph- 
ical notice received his literary training at the State 
University, Madison, Wis., and when about 18 years 
of age began reading medicine with Q. O. Suther- 
land, at Janesviile, Wis. The following year he en- 
tered Hahnemann Medical College, at Chicago. He 
graduated from that institution with the degree of 
M. D., in 1876, after receiving a full course. He was 
Demonstrator of Anatomy for one year after his 
graduation. Monmouth was the scene of his first 
professional experience, and from here, after a sue- 



*f 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



-^^^^ 



507 



cessful practice of three years, he removed to Kan. 
The " grasshopper" State held him about two years, 
and assessed him $30,000. He returned to Mon- 
mouth in 1881, where he has since resided. Politic- 
ally, he is a Republican and a recognized worker of 
more than ordinary ability, though decidedly no of- 
fice seeker. He belongs to no Church nor to any 
secret order. Open and frank in his dealings with 
all men, he lacks one of the essential prerequisites to 
political preferment in a community largely given to 
taking its grog out of an orange, i. e., policy. 

The Doctor was married in Prairie City, 111., Aug. 
5, 1879, to Miss Virginia Annette, the accomplished 
daughter of Dr. R. B. McCleary, of Monmouth, and 
has two interesting children — Don and Mac. He 
was a delegate to the American Health Society that 
met in Washington, Dec. 8, 1875. 





[heodore F. BuUman is a farmer in tlie 
township of Kelly. He is a native citizen 
i^jf^^^ of tlie State of Illinois, where his father set- 
'^^y* tied in 1830. Joshua D. Bullman, his father, 
was born in Somerset Co., N. J., Feb 21, 1806, 
and was a resident in the county where he first 
saw the light cf day until the fall of 1829. He then 
went to Indiana and stopped one season in Fayette 
Co. He was accompanied there by two sisters and a 
brother-in law. They started from their home in New 
Jersey with covered wagons and traversed the entire 
distance across the intervening country. In the fall 
of 1830 Mr. Bullman left his relatives in Indiana to 
seek a home in the Prairie State. He set out alone, 
on horseback, and came to Marshall County. He 
made a claim in what is now Hopewell Township, in 
that county, and returned to Indiana to pass the win- 
ter. In the spring following he set forth a second 
time, with the same party with whom he left the 
State of his nativity and came to Marshall County. 
They built a log house near Lacon, two miles from 
the Illinois River, on the east side, in which they 
passed a year together. Then each of the two men 
of the party erected his house on his own property. 
When the Black Hawk War engaged the attention of 



^n 



all there was of the Western country, Mr. Bullman 
volunteered and was in the military service until the 
declaration of peace. He received as rerompense 
from the Governnent a warrant for 160 acres of land, 
a barrel of flour and other supplies. After returning 
to a life of peace and safety from Indian invasion, 
Mr. Bullman set himself to work in earnest to im- 
prove a farm. He is still the owner of the land he 
received from the Government, and also of an addi- 
tional amount, which has increased his possessions 
to 400 acres. He has also assisted all his children 
to obtain good farms. His homestead is supplied 
with good and suitable farm buildings. He is in his 
80th year. 

In the year in which he left New Jersey he was 
married to Catherine F. Hall, of the same county 
where he was himself born. Of their six children, 
five are still living. Hetty M. is married to S. R. 
Lane, of Marshall Co., 111. ; Theodore F. and Mor- 
timer C. are living on the homestead, in Marshall 
County; Clementine is the widow of Hiram Smith 
and lives in Marshall County; Theresa also lives 
with her father. 

Mr. Bullman of this sketch passed the years of his - 
youth and boyhood in his native county. He was 
born in Marshall Co., 111., Dec. 9, 1836. He was 
brought up a farmer, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools and in the high school at Lacon. He 
was married in Warren County, Feb. 3, 1863, to Sa- 
rah J. Miles. She was born in Kelly Township and 
is the daughter of John and Sarah (Froman) Miles, 
of whom a sketch is given elsewhere, and also of her 
brother, H. C. Miles, of Cold Brook Township. Mrs. 
Bullman has been carefully educated and is a grad- 
uate of Lombard University, at Galesburg. For some 
years she operated as a teacher in the schools of 
Knox, Marshall and Warren Counties. At the time 
of his marriage, Mr. Bullman located on a farm in 
the township of Hopewell, which was given him by 
his father. He and his wife were its occupants six 
years, and in 1875 they came to the Miles homestead, 
which he now owns and occupies. The farm con- 
tains 283 acres in advanced cultivation. Jushua 
J. is the name of the only child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bullman. The father is a member of the Presbyte- 
rian Church, the mother adlieres to the belief of the 
Universalists. When the senior Bullman settled in 
Marshall County he was accustomed to haul his 




JVJ 



his 

4^ 



-d 



508 



WARREN COUNTY. 




L 



'■ crops to Chicago with teams of oxen and sometimes 
1 he sold his wheat for 30 cents a bushel. He assisted 
y in raising the first mill in the county. 



»«e— - 

l®_J|{| oyal Ranney, of the township of Sumner, 
is a pioneer of the town and county, of 
1848. He is located on section 6, and is 
the proprietor of a fine farm, containing 320 
acres. His wife had received from her father 
80 acres of land on section 4, in this town- 
ship, whicli was at first the motive of their removal 
to the county. But it was not in tillage, and Mr. 
Ranney found the needs of his family too pressing 
for him to devote his time to its improvement at that 
time, and he rented the land for four years, until he 
had a chance to become a little more independent. 
In 1852 he bought a part of the farm on section 6, on 
which he lias since lived and which had at the date 
of purchase a small frame house on it and a few 
acres plowed and fenced. Four years later the struc- 
ture which until then had served the wants of the 
household was burned, with nearly all its contents. 
The good and substantial farm residence which has 
replaced it was the result of the loss, and the farm is 
also now supplied with an excellent frame barn, with 
a stone basement. The remainder of the buildings 
on the place do credit to the good sense and man- 
agement of the owner. 

Mr. Ranney was born in Hartwick, Otsego Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 10, 1810, and lie is the son of Jeremiah 
and Susan (Beach) Ranney. They were natives of 
Litchfield, Conn., and in 1809 removed from iheland 
of wooden nutmegs to Otsego Co., N. Y. They were 
pioneers there, and the father settled on a tract of 
unimproved land, on which he remamed until 1818, 
when he returned to Connecticut with his wife. Her 
decease occurred soon after, and he married again. 
In 1823 he made another trial of living in Otsego 
County, and remained there until 1831. In that 
year he sold the property in the State of New York 
and with his wife and five children started for what 
was then the " far West." They went to Olean, in 
the Empire State, with their own team, and there 
took passage on a species of river craft called a flat- 
boat, and went down the Allegheny River to Pitts- 



burgh, where they passed to the Ohio River, and 
thence to the Mississippi River. They located in 
Cape Girardeau Co., Mo., and made their home 
there until the death of the father, in 1855. 

Mr. Ranney went to Connecticut with his father 
and mother when he was six years old. When his 
mother died he became the charge of his grandpar- 
ents, in Litchfield, Conn., and his home was with 
them until he was 17. He then joined his father in 
the State of New York and accompanied him in the 
changes afterward made in the location of the fam- 
ily. He lived in their family until he established 
his own domestic affairs. 

He was married in October, 1839, to Betsey M. 
Gates. She was horn in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Feb. 9, 
1816, and was the daughter of Joseph and Polly 
(VanVelzer) Gates. In 1827 her parents removed 
to Illinois and located in Madison County. Her fa- 
ther was a physician and was a welcome accession 
to the pioneer element of that section, as he was 
skillful in his business and effective in his profess- 
ional capacity. He remained in the same place as 
long as he lived and accumulated quite a compe- 
tency. The family of Mrs. Ranney removed from 
Ciiyuga County to Buffalo via the Erie Canal. The 
journey thence was made to Erie, Pa., by the Lake 
of the same name. At Erie, Dr. Gates built a flat- 
boat and the party proceeded thence, by way of Beef 
Creek, where they connected with the Allegheny 
River. Their route thence to the Missouri River 
was the common one of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers. 

The grandfather of Mrs. Ranney, on the mother's 
side, was William VanVelzer, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania. He was of German origin. The grandfa- 
tlier on the father's side was Joshua Gates, a native 
of Massachusetts. His parents were of English or- 
igin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ranney settled, after their marriage, 
in Cai e Girardeau County, and the husband man- 
aged rented land for nine years. In 1848, as has 
been stated, they removed to Warren County. The 
family circle was materially increased by the addi- 
tion of nine children. Susan A. was born Oct. 4, 
1840; she married William E. Smith, of Henderson 
County. Nathan C. was born July 9, 1842, and is a 
resident of the same township where his father re- 
sides; he enlisted in the 109th 111. Vol. Inf., and 
served two years and was honorably discharged. He 



1 ! 



W^ 



■t T * 



> 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



j_ T » 



S" 



married Emma Wealing. Stephen H. was born July 
2, 1844; he died two days after birth. Mary E., 
was born Aug. 28, 1846; she married Joseph Gates 
and lives in Wisconsin. Jeremiah was born Aug. 28, 
1848, and lives in Henderson County; he married 
Clara Thompson. Royal F. was born in December, 
1850, and died on the 30th day of the same montli. 
Joseph was born Nov. 29, 1851, and died Dec. 30, 
1855. Royal G. was born Sept. i, 1854. 

Mr. Ranney is a Republican in his political views 
and relations. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Church. 

The Ranney family are of English origin, coming 
to this country about the year 1750. They were quite 
prominent during the Revolutionary War, three of 
the family taking part. One was killed at the storm- 
ing of Stony Point, under the command of General 
Wayne. (See history of the revolution). Stephen 
Ranney was made Colonel of the militia after the 
Revolutionary War. At the breaking out of the war 
of 181 2 he was commissioned General. He also had 
a son, Johnson Ranney, who took part in the same 
war. 

Mr. Ranney 's son, R. G. Ranney, is an extensive 
dealer in fine stock. He has the finest herd of Here- 
ford Cattle in the several surrounding counties. It 
consists of over 80 head of thoroughbreds and grades. 
His bull, Favorite, at the head of his herd. No. 
6,952 English Herd Book; 12,507, vol. 4, American 
Herd Book, was imported by George Morgan, in the 
year 1882, from Herefordshire, England, and to-day 
is considered one of the finest animals in this coun- 
try. 



-HQ- 



-e^ 



eorge G. MoCosh, the editor of the Even- 
ing Gazette came to Monmouth in 1872, 
"*" after serving an enlistment of about four 
years in the volunteer service and in the 
United States army. From the date of his 
honorable discharge from the army until the 
time of his arriv..l in Monmouth, he worked at the 
printer's case in the offices of several prominent 
journals, including the Galveston (Texas) Daily 
News. His first employment in Monmouth was in 
the capacity of a journeyman printer, the greater 



nAj 




part of the next three years being passed in one of 
the printing offices of Monmouth. 

The Roseville Gazette^ a weekly paper, was 
founded by Mr. McCosh May 24, 1876, and pub- 
lished without interruption until about a year from 
that date, when it was changed to the Monmouth 
Gazette, also a weekly. For four or five months in the 
fall of 1880 there was published in connection there- 
with a daily, which at the time of its suspension con- 
tained the statement that it would be resumed at an 
early date. The fulfillment of this announcement 
was accomplished Jan. 23, 1883, the date of the first 
issue of the Evening Gazette, the Monmouth Gazette 
being continued as a weekly. 

The success of the new daily was immediate and 
decided, and its prosperity has been uninterrupted. 
Considering its age and location, its career has been 
phenomenal. Its excellent reputation, large circula- 
tion and prosperous condition in every respect, are 
results that have been attained through the vigor, 
perseverance, sound judgment and fixed purpose of. 
its founder. The Evening Gazette has been from 
the start an independent journal. The best verdict 
regarding the propriety of its course is the general' 
confidence of the people which it has continually 
enjoyed and which is to be won only by frankness 
and honesty. In the short period of three years, its 
circulation rose to between 10,000 and 12,000 a 
week, its influenceincreasing with its circulation. Mr. 
McCosh has directed its course without once losing 
sight of the object to be attained, in which enter- 
prise he has been seconded at every move by the 
people of Warren and neighboring counties, and he 
is able to furnish the readers of the Evening Gazette 
as good a daily as is published in any city of less 
than 25,000 population in the United States. In 
the work of building up the Evening Gazette, Mr. 
McCosh has been ably assisted by his associate 
editor, Mr. Cyrus J. Wood, formerly of the Rochester 
(N. Y.) Herald, who removed to Monmouth in the 
autumn of 1883. 

Mr. McCosh was born in Pittsburg, Pa., April i, 
1846, and was seventh in order of birth of a family 
of six sons and three daughters, the children of 
Robert and Margaret (Armstrong) McCosh. The 
McCosh family is of Scotch descent. George Mc- 
Cosh entered the printing office of W. S. Haven, at 
Pittsburg, as an apprentice, in 1859, and served 
while there under the direction of Mr. George Nor- 



V 



A 



JU 



5»* 



WARREN COUNTY. 



ris, Sr., to whos fatherly oversight and kind advice 
he frequently refers in terms of gratitude. 

Religiously, Mr. McCosh was reared a United 
Presbyterian, of which Church his mother, at the 
advanced age of 76 years, is a devout member, in 
the city of Burlington, Iowa. Mr. McCosh's father 
was a carpenter of limited means, strictly honorable 
and upright in all his dealings, and he taught his 
children like principles of conduct. He died at Pitts- 
burgh in 1S63, bequeathing to his children the rich 
legacy of an unsullied name. His son George, 
received only a meagre school education, the ad- 
vantages of which have of necessity been supple- 
mented by close study at the printer's case and in 
the office. 

George McCosh was married April 14, 1875, to 
the daughter of Deputy-Sheriff C. Coates, Miss Cora 
Coates, by whom he has two children — Nettie Hard- 
ing and Harry Thomson McCosh. 

Mr. McCosh is not only one of the leading journ- 
alists of the State, but is one of Warren County's 
most enterprising and valuable citizens. He is an 
earnest and fearless advocate of what he feels is 
right, and his able efforts, both through the columns 
of his paper and personally, are faithfully devoted 
to upbuilding his city and the prosperity of Warren 
County. As a prominent representative, both of his 
profession and of the business element of this county, 
the publishers take pleasure in presenting the por- 
trait of Mr. McCosh in this Album. It is engraved 
from a photograph recently taken. 



••H'44^-^>-^ 




, illiam A. Allen has been from childbood 
a resident of the township of Sumner, in 
Watren County. He came here with his 
parents in 1839, and was then nine years of 
jge. He was born in Preljle Co , Oliio, Feb. 
22, 1830. Andrew Allen, his father, was a 
native of South Carolina and was born in 1801. He 
was of Scotch-Irish descent, both his |)arents being 
the children of parents of that race of people. Their 
respective families located in South Carolina, where 
tliey were married. They were dissatisfied in a com- 
munity where slave-holding was i)revalent, and they 
removed to Ohio early in the 19th century. Their 



son Andrew was then very young. The family were 
among the earliest of the permanent settlers in 
Preble County. The grandsire of Mr. Allen, of this 
sketch, was a soldier in the war of 181 2, and died in 
Monroe County, Ind. Andrew Allen, his son, was 
reared to maniiood in Ohio, and married Sarali Giles. 
She was also a native of the State of South Carolina. 
After their marriage they located in Preble County, 
and were there resident until 1832. In that year 
they emigrated to Indiana. They located in Clinton 
County, where they were pioneers. Mr. Allen bought 
Government land, which was covered with heavy 
timber, built a hewed-log house and began the work 
of clearing a farm. He was convinced tliat there 
were better opportunities farther West, and, accord- 
ingly, in 1839, started with his wife and five children 
for Illinois. The party had one wagon and three 
horses and they traveled after the gypsy fashion, 
which was then the prevalent method. They halted 
on the Sabbath and held religious services. A jour- 
ney of four weeks brought them to \Varren County. 
Mr. Allen bought the northeast quarter of section 10, 
township 12, range 3, which is now named Sumner 
Township. The place was in a state, of nature, and 
the new proprietor erected a log house and com- 
menced the work of improving the land. A good 
frame house replaced the primitive cabin of the pio- 
neer, and the whole farm was transformed into a de- 
sirable and valuable homestead, and such was its 
office until the death of the wife and mother, when 
Mr. Allen sold the place and went to live with his 
daughter, Mrs. Mary S. Rogers. His wife died in 
August, 1857, and his demise occurred Feb. 7, 1881. 
Following is the record of their cliildren : John H. 
lives in Monmouth; William A. is the second child ; 
Margaret C. is the wife of Marion Jamison, of Fur- 
ness Co., Neb. ; Nancy A. and Robert B. are de- 
ceased ; Mary S. married Nicholas Rogers, of Sum- 
ner Township. 

Mr. Allen, of this sketch, was nine years of age 
when his parents removed to Illinois. He passed 
the years of his minority in the manner common to 
the sons of pioneer farmers and made his home witii 
his parents until his marriage, when he located on 
section 4, of Sumner Townsiiii). 

Eliza J. Stewart became the wife of William A. 
Allen April 6,1852. She was born in Washington 
Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Robert C. and Mary 
A. (Kirk) Stewart. Five of their children are still 



*t 



'V 



-hU: 



:^^4^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



S13 



living. Florence E. is married to James C. Robb, 
of Mercer County ; Mary is the wife of Kenneth 
Whitman, a resident of Keithsburg ; Robert lives in 
Sumner Township; he married Mary R. Clioat, and 
they have one child ; Elizabeth Y. and William Linas 
are the youngest two. Jennie, the fourih child in 
order of birth, was removed by death at the age of 
two years. Emma was the last born and died at the 
age of two years. The father and mother and all the 
children, with the exception of the youngest, are 
members of the United Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Allen entered the military service of his coun- 
try during the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in 
September, 1862, in Co. I, 50th 111. Vol. Inf , and ac- 
companied the regiment to Missouri. He was in the 
battle of Fort Djnelson. He was in the service a 
year and was discharged on account of disability to 
do military duty, in September, 1863. He has never 
recovered the former vigor and strength which was 
once liis best possession. 

The parents of Mrs. Allen were of Scotch-Irish or- 
igin, the grandparents coming to this country when 
quite young and settling in Washington Co., Pa. 




€^ 



ohn A. Miller is a farmer and breeder of 

^ stock in Kelly Township, and is located on 

section i. He is a native citizen of the 

township of which he is an important business 
jL factor and in which he was born Aug. i, 1842. 

Christian Miller, his father, was born in East 
Tennessee, Aug. 31, 1807, and removed with his 
parents to Indiana when he was in his youth. His 
father, George Miller, bought a quantity of land sit- 
uated about three miles from Crawfordsville, where 
he cleared a farm and lived until 1832. In that 
year he removed to Illinois and was the pioneer set- 
tler at Sugar Grove in Mercer County. Millersburg, 
which bears the family name, was named for the 
first settler in that part of Mercer County. In 1850, 
George Miller again yielded to the inspiration of the 
pioneer spirit which controlled him throughout his 
life, and turned his face toward the setting sun. He 
crossed the plains- to the Pacific Coast and was a 
pioneer in the valley of the Willamette in that ter- 



ritory. He lived there a few years and went into 
the interior of Oregon, where he remained until his 
death, at the age of 96. He was a nirarod of more 
than ordinary pretensions, and killed deer with his 
rifle after he was a nonogenarian. Abraham Miller, 
one of his sons, now 90 years of age, was the first 
Clerk of Mercer County. 

Christian Miller passed the major portion of his 
boyhood and youth in Indiana. He was married 
there Sept. 6, 1833, to Mary Brown. He came to 
Illinois in 1832, and located for a short time at Hen- 
derson's Grove, in Knox County; afterwards he re- 
inoved to Edwards' River in Mercer County, where 
he continued to reside until 1839. The removal of 
his family to Warren County was then efifected, and 
he made a settlement on section i, Kelly Township, 
where he erected a log house and occupied the 
pioneer cabin while he put his land in shape for 
profitable cultivation. He afterwards built a good 
frame house, which was his home as long as he lived. 
He died July 28, 1869. Five of the children born' 
to him and his wife are still living: Jane is the wife 
of Leonard W. Edelman, who resides in the town- 
ship of North Hendersou, Mercer County, and of 
whoin a sketch is given on another page; Samuel 
Miller lives at Alexis; George is a resident of Atchi- 
son, Kan. ; John A. is the manager of the home-^ 
stead; B. Frank lives in Alexis. Mrs. Miller died 
in 1856. She was born in Ohio, Sept. 6, 1812. Af- 
ter the death of his first wife, the father married 
Mrs. Sarah Dean, who was a native of Indiana and 
is now living in Page Co., Iowa Samuel and Jane 
Brown, the maternal grandparents of Mr. Miller of 
this sketch, were pioneers of Knox County. 

John A. Miller passed the entire period of his 
youth in the township where he was born. He was 
reared on the family homestead ar.d received his 
education in the common schools. He was among 
the first to enroll himself in the military service in 
the first year of the Rebellion, and enlisted Aug. 6, 
1861, in Co. A, io2d 111. Vol. Inf The command 
joined the army in Kentucky and also went into 
Tennessee. Feb. 18, 1862, Mr. Miller was dis- 
charged on account of inabtlity to perform military 
duty. He returned to his home and resumed his 
former vocation of farmer on the homestead, of which 
he has since been the continuous occupant, with the 
exception of a single year passed at Galesburg, 
where he was for that time variously occupied. He 



i^ 



•JKl 




^ 



S«4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



is now owner of the homestead and also the owner 
of 80 acres formerly includt-d in the farm known as 
the Allen Brown estate in the township of North 
Henderson, Mercer County. 

The marriage of Mr. Miller to Mary, daughter of 
Harvey and Mary (Lofton) Gregg, of Knox County, 
took place Sept. 29, 1869. Mabel, their only child, 
was born May 11, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have 
had four children ; the three first-born died within 
one year. Maud was eight years old at the time of 
her decease; Ethel died at 18 months; an infant 
died unnamed. 

Mr. Miller is an adherent of the Democratic party. 




^iOn Calvin M. Rodgers. In presenting 
this biograpliical notice of tlie career of 
one of the leading men of Warren County, 
id and a gentleman who is tlioroughly representa- 
tive of its progressive elements, we deem it our 
duty to first briefly advert to the life-story of 
those from whom he draws his origin. 

Rev. John Rodgers, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Scotland, aliout the year r735. 

When about 35 years old he emigrated to this 
country with his wife and settled in Pennsylvania. 
Soon after his arrival in the country of his adoption 
his wife died, and lie was re-married to Isabel Ire- 
land, a lady of Irish origin. One child was the 
offspring of the first union, a boy, Thomas. His sec- 
ond wife bore to him a large family, seven in number, 
namely : John, Aleri, Aniel, William, Alexander, 
Samuel, Margaret and Irene. 

Aleri, the third son of John Rodgers, was the 
father of the subject of this notice, and was born in 
Rockbridge Co., Va.,in 1785, whence his father had 
removed from Pennsylvania a few years previously. 
He grew to manhood at home, and after his marriage 
still remained under the parental roof-tree, and was 
thenceforth never separated from his parents, who 
passed the declining years of their lives under his 
protection. In his will, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, who was a man of some pretensions to scholar- 
ly attainments, bequeathed his library, which was 
considered in those days one of the best in Virginia, 



tjr 



la: 



and consisted largely of classical works, to Washing- 
ton and Lee Colleges, of Virginia. Some of his books 
of which he made special bequests are still treas- 
ured by his descendants. 

The father of our subject married Mary Davidson, 
a native of Rockbridge County, and the daughter of 
John and Mary Davidson, people of Scotch-Irish 
descent. Four children were born to them in Vir- 
ginia, John, William, Andrew and Alexander. 

During the year 18 14, Aleri, witli the rank of First 
Lieutenant, together with Aniel and one other broth- 
er, entered the service of their country, and remained 
until the close of the war. 

In the year 1822, the father of our subject, with 
his family, emigrated to the West, settling in Monroe 
Co., Mo. The journey was performed overland in 
their own conveyance, and, passing through the 
States of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, 
they reached St. Louis, at that remote period but a 
small village, finally arriving at their destination af- 
ter a long and tedious journey of three months. The 
father of tlie family settled with his little flock on a 
half section of land near Florida, Monroe Co., which i 
had previously been entered by Col. Benton, of St. 
Louis. He soon increased his domain to 600 acres, 
but with the many disadvantages attendant upon 
wresting a living from the soil in that very early day, 
he became dissatisfied with his location and deter- 
mined to seek a new one. His family had in the 
meantime been increased by six children, who were, 
Mary, Joseph, Phcebe, Isabel, Samuel and Calvin 
M. In the year 1836, we accordingly find him set- 
tled in Hale Township, Warren County. Here he 
had purchased a tract of 400 acres, upon which he 
erected a home, where the remaining years of his 
life were passed, his death occurring in December, 
1863. The mother of our subject survived until the 
year 1880. 

In this connection it is proper to say that to Aleri 
Rogers, along with his brother Andrew, especial 
honor and credit is due for having introduced the 
first reaping machine brought West of the AUeghe- 
nies. It was of tlie McCormick pattern, and was 
shipped from Lyncliburg, Va., j'ia Richmond, New 
Orleans and up the Mississippi to Oquawka, 111., and 
thence by wagon to the old Rogers homestead in 
Hale Township. The day of its trial was a memor- 
able one in the annals of the community, as well as 



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— H^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



SIS 



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of agriculture in the entire West, and its first work- 
ings were voted a grand success. 

Hon. Calvin M. Rodgers. the subject of this sketch, 
was born on the 15th of February, 1835, in Monroe 
Co., Mo. He remained under the parental roof-tree 
until he had attained his majority, when he was mar- 
ried. After this event he took charge of the 
homestead, and also entered into the active man- 
agement of liis father's affairs. The early days of 
Mr. Rodgers were passed much as those of the or- 
dinary farm boy of the period, working hard during 
the busy season of the summer, and acquiring such 
limited educational facilities as the district school af- 
forded, during the dull winter months. During the 
winter months of 1853 and 1854 he attended Knox 
College. 

He was married to Miss Eliza A. Paine, Nov. 27, 
1858. She is the daughter of Charles and Parthe- 
nia (Mason) Paine, her mother being a near relative 
of ex-President Garfield's wife. To the parents of 

I Mrs. Rodgers were born six children : Amanda mar- 
ried Robert Gibson, and is living at Monmouth ; 
their second daughter, Emily, who is the widow of 
i Nathaniel Brownlee, also resides there ; Lucretia is 
the wife of H. F. Murrell, and lives in Avon, Ful- 
ton Co., 111. ; Charles H. married Sophia Hopper, 
and removed to the far Northwest, where he is now 
settled in Kings Co., Washington Territory ; the 
second son, John E., married Miss Ann Turnbull, 
and is settled in Sumner Township, this county ; Eli- 
za, the youngest child, and the wife of the subject 
of this notice, was born in Sumner Township, Nov. 
II, 1837. 

Eight cliildren have blessed the union of Mr. 
Rodgers and wife, namely: Roniaine M., born May 
21, 1861 ; Charles H., Dec. 7, 1863; Aleri, Oct. 19, 
1865 ; William D., Oct. 11, 1867 ; Alexander, Jan. 
26, 1870; Emily I., Dec. 16, 187 i; Frederick M., June 
2, 1874, who died Aug. 11 following, and one son who 
died in infancy. 

The subject of this notice has for thirty years been 
a leading citizen of Warren County. He was elected 
to his first office in 1856, when but 21 years of age. 
He has been School Trustee of his Township almost 
continuously up to the present time. For two terms 
he has served as Commissioner of Highways, repre- 
senting Hale Township and for five years has been 
Supervisor. In 1882 he was chosen by the Repub- 



lican party as their candidate for the Legislature, 
from the 27th District, comprising Warren and Mc- 
Donough counties. Mr. Rodgers' position in this 
contest was unique. Unlike the majority of political 
aspirants, he was not a seeker for office, but submit- 
ting to the unanimous desire of his constituents he 
became a candidate. He was elected by a hand- 
some majority. He was again elected to the 34th 
General Assembly in 1884., 

Mr. Rodgers was one of the memorable 103 who 
stood by John A. Logan during the Senatorial con- 
test of that session, and was a stanch supporter of 
his candidate from the beginning until he finally re- 
ceived the necessary majority. 

The subject of this sketch claims that his success 
in life may be credited to a kind Providence, good 
parents, a discriminating public and clever friends, 
along with some persistent effort of his own. 



-f3= 



on Isaac L. Christie, retired farmer and a 
resident of Monmouth, is a native of Jef- 
ferson Co., Ind., where he was born Dec. 
II, 1825. His father, James Christie, was a 
Virginian, and served his country valiantly dur- 
ing the war of 1812. His great ancestor was 
James Christie, who came to America from Ireland, 
and settled in Lancaster, Lnncaster Co., Pa., in the 
early part of the i8th century. Like go per cent, 
of his countrymen, his dislike for the British admit- 
ted of no discussion when it came to the question of 
loyalty to the crown or to the colonies. But when 
the great struggle came, that struggle which was to 
mark the beginning of a new era, the elder Christie 
had grown too old to participate, and to his only child, 
named for himself, he said "Go," and the son, James 
Christie, went forth, and from the beginning to the 
ending of the Revolutionary War, he fought against 
the "red coats." 

Isaac L. Christie was educated at the common 
schools of Indiana, where he was brought up to 
farming. He came to Warren County, in 1864, and 
lived upon his farm in Lenox Township up to 1877, 
when he retired from agricultural labor and took up 
his abode in the city of Monmouth. Since coming 
A ' , 




¥ 



^*^-^ 



5'6 



WARREN COUNTY. 



here he has sold his farm and was for a year or Iwo 
engaged in the flour and feed business. 

Before leaving Indiana he held some minor offices, 
but he was never termed a politician. In 1874, he 
was elected as an Independent to represent Warren 
and McDonough counties in the Illinois Legislature, 
being nominated at Bushnell without even his knowl- 
edge or consent. During the Legislature of 1875- 
76, the Independents held the balance of power in 
that body, and as Mr. Christie was one of the lead- 
ers of that delegation it may be presumed that the 
two old parties found occasion to wish he had re- 
mained on tliefarm. Formerly he was a Republican, 
but in 1878 he identified iiimself with the Inde- 
pendents, and has since voted and worked as best 
suited his fancy. 

The engraving upon a heavy silver-headed cane in 
Mr. Christie's possession tells the following history, 
and is well worthy mentioning in this connection. 
The John Hanks mentioned was a relative of Mr. 
Lincoln : 

"JOHN HANKS" 

to 

L L. ( 'hristie. 

Cane nuult- l>v .John ll;u]ks anil Gov. Oglesb}-. 

lS(iO. 

from Kail Split bv A. IJnidhi. in 

1836." 

Mr. Christie was married at Madison, Indiana, 
May 20, 1852, to Miss Louisa Wilson, and has iiad 
born to him six children: George P. ..connected with 
the United States army as a printer; Sarah Anto- 
nette; Ann Elizabeth ; Fannie, born Dec. 12, 1869, 
died Dec, 1878; Clara Louisa, born June 25, 1875, 
died Dec, 1878; and Mary Emma, who was the sec- 
ond child in order of birth, was buried in July, 1857, 
less than one year old. 



T 




i.,harles T. Page is senior member of the 
firm of Page & Pinkerton, dealers in hard- 
ware, stoves and furniture, and manufac- 
turers and jobbers of tinware, at Monmouth 
himself and partner being the successors to a 
business established by Chancy Hardin in 
the early history of Monmouth. Mr. Hardin sold 
out to M. C. Churchill, who sold the business to Mr. 



Page in 1874. Mr. Pinkerton came into the firm in 
1876, at which time the trade was simply in hard- 
ware and stoves. In 1879 they added furniture and 
at this writing their business in that line is the larg- 
est in the city. 

Mr. Page was born at Hillsdale, Mich., April 18, 
1849. His parents. Rev. William and Frances (Du- 
rand) Page, natives of Connecticut, were married in 
York Stale, removed to Michigan and subsequently 
to Rockford, 111., where the senior Mr. Page died, in 
1856, His widow resides at this writing (October, 
1885), with her eldest son at Ft. Wayne, Ind. 

Charles T. Page was educated at Rockford, and, 
when about 19 years of age, was employed by 
the Winnebago National Bark, at that place, as 
bookkeeper. He remained there four years and went 
to Chicago as assistant cashier of the Home National 
Bank, a position he filled two years, coming thence 
to Monmouth. 

He married at Ale.xis, this State, Sept. 18, 1876, 
Miss Bertha Alexander, daughter of John E. Alex- 
ander, and the two children born of this union are 
named respectively Mary Florence and Edna. Mr. 
and Mrs. Page are members of the Presbyterian -<| 
Church. 



— «i- 



/ 




illiam St. Clair Matson is a farmer on 
section 2, of Sumner Township, and came 
^_„ to Warren County in 1865. He is a na- 

>^> tive of the State of Maryland and was born 
in Fredericktown, Aug, 31, 1S23. His par- 
ents, George and Jane (Barr) Matson, came 
West when he was but two years old and located in 
Ohio. They were early settlers of Muskingum 
County and were both of English descent. The 
mother died when William was 12 years old and he 
afterwards resided with a neighbor named Robert 
Linn, who entered into an agreement to clothe, board 
and send him to school. The opfwrtunities he had 
for the latter were of practically no account and af- 
ter five years he terminated the relations he held 
with Mr. Linn. During the chief portion of the suc- 
ceeding year he attended school. After that, until 
he was 20, he was variously employed, and he then 
engaged with a merchant tailor, of Bridgeville, Ohio, 



■A — 



^ 



^ __L 



WARREN COUNTY. 



JU 



S17 



and Mr. Matson remained with him 18 months. 
When he had acquired a sufficient knowledge of the 
business to warrant making a venture he went to 
Chandlersville, where he opened a shop in partner- 
ship with another man. Their joint operations con- 
tinued 18 months, and Mr. Matson afterward con- 
tinued alone. After a time he became interested in 
the business of buying and shipping horses to East- 
ern markets, and on one occasion, when he accom- 
panied his property in horse flesh to the East, he 
purchased a stock of goods common to the estab- 
lishment of a gentlemen's furnishing store, and on 
his return increased the facilities for his business. In 
1850 he removed to Cumberland, in Guernsey Co., 
where he opened traffic in the same line. From tliat 
time forward, as long as he stayed in that place, he 
continued to go East with horses twice a year and at 
the same time attended to his semi-yearly purchase 
of goods for his store. Four years later he brought 
his affairs in Cumberland to a close and turned to 
Muskingum County. He bought a farm in Salt 
Creek Township, in that county, and combined the 
business of trading in horses with that of the pursuit 
^ of agriculture. He operated in those vocations until 
the year in which he removed to Warren County. 

On arrival in the township where he cast his lot for 
a permaneacy he bought 150 acres of land, of which 
he has since been the owner. The place is at pres- 
ent in as good condition for profit as any in the 
county of similar dimensions, and is fitted with all 
necessary and suitable farm buildings. He lias since 
become by purchase the owner of the property known 
as the Andrews farm, which he purchased in 1881, 
and which is situated on section 3. 

In 1847 Mr. Matson, in company with his wife, 
Miss Nina L. Chandler before her marriage to him, 
set up their domestic establishment, which still re- 
mains intact. Mrs. Matson was the daughter of 
Zacharias and Fannie (Bingham) Chandler, who were 
natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respective- 
ly. Mrs. Matson's grandfather's brothers, two in 
number, were soldiers in the war of the Revolution ; 
one, Jesse Chandler, was killed at the battle of Ben- 
nington. The grandfather was a native of Vermont. 
On the Bingham side of the house Mrs. Matson is a 
lineal descendant of Miles Standish, who came over 
on the Mayflower, in 1629. Mrs. M. has a silk dress 
that her mother, her grandmother and her great- 
grandmother were inarried in. It has been in the 



family over 200 years. The family had in its pos- 
session a pewter basin that belonged to Sarah Stand- 
ish, the wife of Miles Standish. Owing to the scarc- 
ity of lead, it was brought to Ohio and melted into 
bullets. 

Mr. and Mrs. Matson have four children — Lena is 
the wife of William Robb, of Mercer County ; Arthur, 
Gertrude and Harry are the three younger who sur- 
vive. The mother was born in Salt Creek Town- 
ship, in Muskingum Co., Ohio. 



-#^ 




■^IRSEiilr eorge M. Sallee, farmer and stock raiser, 
residing on section 5, Cold Brook Town- 
's ship, is a life-long resident of that town- 
^^\ ship, having been born there March i, 1858- 
"^ Henry Sallee, father of George M., was a . 
'•- native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and came to the undeveloped West when a 
young man, with his parents, settling in Cold Brook , 
Township, where his father died some years ago. Af- 
ter that event Henry was married to Miss Minerva 
Wright, a daughter, of Jacob Wright, a farmer and _ 
old settler in Cold Brook Township, where he died 
in January, 1876. (See sketch of Mrs. Lewis B. 
Davis.) 

The mother of George M. Sallee was born in 
Monmouth, Sept. 3, 1836, and is at present residing 
with her son, the subject of this notice. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sallee, parents of George M., were married, and 
they located in Monmouth Township, where his 
father was engaged in farming and also as Collecting 
Agent for the George W.Brown Manufacturing Com- 
pany for some time. He died at his home in Cold 
Brook Township when the subject of this sketch was 
but one year old. 

George M. Sallee was the only child of his par- 
ents, Henry and Minerva Sallee, and after the death 
of his father, which occurred when he was an in- 
fant, as already stated, continued to reside with his 
mother on the old homestead. He alternated his 
labors on the farm with attendance at the common 
schools, and after he had attained a sufficient age he 
cultivated the homestead, and has continued thereon 
until the present time. His mother owns 160 acres 



lX: 



^ 



-4 



t* 



Si8 



WARREN COUNTY. 



of good land, under an advanced state of cultiva- 
tion, together with ten acres of timber, and George 
M. is the proprietor of 34 acres of timber land in 
Kelly Township. 

The homestead on which Mr. Sallee resides, and 
whicli is under his control, is one of tlie best farms 
in Cold Brook Township, and he is meeting with suc- 
cess in the vocation which he has fallowed during his 
entire life. 

Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
in politics he casts his vole with the Democratic 
party. 

The marriage of Mr. Sallee to Miss Josie Frymire, 
the accomplished daughter of William and Mary 
(Barnum) Frymire, took place March 28, 1879, a', the 
residence of the bride's parents, in MonmouthTown- 
ship. Her father, whose calling was a farmer, died 
in that township. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sal- 
lee has been blessed by the birth of three children, 
one of whom is deceased ; Myrtle I. and Lucy A. are 
the living, and Ruth died in infancy. 




*% 



.aniel W. Burt, a grain dealer at Alexis, is 
practically a native of the State of Illinois, 
having been brouglit hither by his parents 
when less than tivo years old. He was born 
\\ in (Granger, Medina Co., Ohio, May 3, 1839. 
John Burt, his father, was born in Cayuga Co., 
N. Y. The latter went in his young manhood to 
Ohio, and was a pioneer of the county where his son 
was born. He became a landholder in the heavy 
timber district of the Buckeye State, and bviilt a log 
house for his individual use, as he was still outside 
the bonds of matrimony. Soon after he had pre- 
pared a residence he was joined by his widowed 
mother and his brothers and sisters. After establish- 
ing them in comfort he returned to the State of New 
York, whence he came back to his home in the forest, 
accompaned by his bride. This is a story quickly 
related, but when one reflects that the journeyings 
were made with horses, it will be perceived that they 
were of much greater moment and consumed more 
time than would at first be suggested. The wife 
lived but eight months. In due time the husband 
• A • 



took a second wife, Miss Lucinda Hammond. She 

was the daughter of pioneers of the township of 
Bath, in Medina Co., Ohio, and was born in Tolland 
Co., Conn., whither her parents removed to Ohio. 
The senior Burt cleared a farm of 160 acres in the 
primeval forest, where he located, and also became 
extensively interested in the lumber trade. He built 
a saw mill and engaged in all the relations of the 
business in a new country. 

In 1839 he came to Illinois for the purpose of 
prospecting. He visited Knox and DeKalb coun- 
ties, and liking the appearance of the former best, 
he resolved to pitch his tent within its borders. Re- 
turning to Ohio, he lost no time in carrying his res- 
olution into effect. He sold his property there, and 
all preparations were complete, when the wife and 
mother was seized by fatal illness. She died in the 
summer of 1840, and, after all was over,the bereaved 
liusband and five motherless children set out for their 
new home. At the time of the death of Mrs. Burt, 
all of the household goods were packed and ready fop 
removal. 

The journey was made with two two-horse teams,, 
and the household camped and cooked by the way.K 
Mr. Burt bought land on the west line of the town- 
ship of Ontario, in Knox County, and his family 
lived there seven years. At the end of that time ther 
father sold the place and bouglit another tract of un- 
improved land in the same township. The entire 
acreage was prairie, and the owner iinproved a fine 
farm. 

In the spring of 1855 he went to Oneida, where 
he established himself as a grocer, and was the third 
to interest himself in a business enterprise there. 
He continued his operations there until his death, 
which transpired March 16, 1857. 

He was a pioneer by nature. His enterprise and 
abilities fitted him for a business leader, and his 
judgment of the propriety of a location was unerr- 
ing. He was prominent in offices of trust in the gift 
of his fellow-men, and acted as Supervisor, Assessor, 
Collector and Justice of the Peace. He was also 
School Director. While in Ohio he was Colonel of 
the State Militia, and officiated as Postmaster. 

Mr. Burt, of this narrative, was reared on his 
father's farm, until he attained the age of 16 years. 
He then assisted in the mercantile business of his 
sire at Oneida, until the death of the latter in 1857. 



4^ 



€ 



i 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4^ 



521 



■s^ 

^ 



After that event threw the responsibility of the fam- 
ily and estate on him and an elder brother, they 
togetlier managed the farm for a period of five years. 
After that they went to Oneida. There Mr. Burt 
bought an elevator preparatory to engaging in the 
business in which he is interested at present. He 
operated as a buyer and seller of grain at that place 
three years, and then turned his attention to farm- 
ing. 

After an experience of a year as farmer, he went 
to Windsor, in Mercer County, and again operated as 
a grain broker. He continued this seven years, and 
at the expiration of that time removed to Alexis. 
He passed a year there, occupied in the milling bus- 
iness, and went thence to Yates City, in Knox Co. 
In the spring of i88o he returned to Alexis and es- 
tablished tlie business in which he has since been 
engaged. He is the sole representative of that line 
of traffic at Alexis. 

Sarah .A. Fraser became the wife of Mr. Burt 
Nov. 15, i860. She was born Dec. 25, 1839, in New 
Haven, Conn. To them four children were born, of 
whom three are now living: Katie is married to 
Perry Anderson, of Ale.xis ; Jessie is the third child ; 
Frankie, the second child, died at the age of two 
years; Bertha is the youngest. The mother passed 
from this world, July 2, 1879. 

Mr. Burt was again married, March 17, 1882, to 
Bertha E. Leonard. She is a native of Pennsylva- 
nia. Ellen L. is the name of the sole daughter and 
child of the second marriage. 

Mr. Burt is a Republican of decided principles. 
He and Mrs. Burt are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. - 




am es Harvey Wallace, M. D., a promi- 
nent physician and surgeon, residing at 
Monmouth, and whose portrait is given on 
the opposite page, traces his ancestry back to 
1^ Scotland. Robert Wallace was driven from 
y Scotland and fled into Ireland during the per- 
secution of the Presbyterians. His son, William, 
was born in Ireland, and lived many years in the 
County Tyrone, in which place he was married, and 



*X 



while there had a son, James, born in 177 i. James 
married Mary Barfit, in Tyrone, and the eight chil- 
dren born to them were named respectively : Will- 
iam, Eliza, Benjamin, Mary Ann, James, Robert, 
John and Margaret Jane. Robert was the father of 
our subject and came with his parents from his na- 
tive country, Ireland, in the year 1810, then being 
three years of age. The Wallaces spent their first 
year in America in the city of Baltimore, removing 
thence to Juniata Co., Pa , where Robert grew to 
manhood and married Eleanor Shaver, a native of 
the Keystone State, of German extraction, tracing 
her ancestry back to an early product of the two 
very distinct races, the Scotch and the German. 

Robert Wallace, born Feb. 21, 1807, was by oc- 
cupation a farmer before retiring from active life, 
and at this writing (October, 1885) resides on a fine 
farm in Wayne Co., Ohio, where he removed in the 
year 1854. He is 78 years of age and his wife is 
74 years. They reared six sons and two daughters, 
James Harvey Wallace being the second in order of 
birth. One of the brothers, W. W. Wallace, is 
Professor of Mathematics at Westminister College, 
Pa. ; and John C. is an M. D. at Port Austin, Mich. '^ 
The other three are farmers in Wayne Co., Ohio. 

The present Dr. J. H. Wallace, who was born in 
Juniata Co., Pa., Nov. 16, 1834, spent the first 19 
years of his life upon the farm and at the common 
schools, completing his literary education at Ver- 
million Institute, Hayesville, Ohio. In 1857, he be- 
gan reading medicine at Wooster, Ohio, with Dr. T. 
H. Baker; attended lectures at Buffalo University 
(medical department) in 1861, and graduated from 
the Ohio College of Medicine, Cincinnati, in 1862. 
Directly after receiving his diploma he began prac- 
tice at Lakeville, Ohio, in partnership with a Dr. 
McKee, and at the end of 15 months removed to 
Canaan, that State, where he practiced with much 
success for about 1 1 years, in the meantime taking a 
post-graduate course at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia. He went next to Smithville, Ohio, 
where he remained till his removal to Monmouth 
in April, 1876. Here he was associated with Dr. 
S. K. Crawford about one year and has since been, 
for the greater part of the time, without a partner. 
At the present time, however. Dr. John Troutman is 
associated with him. 

After the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in 1862, the 
Doctor was there as a volunteer surgeon, and as- 



rrJ^i 



i^ 



-e-T-^ 



522 



.Y , 

WARREN COUNTY. 



=^!-4-> 



sisted with his skill in caring for the sick, wounded 
and dying, so, also, at Vicksburg, from which place 
he brought home his invalid brollier, who was a sol- 
dier in Co. H, I 20th Regt. Ohio Vol. Inf Dr. Wal- 
lace is devoted to the profession he so aptly adorns, 
and the good people of Monmouth amply attest their 
appreciation of his skill as a physician, and of his 
high merit as a citizen. 

Or. Wallace was m irried at Wooster, Ohio, Oct. 
16, 1862, to Miss Sarah J. Troutman, daughter of J. 
G. and Caroline (Frybarger) Troutman. Of their 
children, we make the following mention : George 
E., druggist at Monmouth; Charles R., born in 
November, 1865, died at the age of five years 
and five months; Franklin E., student; Carrie L., 
student; Anna May and Lewis E., at home; and 
LeRoy, born in 1875, ^^^^ '" '877- 

Both the Djctor and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian Church and active workers in various 
benevolent organizations. He is a member of the 
Independent Order of Mutual Aid, and also a 
member of the Knights of Honor, a charter mem- 
ber of the Order of the " Golden Rule," and a Di- 
rector in the Monmouth Loan and Homestead 
Association. Republican in politics, he cast his 
first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and from 
that time to the present has remained firm to his first 
convictions, but takes no active part in politics. 




i III 



\ ev. Robert Clayton Matthews, D. D., late 
Pastur of the Presbyterian Church, Mon- 
mouth, and son of the Rev. John Mat- 
thews, was born at Shepherdstown, Va., April 
I, 1K22, and died at Monmouth, Nov. 15, 
1881. He graduated with honors from Han- 
over (Va.) College in 1839; studied law, and after 
emigrating to Iowa practiced awhile at Fairfield. 
From Iowa he removed to Mississippi, and was there 
for some years engaged in teaching. 

Returning North, probably for that purpose, he 
was, on the 12th of February, 1846, married near 
Lavonia, Ind., to Miss Louisa M. Martin, who ac- 
companied him again to the South, where she died 
in January, 1849. While at the South, he became 



converted to the Christian religion, and soon after 
the death of his wife, entered the New Albany (Ind.) 
Theological Seminary, from which institution he was 
licensed to preach the following year. He preached 
his first sermon at Monmouth, Dec. 20, 1851, and in 
March, 1852, was regularly ordained and installed 
by the Presbytery ; and he held the Monmouth 
charge until the day of his death. He was the eld- 
est settled Presbyterian Pastor in Illinois when he 
died, and not one stood higher in the estimation of 
the people. He was in every particular the true, 
straightforward, consistent gentleman and most richly 
honored and adorned his profession and the cause of 
the Master. During the years of his ministry at this 
point, and they numbered nearly a third of a cen- 
tury, his reputation far outstretched the petty limits 
of a diocese, and he was several times offered in- 
ducements to accept a different charge, but he 
steadily stood by the congregation that first received 
him as their Pastor. 

At one time, the fact of his receiving from a for- 
eign Church an offer amounting to something nearly 
commensurate witli his worth as a Pastor, reached 
the ears of the late Ivory Quinby. Though not a 
member of Mr. Matthews' Church at all, Mr. Quinby 
at once proclaimed against the people tolerating 
such a step, and declared " that sooner than Dr. 
Mat' hews should leave the town, he would personally 
pay his salary for the sake of seeing him walk the 
streets; that his daily life in Monmouth had done 
more to elevate the youth and advance morality than 
all the otiier preachers of the place combined." 

Dr. Matthews was a preacher of remarkable unc- 
tion and power, and possessed the great faculty of 
winning the respect and admiration of even the un- 
godly. He was connected with Monmouth College 
from its foundation up to 1870, as a Director, and 
afterward as a Trustee. 

The new Presbyterian Church begun by him, and 
under his eye grew almost to completion, but he was 
never allowed to occupy it. He preached two elo- 
quent sermons the Sunday before his death, and in 
speaking of the anticipated removal at an early day 
from the old into the new edifice, he said, as if in- 
spired unto prophecy, " the old church and its old 
Pastor will pass away together." 

Dr. Matthews was married again to Miss Isabella 
M. Ickes, of Bloomfield, Pa., Aug. 16, 1852, and their 



¥ 



-e4r^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



%^ 



523 



children are mentioned as follows : Mary (Mrs. Rob- 
ert Woods) ; Susan H. (Mrs. William Vaughn), de- 
ceased ; Ida C. Ruth, deceased; Henry, deceased; 
Robert, deceased ; Abner, Edward and Charl'e. By 
his first wife he had two children — John W., whose 
biography appears in this work; and Betty Louisa, 
a missionary of the Presbyterian Church, at Sitka, 
Alaska. 



-^##-*- 



Llark M. Young, a general farmer, and also 
engaged in fish culture, on section y, Cold 

gy^"*^ Brook Township, was born in Medina Co , 

% Ohio, June 7, 1850. The father of Mr. 
vf Young of this sketch, Lyman H. Young, was 
( a native of Connecticut, in which State he re- 
sided until he developed into manhood. He was 
married to Emeline A. Cole in Ohio, and is at pres- 
ent residing in Cold Brook Township, where he is 
engaged in the occupation of farming. 

Clark M. Young was next to the eldest in order of 
birth of seven children, all sons. Three of them 
were born in Ohio and four in this county. Clark 
M. was only four years of age wlien liis parents came 
to this county and located on the farm on which 
they are at present residing. He continued to re- 
side on the parental homestead, assisting in the la- 
bors thereon, until he attained his majority, having 
received his education in the district schools and at 
Monmouth College. On becoming his own man, he 
began teaching in the district schools, and followed 
that vocation for about ten years. While thus en- 
gaged, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Annetta 
Wallace, to whom he was married March 27, 1877. 
She is the daughter of John and Sarah (McFarland) 
Wallace, who at present reside on a farm in Mon- 
mouth Township and rank among the respected and 
well-to-do citizens. Mrs. Young was born in Mon- 
mouth Township, Nov. 5, 1854. She received a 
good education in the public schools and resided 
under the care of her parents until her marriage with 
Mr. Young. Of their union one cliild has been born 
— Lena M., Jan. g, 1880. 

In 187s, Mr. Young, in company with his brother, 
purchased loi acres of land, six acres of which they 
afterward sold, and Mr. Young, of this notice, is at 



present the proprietor of the balance, which is im- 
proved, and also ten acres of limber. The farm on 
which he resides and which he owns is under an 
advanced state of cultivation, with good residence, 
barn, etc., and Mr. Young is meeting with success in 
his chosen vocation. 

In 1884, in addition to the cultivation of his land, 
he engaged in Pisciculture and has since con- 
tinued the same. He is raising German carp, and 
his success in his new venture at this writing seems 
to be assured. 

He and his wife are members of the Christian 
Church at Talbot Creek, of which denomination Mr. 
Young is one of the Elders. He has held the office 
of Assessor of his township, and at present is Road 
Commissioner and Scliool Trustee. In politics, he 
votes with the Republican party. 

The Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company was. 
organized in March, 1875, and to Mr. YoungJs at- 
tributed the honor of aiding in its formation. It was 
their idea that the company should embrace six town-_. ,■ 
ships only, but it finally embraced the entire county,,^ 
Upon the organization of the company, Mr. Young,. 
was made Secretary and has continued to hold that = 
office to the present time. The company consists of 
nine Directors, elected annually by those insured, 
and their policies are out for nearly a million dollars. 
Lyman H. Young is the President of the Company, 
and since its organization it has met with continued 
success. 




Hilliam McCoy, a retired farmer, stock buy- 
er and shipper, residing at Kirkwood, is a 
,, native of Oliio, having been born in the 
5> Buckeye State Dec. 10, 1836. The parents 
of Mr. McCoy, James and Mary (Creswell) 
McCoy, were natives of Pennsylvania, in which 
State the father followed the occupation of a farmer. 
The gentleman wliose name we place at the head 
of this biography, was an inmate of the parental 
household until 1859. His years prior to that date 
were passed in the common schools and in assisting 
his father on the farm. After acquiring an educa- 
tion, he continued to work on the farm summers, 
and during the winter of 1856-7 taught school. 



T 



'JKn 




S24 



WARREN COUNTY. 



In the fall of 1858 Mr. McCoy came to this State 
and taught school that winter, and the next spring 
again returning East. In 1859, he again returned 
to this State and stopped with an uncle in Henry 
County, Henry Creswell by name. He remained 
with his uncle for seven years, engaged in working 
on his farm and a part of the time in managing the 
same. In 1867, he rented a farm in Warren County, 
three miles west of Kirkwood, and for seven years 
was occupied in its cultivation, at the expiration of 
which time he purchased a farm of 240 acres in 
Henderson County, on which he resided for a time 
and then moved into the village of Kirkwood. Pre- 
vious to this, however, Mr. McCoy had purchased 
130 acres of land in this county, the date of his pur- 
chase being in the fall of 1874. He has a fine resi- 
dence and three-quarters of an acre of land where 
he is at present residing. In politics, he is inde- 
pendent. He is one of the Highway Commissioners 
and a gentleman possessed of far more than ordinary 
business ability. 

The marriage of Mr. McCoy to Miss Samantha S. 
Hutchison, a native of this Slate, took place in 1868, 
C. and to them have been born two children — Lora E. 
and Martha A. 




^r. Norwood S. Woodward, the represen- 
i |. taiive Doctor of Dental Surgery at Mon- 
ll^r "^ moi'th, was born in Armstrong Co., Pa., 
May 3, 1842. His parents, John S. C. and 
Caroline (Barclay) Woodward, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Maryland, and of Scotch and Irish 
extraction, reared seven sons and four daughters, and 
the subject of our sketch was next to the last born. 
Dr. Norwood S. Woodward is the only son living. 
His father was a merchant and stock dealer and 
while absent from home with one of his sons, in 1847, 
they were both taken ill and died suddenly, at Un- 
ionville, Pa., After a pretty thorough education, he 
began at the age of 17 years to study dentistry with 
Doctor Barcroft, at Elderton, and came to Monmouth 
in 1863. Here he at once took rankas one of the most 
skillful and successful operators in the city, and, as 
time has increased his experience in this delicate and 



useful profession, he has found no difficulty in hold- 
ing his position well, if not entirely, to the front. 

Jan. I, 1868, he was married, at Monmouth, to 
Miss Maria Crawford, native of Warren County, and 
daughter of James C. and Esther (Sloan) Crawford, 
Esq., now of Henry Co., Mo. Their two sons are 
named respectively Charles N. and Clifford C 

In politics, Dr. W. is a Democrat, in whom there is 
no guile, and that his friends, regardless of party, 
appreciate him as a citizen, is attested by the record. 
He has represented his ward in the city council four 
consecutive years and has served the city one year 
as its Treasurer. He has been several times the 
delegate of his party to State conventions, and has 
been prominently identified with the Warren County 
Central Committee for years. 

He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is an active 
member of the Fire Company, and holds an official 
position in the County Agricultural Society. 



]p^Si|{ S. Holliday, M. D., physician and sur- 



kSi.lLl? geon, at Monmouth, son of Alexander and 



j^^iy^' Nancy (Mitchell) Holliday, natives of 
Ai^) County Antrim, Ireland, was born in Lucas- 
ville, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1850. His parents were 
married in the Green Isle, in 1838, came to 
America two years later, resided five years in Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., removed thence to Lucasville, Ohio, where 
the senior Mr. Holliday died in 1855, at the age of 
46 years. The widow, and children consisting of 
seven sons (a daughter having died in infancy), re- 
mained in Ohio several years, William S. coming to 
Monmouth in 1867, where his two brothers, Mathew 
and John had preceded him, the first arriving here 
in 1861, and the latter in 1865. (John, James and 
Daniel were soldiers in the late war. The first and 
the latter were members of Co. C, Qrst Regt. Ohio 
Vol. Inf , and James enlisted in Co. F, 56th Ohio 
Vol. Inf. James and Daniel enlisted when they 
were but 13 years of age.) The balance of the family 
came in 1875. 

Tlie subject of this sketch was pretty thoroughly 
trained in the common schools of Ohio; pursued his 
studies after coming to Monmouth ; entered the 
academic department of Monmouth College and 



*r 




-H^ 



r^'-^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



525 



spent one year in the College proper; began reading 
medicine with Doctors Webster and Crawford when 
about 21 years of age, and, in 1872, entered Lo\iis- 
ville, (Ky.) Medical College, from which institution 
he graduated in February, 1874, with the degree of 
M. D., tailing two prizes, and the clinics, surgery and 
anatomy medal. He began practice in May following 
at Monmouth, and though among the very youngest 
of his profession in the place, he has long enjoyed a 
reputation tliat might be justly envied by many much 
older. 

Dr. Hoiliday was some time associated with Dr. 
Crawford, six years with Doctors Hamilton and Mar- 
shall, and since 1884 with Dr. Linn. Dr. Hoiliday 
has held the offices of Alderman, County Physician 
and Coroner, his choice for the latter office devolving 
finally upon the unusual method of "drawing straws" 
witli his opponent. It was in 1882, the opposing 
candidate was a physician in the city, and when the 
votes were counted they were found to be evenly 
divided. This led to the drawing of straws and re- 
sulted in favor of Dr. Hoiliday. 

The Doctor is a member of the State Medical 
Society, Military Tract Medical Society, and the 
American Medical Association. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Order of Modern Woodmen of America; 
a Mason of high rank ; a Democrat politically, and 
prominently identified with the Baptist Church. He 
is a member of Galesburg Commandery, No. 8, K.T., 
and has been for the last two years a member of the 
City Council, representing the First Ward. 

On April 29, 1875, the Doctor was married, at 
Monmouth, to Miss Emma Jewell, a native of War- 
ren County, daughter of Jacob Jewell, Esq., and his 
three children are named respectively, Jessie Mabel, 
Alexander Gaillard and Charles Jewell. 



i-^*^ 




imothy P. Perry, Junior, retired farmer at 
Monmouth, son of Timothy P. and Mary 
(Clark) Perry, natives of Connecticut, and 
of English descent, was born in Windham Co., 
Conn., Jan. 19, 1826. T. P. Perry, senior, 
reared three sons and five daughters, viz. : Ol- 
iver H., who lives in South Windham, Conn. ; Mary 
Ann, who married Asa Burgess, and is now deceas- 



ed ; Elizabeth L. married Joseph Lillie and now re- 
sides in Lebanon, Conn. ; Susan married Henry 
Loomis and is deceased ; Timothy P. is our subject; 
Silas C. now lives in Almakee Co., Iowa; Eunice 
married William Huntington, and she is now num- 
bered with the dead ; and one child died in infancy. 
Mr. Perry, Sr., was in the war of 1812, and related 
to Commodore Perry. 

Mr. Perry of this sketch was the second son and 
fifth child. The old gentleman was a farmer in his 
native State, where he died, in 1839, aged 48 years. 
His widow survived him until 1884, and to the 89th 
year of her age. 

The subject of this notice was brought up a farm- 
er and in youth acquired at the common schools a 
fair education. At the age of 19 years he began the 
machinist's trade at South Windham, and followed it 
about 14 years. The year 1856 brought him to 
Warren County, and he lived awhile in Tompkins 
Township, removing thence to Lenox Township, 
where he secured a fine farm, upon which he resided 
until 1878. By this time he had accumulated suffi- 
cient property to enable him to retire to a life of 
ease, and he forthwith came to Monmouth. Such is 
the compass in outline of one of Warren County's 
most solid and respected citizens. Not a soldier, not 
a statesman ; not great in the eyes of the hero and 
mammon worshiping people of the world, but as a 
factor in the substructure of a republic that makes it 
possible to be great. They subdue the forest, till the 
soil, build the homes, and around their unpreten- 
tious hearthstones kindle not only a love of home, 
but a love of country that warms and develops into 
patriotism, and in the multiplicity of its increase be- 
comes so great that the superstructure is wholly de- 
pendent upon it in times of imminent danger. When 
a nation becomes imperiled, then the common peo- 
ple are great, and the Shylocks and the money 
king and the railroad princes flee from the presence 
of those that have served as lackeys, and cry out to 
the factors of the substructure, the yeomanry, to 
arise and save the country. Thus it is, of a citizen, 
plain and unpretentious, that we write. 

Mr. Perry was married in Connecticut, May 13, 
1856, to Miss Ellen A. Armstrong, daughter of John 
and Lucinda (Tenney) Armstrong. Shs was the 
i2th in order of birth of a family of 13 children. The 
father was of Englibh descent and the mother Scotch. 
The father was born in Franklin, New London Co., 



rJV-nr 



4^ 



■ cT_L 



=?=^4-*^ 



526 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Conn , in the year 1775, and died in 1839. The 
motlier was born in tlie above place in the year 1793 
and died in South Windham, Conn., in 1876. Out of 
the family of thirteen, seven are now living and the 
balance are deceased. The names of those living 
are Wolcott, and he lives in Milford, Oakland Co., 
Mich.; Zacheus lives in Franklin, Conn. ; Jackson 
lives in the same place; Marlin lives in Petaluraa, 
Cal. ; Alma married Jonathan Hutch and resides in 
South Windham, Conn. ; Cornelia married Charles 
Smith and resides at Ellington, Conn.; Ellen is the 
wife of Mr. Perry, the subject of this sketch. Mr. 
Armstrong served in the war of 1812. They have 
one child, Kate. 

Mr. Perry is a Republican, l)ut such for " revenue 
only." He is one from principle, and asks no fat of- 
fice to preserve his loyalty. The only office he ever 
held was that of Township Assessor of Lenox Town- 
ship. 




*r 



Ifred Lewey is a settler of 1857, in the 
county of which he is still a resident. He 
is an agriculturist on section 25, Kelly 
Townshi[). He was born Aug. 9, 1826, in 
Guilford Co., N. C. John Lewey, his father, 
was a native of the same Slate and was born 
in Orange County, of German parentage. He married 
Pliebe Clap, of the same county and nativity; they 
had 12 children, all of whom lived to rear families. 
They located after their marriage in Guilford County, 
on a farm situated eight miles eastof Greensborough, 
which was their home as long as they survived. 

Mr. Lewey was reared to manhood on the home 
estate, and was educated in the subscription school, 
which was the only means of education then availa- 
ble. In the fall of 1846, he came from his native 
State to Illinois. He found a i)lace to locate in 
Montgomery County, where he operated as a farm 
assistant four years. He then returned to North 
Carolina and fulfilled a long cherished [jurpose to 
connect himself in marriage with Sarah Forbis. She 
was born in the county where her husband was 
brought up, July 20, 1829. Mr. Lewey had invested 
his earnings in land in Montgomery County, and he 
returned to it and with his bride prepared to enter 



upon life in earnest. He built a house and pro- 
ceeded with the work of improvement, breaking the 
soil and enclosing his fields with suitable fences. In 
January, 1855, his wife died, and Mr. Lewey put an 
end to housekeeping temporarily. He then went 
back to North Carolina and passed the ensuing sum- 
mer. In the autumn he returned to Montgomery 
Co., III., and was there a resident until 1857, when 
he came to Warren County as has been stated. 

In March of that year he was married to Janiza 
(Brown) McDavid. She was the widow of Jesse 
McDavid and is the daughter of James Brown, a 
pioneer of Warren County. She was bnrn in Indi- 
ana. In the fall of 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Lewey set- 
tled on the homstead farm of her father, on section 
25 of Kelly Township, which is now their property 
and which they still occupy. 

William R. and Elizabeth, the children of the first 
marriage of Mr. Lewey, are both deceased. They 
died in infancy. The children of the second mar- 
riage are two in number. Eva E. is the wife of 
George Gregg, of Knox County. Florence L. is the 
younger. Mr. Lewey is a Republican in political 
belief and connections. 

Mrs. Lewey had one child by her former marriage, 
named James T. McDavid, who married Ella Pugh; 
they have three children. He is a resident of Gales- 
burg. 

Mrs. Lewey was born Jan. 7, 1830. Her father 
was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of 
Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky, moved 
to Indiana and then to Illinois. They came to this 
point at an early date and were among the first set- 
tlers here. Isaac, the third son, was a soldier in the 
Mexican War; William A., the youngest brother, 
served for three years in the late war. 



-• -^< 



|i amuel Diffenbaugh, retired citizen of Mon- 
mouth, where for many years he was en- 
gaged in active business, was born in 
Lancaster Co., Pa.. March 12, 1828, and was 
the second in order of birth of a family of six 
sons and one daughter, the progeny of Chris- 
tian and Nancy (Doner) Diffenbaugh, who were also 




< 



natives of Lancaster County and descended from the 



1^ 



t. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



527 



German. The senior Mr. Dififenbaugh was a farmer, 
distiller and tanner, and brought his sons up to a 
thorough acquaintance with these various industries. 

Mr. Diffenbaugh of this notice received a fair 
English education through the common schools, and 
when about 18 years of age began clerking in a store 
at New Providence, Lancaster Co., Pa., and followed 
the same for eight years. He thea removed to York 
Furnace and there farmed, kept hotel and carried on 
a foundry, and was general manager at iron works 
and all kinds of business for about 20 years. In 
1863 he came to Monmouth and engaged in the res- 
taurant, confectionary and notions business, which 
received his attention up to the year 1881. In 1882 
he built the Diffenbaugh Block, corner of Main and 
Wet Streets, now occupied by the Monmouth Daily 
Gazette, a restaurant and the Hayden gun store. 
Mr. Diffenbaugh inherited probably ^1,500. The 
rest of his valuable property has been acquired by 
his individual efforts and industry. He is a stock- 
holder in the Monmouth National Bank and owns 
land in the West. 

Mr. Diffenbaugh was married in Lancaster Co., 
Pa., to Miss Fanny Groff, who died at Monmouth, 
June I, 1876, at the age of 37 years, leaving five 
children — Annie (Mrs. J. R. Hickman), born Feb. 
26, 1857; Robert B., born Oct. 16, 1859, died May 
3, 1861 ; Naomi (Mrs. Harry Hodgins), born March 
26, 1862 ; John D., a job printer, born Nov. 8, 1865 ; 
Harry R., student, born Oct. 14, 1869; and Lillie, 
born Sept. n, 187 i, died Nov. 3, 1878. 

Mr. Diffenbaugh has long been a consistent mem- 
ber of the United Presbyterian Church. Two of his 
brothers were in the Union Army and one of them 
was killed at Gettysburg. 




\ sto 



oseph B. Malony, manufacturer of har- 
r ness and dealer in harness and saddlery 
goods at Roseville, is a son of James and 
Margaret (Cairnes) Malony, and was born in 
Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 16, 1818. His 
parents were natives of Ireland and came to 
America about the year 18 10, locating in the Key- 
stone State where the father was engaged as contrac- 



lAj 



tor for stone work. In 1824 he removed into Ohio 
and there engaged in farming, also following his 
trade at stone work, and laid the foundation for the 
first flouring mill on the Maumee River. He made 
the Buckeye State his permanent home and died 
there about 1826-7, h's wife's demise occurring in 
1846. 

Joseph B., the gentleman whose name stands at the 
head of this biographical notice, went to learn the 
trade of saddle-maker at the age of 16, at which he 
served an apprenticeship of three and a half years, 
and again ten months under the instruction of 
another firm. He followed the same in the States of 
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and finally settled down 
in Canton, Fulton County, this State, and opened a 
shop, which lie carred on for 12 years. At the ex- 
piration of that lime he removed to Vermont, same 
county, but remained only a year, when he again re- 
turned to Canton and embarked in the same busi- 
ness for four years. His next move was to Prairie 
City, McDonough Co., 111., where he engaged in 
business and remained until the year i86r. 

In the latter year the call was made for brave 
hearts and strong arms to defend the Union flag, and 
Joseph B., a very patriotic gentleman, enlisted in 
the Seventh Regt. of 111. Vol. Cav., and serv-ed two 
years and four months, having held the position of 
Sergeant Saddler, but was discharged on account of 
disability. He then returned to Prairie City and 
again embarked in business, which he continued 
until the year 1872, then coming to Roseville and in- 
teresting himself in his present enterprise, in which 
he has met with remarkable success and is doing a 
constantly increasing business. He has gotten up 
many new improvements in harness that have come 
into general use. He invented the first pad for a 
saddle, padding for a saddletree and the roller at- 
tachment to the "Sensible Combination Buckle." He 
is also the inventor of a combination halter, which is 
not only the best in use but cheap and durable. 

In 1841, one of the most important events in the 
life of Mr. Joseph B. Malony occurred, it being 
his marriage to Miss Jane Anderson, and of their 
union were born four children — Richard A., Joseph 
C, Willia.n N. and James M. Mrs. Malony's de- 
mise occurred in 1850, and Mr. M. formed a sec- 
ond matrimonial alliance with a sister of his first 
wife. Miss Catherine Anderson, and they have be- 
come the parents of five children, only four of 



V 



< T ■ 



5»8 



4-- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



whom survive, as follows: Mary E., Nathaniel L., 
Margaret J. and Emma. Mrs. Malony died in 
1872. Mr. Malony is a Greenbacker in politics. He 
is a member of the United Brethren Church at Rose- 
ville. 



eorge F. Bruner, a thrifty and well-to-do 
^^ farmer of Kelly Township, is a resident on 
«i|i0TOn.p: ggj.([Q,., ^2. Tlie family from which he is 

' >t^^ a descendant in the paternal line belongs to 
two ancestral stocks, that located in the early 
history of this country in the States of Mary- 
land and Pennsylvania. The grandfather of John 
Bruner, the father of the subject of this personal nar- 
rative, was the son of parents who emigrated from 
Maryland to Breckenridge Co., Ky., where he was 
born. (The great-grandfather of John Bruner came 
from Germany). On the maternal side the family is 
of Scotch origin. He grew up under the influence 
that prevailed in the days of Daniel Boone, and left 
a notable record as a hunter. In one year the ac- 
count of his exploits relates that he shot 300 deer. 
John Bruner was born in Breckenridge County, in 
the Blue Grass country, March 1804. He was rear- 
ed in the same county, and married Susan Prance. 
She was born near the capital of Virginia. The elder 
Bruner remained with his family in Kentucky for a 
long time and in 1846 removed to Warren County. 
When they made their journey tliey came by the 
river route, traveling on the Ohio and Mississippi to 
Oquawka, whence they came to Monmouth. Mr. 
Bruner rented land in what is now Cold Brook Town- 
ship, on which he operated a few years and then 
bought a place in the same township. He remained 
thereabout 30 years and in 1884 located in Kelly 
Township. The wife and mother was removed by 
death in 1879, her demise taking place on the old 
homestead in Cold Brook Township. Three only of 
their eight children are now living. Anzeier, now 
deceased, was married to Amon S. Gilbert, and two 
children mourn her loss. John H. resides in the na- 
tive county of ills parents, in Kentucky; he married 
Sally Frymire and has one ciiild. Frank is a resi- 
dent of Salem, Oregon ; he married Mary E. Park- 
er and has five children. Mr. Bruner of this sketch 



is the youngest of the survivors. He was born in 
Breckenridge Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1844. He was a 
child of tender years when the family came to War- 
ren County, and he has known no otiier home, as his 
acquaintance with this county began with his exist- 
ence. He t;rew uj) in Cold Brook Township and 
was educated in the common schools. He resided 1 
on the homestead, which he sold in 1863 and re- 
moved to section 4, in the same township. He was i 
the owner of his property thereuntil 1884, when he 
placed tlie farm in tlie hands of a renter and came | 
to Kelly Township. In that he owns a farm of 126 ; 
acres, which, like the farm in Cold Brook Township, \ 
is all in good agricultural condition. 

The marriageof Mr. Bruner to Miss Mary A. Clay- 
ton, took place Dec. 24, 1 895 . She was born in Warren 
Co., Ky , Oct. 29, 1845, and is the daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Pedigo) Clayton. She was the eldest 
of two children. Her mother died about 1849. Her 
father was again married to Miss Ceny Mitchell and j 
by the last marriage six children were born. Five T I 
children are now living of both marriages. Mrs. B. j 
came to this county with her parents in the fall of | j 
1855. The names of the children of G. F. Bruner ■«; 
are Harden F., born March 28, 1871; and Clara, 
born Sept. 14, r882. 

Mr. Bruner is a Democrat in his ];olitical proclivi- 
ties. Mrs. Bruner is a member of the Christian 
Church. 



-5- 



#^ 



-J- 



^^;^^:koridon D. Day, farmer, residing on sec- 
tl]1^3|^ lion 34, Berwick Township, was born in 
1*1^ Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Sept. 25, 1819, 
Ijfe and is a son of Stephen Day, born in 1785, 
yf and who died in Huron Co., Ohio, in 1825. 
The father of the subject of this sketch was 
united in marriage with Miss Annie Ransom, about 
I S08, in the State of New York. She was born in 
1790, in Vermont, and they moved to Ohio in 1821, 
where she died in i860. Of their union eight chil- 
dren were born — Lucinda, Alzina, Ransom, David 
R., Electa, Coridon, Hiram and Sarah. 

Coridon D. Day married Miss Lorena Louk, in 
January, t845, in Fulton County. She was born in 
New York in 1823, and died in 1852. By their 
union four children were born — David R., Clara A. 



■JKL 



— ^ 



i* 



*T 



WARREN COUNTY. 



531 



(twin sister of David R.), Hannah M. and Jefferson. 
The wife and mother died and Mr. Day was again 
married to Mrs. Lucinda Griffin, nee Bante. She 
was born July 23, 1839, in Indiana, and bore her 
husband seven children, namely : Mary S., Lucinda 
E., Jason, Silas and Sarah (twins), Stephen and 
Sophronia. The father of Mrs. Day, Jacob Bante, 
was born in 1802, and died in Kansas in 1880. 
He was married to Salida Wilder, in 1826. She 
was born in 1806 and is still living. Of their union 
14 children were born — David H., Lucinda, Isaac 
Jackson, Daniel Jefferson, John B., Mary J., Benoni 
S., Lurana, Sally Ann, Jacob, Jessie, Minerva, 
Amelia and Cylinda. 

Mr. Day and his family are pleasantly situated on 
his fine farm of 240 acres on section 24, Berwick 
Township, and is there actively engaged in the voca- 
tion of an agriculturist. He has a good residence 
upon his place, 40 x 40 feet in dimensions; and two 
stories in height, also a good barn, 24 x 30 feet, of 
brick. In addition to the cultivation of his land, he 
is to a considerable extent turning his attention to 
the raising of high grade Short-horn cattle and Nor- 
man horses, having of the former about 35 head. 
He also has some 25 sheep upon his place. In pol- 
itics, he is a Jacksonian Democrat. His father and 
grandfather were in the Revolutionary War, and his 
father was also a soldier in the War of 181 2. 



-13- 



-£^ 




I ilson Sheldon, deceased. The Sheldon 
family are among the pioneer settlers of 
SjjT"" Warren County. It is of English ances- 
'm^ try, and the founder of the family in this 
country settled in Dutchess County, N. Y,, 
where George Sheldon, the paternal grand- 
father of Wilson, was born, Of his offspring was 
Wilson Sheldon, the father of the present family. 
He was born in New York, Feb. 3, 1808, and died 
in the city of Monmouth, Sept. 13, 1873. He came 
to Warren Co., in 1837, and settled in Floyd Tp. 
When Wilson Sheldon came to Warren County, in 
the year stated, it was almost a wilderness; but little 
had been done in any part of the county towards its 
settlement. Here and there, however, on some 

^ '^A 



points of timber, might be seen the beginning of the 
labors of some venturesome pioneer. He finally found 
a suitable location on the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 32, in what is now Floyd Township. This he 
immediately began to improve, and ere long was 
known far and wide as one of the most prosperous 
and enterprising farmers in all that section. 

Mr. Sheldon was the pioneer cattle-feeder of War- 
ren County, embarking in this department of farming 
as early as 1840. In the early part of 1846, he took 
his eldest son, Hiram, and went to where Fairfield, 
Iowa, now stands, and bought a drove of two-year- 
old steers, at $7 per head, which they drove to their 
farm in Warren County, where they were fattened 
with others. This was the first drove of cattle ever 
brought east over the Burlington Ferry. After hav- 
ing put them in a proper condition for the market, 
he sold them to be driven across the Alleghanies to 
the Philadelphia or Baltimore market. After Chi- 
cago had become a market for stock, which was prior 
to the building of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy . 
Railroad, he drove his cattle there. His enterprise 
was again displayed on the opening of that road, for 
we find him, in company with D. C. Gale of New- , 
burg, N. Y., the first to build loading-pens and also 
the first to ship stock from Monmouth over the new 
railroad. The arrangement then constructed for, 
loading was but temporary. He and Mr. Gale con- 
tinued shipping together until the death of the latter, 
which occurred several years after their first ship- 
ment. Mr. Sheldon worked energetically and used 
all of his influence to have the Quincy division of 
the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad built 
through Berwick, but was defeated by the Bushnell 
Land Company. 

The subject of this sketch married Sarah Matte- 
son, Feb. 14, 1830. She was a native of New York, 
and the daughter of Captain Peleg Matteson, a na- 
tive of Vermont, where he was born, April i, 1778. 
Capt. Matteson married Martha Downer, Jan. 17, 
1802, the latter being born March 19, 1779. Peleg 
Matteson was a Captain in the war of 1812, and 
commanded a company at the defense of Sackett's 
Harbor. In 1838 he came with his family to Illinois 
and settled in Floyd Township, where he died, Feb. 
7, i860. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Sheldon, died 
Aug. 27, 1857. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Sheldon is the only survivor of 
the original family. She was born Feb. 26, i8ri, and 



^ 



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ir 



SS2 



WARREN COUNTY. 



JU 



resides at Monmouth, in company with her daughter, 
Mary. 

'I'here were nine children born to Wilson and Sa- 
rah Sheldon, six of whom are living. The sketches 
of Hiram and Burr will be found in another place in 
this volume. Martha married W. VViswell, and is 
the mother of three children. George married Mary 
Dolph, and they have five children. Seneca M. mar- 
ried Mary Williams, and they have one child. He was 
remarried April 6, 1885, to M. E. Balcolm. Alma 
married David Van Winkle ; they have two sons. 

It will be seen from the brief, outlined history 
of the life of Mr. Sheldon, that he was a very impor- 
tant figure in the history and settlement of Warren 
County. His enterprising spirit was felt in almost 
every undertaking that had for its tendency the de- 
velopment or progress of the county. He acquired 
considerable jiroperty, owning as much as 1,100 
acres of excellent land, which he divided among his 
children. In his religious belief, he was a Baptist, 
and politically, a Democrat. In presenting his por- 
trait in connection with this sketch, we know that it 
will be welcomed by our readers and that his mem- 
ory will be cherished as one of Warren County's most 
reputable and enier[)rising citizens. 



^^ 




hW'FiOii^-apt- George C. Rankin, Clerk of the War- 
ren County Circuit Court, and Recorder 
of Deeds, was born at Monmouth, Aug. 
29, 1850, and is the son of N. A. Rankin, 
whose biography will be found in another i)art 
of this volume. He was about 22 years of 
age when he graduated from Monmouth College, 
receiving the A. B. degree, and in due course of time 
the degree of A. M. He was the poet of his class; 
editor of the College Courier from 1870 to 1872; 
editor of the Beta Theta P. monthly during 1877-8; 
city editor of the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Daily J ri- 
bune, in 1873; and city editor of the Monmouth 
Alias from 1873 to 1880. In the meantime he held 
twice (1876-77 and 1879-80) the office of City Clerk 
of Monmouth. In June, 1880, he was appointed 
Circuit Cleik of Warren County, to fill out the unex- 
pired term of J. L. Dryden, resigned; was elected 
Circuit Clerk in November following, and re-elected 



in 1884, receiving a larger majority than any other 
candidate on the ticket. Capt. Rankin is Secretary 
of the Association of Circuit Clerks of Illinois, and 
Secretary of the Warren ('ounty Agricultural Society, 
having been elected in 1877 and unanimously re- 
elected annually ever since. 

April 29, 1 88 1, he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 
Sixth Regt. I. N. G. ; promoted to Sergeant Aug. 8, 
1881 ; elected First Lieutenant Nov. 2, 1882, and 
commissioned Captain Aug. 16, 1883. 



-^ 




BrilH. ames Galbraith, a prominent banker and 
^mi\ merchant of Warren County, located at 
Kirkwood, was born in Washington Co., 
Pa., in 1838. His parents, Robert and Jane 
(McCrea) Galbraith, were natives of Ireland 
and Pennsylvania respectively, the latter hav- 
ing been born in Washington County, where their 
marriage occurred. In 1840 the elder Galbraith of 
the family moved to Ohio, where he remained until 
1870. He was by occupation a farmer and owned 
160 acres of land in Ohio. For some years after his 
marriage, however, he was engaged in teaching. In 
1870, he moved to Johnson Co., Kan., w-here he 
purchased land and made his home until his death, 
which event occurred Dec. 2, 1882, in the 75th year 
of his age. His widow still resides on the farm, in 
company with a son and daugliter. 

At the early age of 13 years, James evinced that 
love for business life that has since characterized 
him, for at that period we find him engaged in clerk- 
ing in a dry-goods store at New Concord, Ohio. 
Here he remained five years. He had, however, 
received a liberal education, and was well fitted for 
business life. At the end of his five years' engage- 
ment, he enlisted, in 1862, in Co. E, 88th Ohio Inf., 
and did faithful service until the close of the war. 
Most of the time he acted as clerk for Regimental 
and Brigade ofiicers. He was honorably discharged 
in 1865 and returned to his home. He soon came 
West to visit a brother who had located in Kirk- 
wood, III., and who at that time was Postmaster. 
James accei)ted a position as assistant Postmaster, 
from which position he was ousted by Andy John- 



LAJ 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



S33 



son, and has since that time, 1865, been a resident 
of Kirkwood. During these years he has grown into 
prominence and influence, until he has long been 
recognized as one of the leading business men of the 
place, and, in fact, of the county. After leaving the 
postofifice, which lie did in 1866, he accepted a posi- 
tion as clerk in the lumber-yard at Kirkwood, where 
he remained until March, 1875. Afterwards he en- 
gaged with the firm of Chapin, Houlton & Davis, as 
clerk in their establisiiment. He remained in tliis 
capacity until 1883, when he and Mr. Carmichael 
bought out Mr. Davis' interest, and, with Mr. Car- 
michael, in February, 1885, bought out the interest 
of Mr. Houlton. The firm is at present known as 
Chapin, Houlton & Co., and does a general bank- 
ing and mercantile business. 

Mr. Galbraith was married in May, 1869, to Miss 
Jennie S. Speer, a native of New Concord, Ohio. 
Mamie J., who was born Feb. 3, 1879, is their only 
child. Mr. Galbraith is a Republican in his political 
belief, and, with his wife, belongs to the United 
Presbyterian Church. 





illiam Gallaugher is one of the leading 
citizens of the township of Spring Grove, 
yet he came to Warren County with no 
)IV*f^ outfit in life save his manhood's strength and 
" laudable purpose to carve out a home from 
the resources that had proved so available in 
many well-tested instances. He is of foreign birth, 
and brought from Scotland, his native land, the hardy 
endurance, perseverance and energy that has made 
his country the representative of all that is noble 
and good in the scale of humanity, notwithstanding 
her political status. The pure, bright record of the 
Scots gives to all the emigrants from her shores 
a passport to respectability and position. Mr. Gal- 
laugher was born in Ayershire, Western Scotland, 
Jan. 7, 1824. His father, Charles Gallaugher, died 
when William was but two years old, and before he 
was nine he was obliged to earn his own living. His 
mother, Janet (Good) Gallaugher, died in 1855. 
Young William, at that tender age, was placed in the 



mines where there is a variety of work that can only 
be done by small children, and he became a "pusher." 
That labor is performed by persons of under size 
because the coal-veins are so narrow in extent that 
in some localities mules or horses cannot pass 
through to do the necessary work. Consequently the 
small cars conveying the coal must be pushed over 
the "trams" by children. As soon as Mr. Gal- 
laugher was sufficiently grown he became a miner in 
the full sense of the term and wielded a " pick." He 
followed the same vocation in his native shire until 
1852. 

In .\pril, 1852, he started from Scotland for 
America. He took p.issage on " Zion's Hope," a sail 
vessel from the river Clyde and crossed the ocean, 
landing at Philadelphia. He was on the water six 
weeks and two days, and after landing at the City of 
Brotherly Love he proceeded to Alleghany Co., Md., 
to enter upon a situation as a miner. He passed 
three years in the same locality and went thence to 
Virginia. He operated as a coal miner there until 
18157, when he came to Warren County. He remained 
at that time but a few months and went to Mercer 
County, where he became a coal miner in the town- 
ship of Greene. He continued in that employ there 
until 1864, when he invested the money he had saved 
in 80 acres of land situated half a mile from Nor- 
wood. There was a vein of coal running through 
the farm, and he employed laborers to perform the 
agricultural work while he gave his attention to the 
business of developing the treasures of the mine. In 
1 87 I he sold the place and removed to the property 
he now holds. He is the owner of 280 acres of ex- 
cellent land, which is located on sections 15 and 22. 
The farm buildings are all of good style and the 
entire place is in splendid condition, with a sub- 
stantial and handsome frame residence. He has 
spjnt about 41 years of his life in making a living at 
coal-mining, but is new prepared to enjoy the fruits 
of an energetic life. 

In his political profession Mr. G. is a Republi- 
can, and during the late war was a strong Union 
man. 

Mr. Gallaugher was united in marriage with Mar- 
garet Muir, in Ayershire, Scotland, O- 1. 22, 1848, 
where she was born May i, 1825. She was 
the daughter of Michael and Janet (Montgom- 
ery) Muir. The name Muir was of the oldest 



^ 



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s 



4 



534 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4* 



in the county of Ayrshire. They have had ten 
children. Margaret married Robert Henderson and 
they settled in Ringgold, Iowa. Janet is the wife of 
Francis Hogue, who is a citizen of the same place, as 
is Charles, who married Alice Palmer, the next 
child and eldest son. Agnes is married to Stewart 
Leonard, of Monmouth. Michael married Minnie 
Thompson and is farming in Spring Grove Town- 
ship. Mary and her husband. Car Harper, live 
in Ringgold County, Iowa. Isabella, William, James 
and Anna are the children at home. Besides their 
own circumstances of comfort the parents have given 
their children a thorough training in the common 
schools and now have the satisfaction of seeing their 
children who are settled in life, in the enjoyment of 
a reasonable share of the goods of this world. 




fohn C. Blayney is a prosperous and prom- 
^ inent merchant at Alexis. He has been 
connected with the business of the place 
since 1872. He is the son of Jolin and Fannie 
(Alcorn) Blayney. He is a native of Ireland 
and was born Oct. 14, 1834, in County Tyrone. 
He was brought up to the business of a farmer in his 
native island, as his parents belonged to the agricul- 
tural class. He also attended the common schools 
while he remained there, and was but 14 when the 
family emigrated to America, in 1848. Tliey set- 
tled in Wheeling, W. Va., and there young Blayney 
pursued the same routine of life — attending the pub- 
lic schools and operating as his father's assistant. 
He also became clerk in a store, where he obtained 
familiarity with the details of business. The family 
remained in Wheeling four years. 

In 1853, tiie son came West, determined to estab- 
lish himself in a congenial and profitable business. 
He first stopped in Peoria and there operated as a 
farm assistant for a year. He then returned to 
Wheeling and remained there the same length of 
time. He revisited Illinois and was interested in 
farming until i860. In tlie fall of tliat year he went 
to Washington Co., Pa., and opened a store in West 



Alexandria. After conducting a general store there 
a year, he sold his interest and came to Mercer 
County in this State. He engaged in the purchase 
of stock for the Chicago market about the space of a 
year. At the end of that time, associated with G. 
M. Evans, he went to Norwood in Mercer County 
and embarked in trade under the style of Evans & 
Blayney. 

The branch establishment at Alexis was instituted 
in 1872. Mr. Blayney took charge of the new enter- 
prise and Mr. Evans remained to conduct that at 
Norwood. Their relations were maintained until 
1882, when Mr. Blayney sold his interest at Norwood 
to liis son, Edward 1). Blayney, and Mr. J. E. Laff- 
erty purchased that of Mr. Evans in the store at 
Alexis. The firm name is now Blayney & Lafferty. 
However, the individual partnership has been 
changed by the substitution of the son of the first 
Mr. Lafferty, Mr. W. A. Lafferty. The house carry 
a large and well assorted stock of all lines of mer- 
chandise suited to the demands of their patronage, 
and are doing a thriving business. 

The marriage of Mr. Blayney to Catherine Brown- 
lee, of Washington Co., Pa , took place in the fall of 
i860, bhe was the daughter of William Hutchison 
Brownlee. They came to Norwood, Mercer County, 
in 185 1, and Mr. Blayney married his wife there. 
She is of Scotch descent. They have four children : 
Edward D. is a merchant at Norwood. Charles C. 
was born in Mercer County; he received his ele- 
mentary education in the common schools and later 
entered tlie college at Monmouth as a student. He 
lost his health and died after an illness of 12 months, 
in his 2oth year. Lizzie L. and Fred H. are the 
names of the younger children. 

Mr. Blayney is a Democrat. He has taken a 
prominent part in local political matters and has 
served as a member of the Village Board. He acted 
as the President of that body during tiie time of his 
membership. He has also been active in the matter 
of education and has served as a member of the 
School Board several years. He has been Super- 
visor of his town one year. • 

Mr. and Mrs. Blayney are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

John Blayney, father of the present family, mar- 
ried Fannie Alcorn, daughter of W lliani and Janet 
(Patton) Alcorn, all of the County Tyrone, Ireland. 
They emigrated to America in 1848, and settled in 



"T" 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



535 



Wheeling, West Virginia. He came West about 
1857, and remained here until the death of his wife, 
in 1882. She died in Washington Co., Pa., while on 
a visit there. Mr. Blayney has since that time 
made his residence with his daughter, who is the 
wife of Cadwallerder Blayney. He is now in the 
86th year of his age and is yet hale and vigorous 
and bids fair to live for many years. 




'1 



ohn S. Spriggs, Jr., pharmacist at Mon- 
mouth, is a son of James H. and Elea- 
nor J. (McCune) Spriggs, and was born in 
Cumberland Co, Pa., April 3, 1850. (See 
biography of J. H. Spriggs, this volume). He 
was educated at Monmouth College, and when 
about 18 years of age began the drug business as 
clerk in the drug house of his father and uncle, Dr. 
John S. Spriggs, at Monmouth. At the end of an 
apprenticeship of four years here, he attended the 
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and graduated in 

1873- 

March 25, 1877, he was married at Chicago to 
^ Miss Annie L. Thorne, the accomplished daughter 
of Stephen and Lydia Thorne, and a native of St. 
Johns, N. B. Mrs. Spriggs is a member of the 
Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Spriggs is a Re- 
publican. 



ohn C. Wallace, proprietor of a fashiona- 
'f ble restaurant and fancy grocer, also whole- 
'/^& ^ ^^'^ ^""^ retail dealer in fruits, vegetables, 
^1^ oils, etc., of Monmouth, was born in Guernsey 
|C Co., Ohio, July 4, 1848, and was the fifth child 
in the order of birth of six sons and two daugh- 
ters of Thomas and Jane (Hutchinson) Wallace, na- 
tives of the Buckeye State, and descended respect- 
ively from Scotch and Irish ancestry. The senior 
Mr. Wallace was by occupation a farmer; emigrated 
from Ohio to Iowa in 1867, and there died in 1878 
or 7 9, aged 61 or 62 years, surviving his wife proba- 
bly about three years. 

John C. Wallace was brought up as a farmer's boy. 




and at the common schools, supplemented by two 
years' attendance at Monmouth College, acquired a 
fair English education. After clerking awhile in a 
grocery house, he, in 1871, bought the interest of 
Hurdman, of the firm of Wallace & Hurdman, and 
for three years, or thereabouts, the house existed un- 
der the style and firm name of Wallace Bros. Since 
the retirement of his brother, Mr. Wallace has been 
alone in the business, and that he has been more 
than ordinarily successful is fully attested by the 
brief record here published of him. In 1875, after 
sustaining a severe loss by fire, he built the brick 
block now occupied l)y him. He owns one of the 
finest residences in the city, is a large stock-holder 
in a banking house at Greely, Colo., and an exten- 
sive ranch owner in both Texas and Kansas. All 
this, and more, and yet it is but the product of his 
individual effort and industry. 

He was married in Henderson Co., 111., Dec. 28, 
1871, to Miss Mary A. Hutchinson, and their only 
child is named Clyde. 



' l-'T^.i' F. Lowther, of Kirkwood, was born in 
il^^jKf Columbus, Ohio, April 14, 1826. His 
l^'^ father, Thompson F , and his mother, Sarah 
^^W Lowther («c^ Black), were natives of Penn- 
^r sylvania. They were married and came to 
Illinois in 1835, locat.ng in Schuyler County, 
where they resided until 1841. During the latter 
year became to Warren County and settled in Hale 
Township, where he purchased 96 acres of land on 
which he lived, following his vocation until April, 
1869. At that date lie purchased a house and lot 
in Kirkwood, and in company with J. H. Gilmore 
engaged in the grocery business, which he continued 
for about ten years. About three years prior to his 
death he retired from active business, his death oc- 
curring in 18S5, and that of his wife in 1876. 

The gentleman whose name we place at the head 
of this notice, lived with his parents until he was 23 
years old, having received a fair education in the 
common schools. After leaving home Mr. Lowther 
purchased 80 ncres of la. id in Hale Township, on 
which he resided for one and a half years, when he 

A ' 



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->-X^ 



536 



WARREN COUNTY. 



sold it and removed to Lenox Township, and tliere 
purchased another 80 acre tract, and for two years 
was engaged in its cultivation. He then returned to 
Hale Township, and lived until 1869, when he came 
to Kirkwood and purchased property, since which 
time he has continued to reside there. 

The marriage of Mr. Lowther took place July 19, 
1849, at which time Miss Julia A. M. Robinson, a 
native of Virginia, became his wife. There were 
seven children of this union, all dead, but they 
took an orphan boy, J. H. Sterling, at the age of 18 
months, whom they reared to manhood, and since he 
has attained liis majority have assisted him in ob- 
taining a foothold, whereby he may acquire in this 
busy world of strife a competency. 

Politically, Mr. Lowilier affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, and he and his wife belong to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He has also been a 
member of the Town Board in Kiikwood. 




«^ 



4 



lohn T. Eeichard, the leading dry-goods 
'^ merchant at Monmouth, was born in Wash- 
ington Co. Md., Nov. I, 1842. His parents, 
Daniel and Maria (Brewer) Reichard, natives 
^C respectively of the States of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania, and dating their ancestry back 
to Germany, reared six sons, and they were all 
brought up to the occupation of the father, farming, 
but, judging from the memorandum before us, while 
they inherited any quantity of industry and native 
ability, the love of labor in the fields was one charac- 
teristic the old gentleman failed to transmit. Two of 
the sons became prominent physicians, one a druggist 
and three dealers in merchandise. 

The father removed to Warren County, in 1863, 
and located on a farm in Coldbrook Township, where 
he lived and labored until his death, in 1866, aged 
55 years. His widow survived him until 1873, 
when she died in Monmouth, at the age of 63 years. 
John T. Reichard was educated in Maryland, and 
was at Hagerstown College when his patriotism over- 
came his desire for classics, and August i, 1862, saw 
him " right dress " as a private in Co. A, 7th Mary- 
land Vol. Infantry. There is no reason in the world 
to believe that he asked for the change, but the writer 



knows a great many reasjns why he should have 
been very glad of the transfer from the ranks to clerk 
in the Qiiarterniaster's department. He had been 
out only about two months when this occurred, and 
the fact that he was retained in the position until the 
close of the war, proves that he was as efficient as 
clerk as it is known he would have been as a soldier. 

Leaving the service at Baltimore. Md., he came at 
once to Monmouth and engaged in farming with his 
father, and at the death of the latter administered 
upon the estate and closed it up. In February, 1868, 
he embarked in mercantile business, and the story of 
his success was told us by his rivals. Mr. Reichard 
is a man who would succeed in anytiiing, except that 
of being ungentlemanly. This no sort of training 
could induct him into. 

When the Monmoutli National Bank changed 
hands, in 18 — , Mr. Reichard became one of its Di- 
rectors, and subsequently Vice-President, a position 
he filled up to January r, 1885. He is largely inter- 
ested in agriculture and stock-breeding, and has 
been for some years President of the Warren County 
Agricultural Society. He is a popular Mason, and 
member of the largest Consistory in the world, that 
of the Oriental, of Chicago. July r5, 1875, Mr. 
Reichard was mariied at Newcastle. Ind., to Miss 
Jeane Elliott, daughter of Hon. J. T. Elliott, late 
Judge of the Supre:-.i-" Court of Indiana, and his 
children are named Lillian, George, Marie and 
Elliott. 




feiram Baldwin, proprietor of the Baldwin 
House and one of the pioneers of Mon- 
mouth, was born in Chester Co., Pa., Dec. 
9, 1S08. His parents, Wathel and Catherine 
(Bair) Baldwin, were married, reared their six 
sons and four daughters, and died in Chester 
County. Hiram Baldwin was brought up on his fa- 
ther's farm and fairly educated at the subscription 
schools. 

March 28, 1832, he was married in his native 
county to Miss Mariah Mackey, a native of Lancas- 
ter Co., Pa., and of Irish and Dutch parentage. 
Their two sons, James W. and George W., were born 
in Lancaster County, the first in 1833 and the latter 
in 1835. They are both connected with the man- 



rAJ 



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. • Y ■ . " 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•*^>-^ 



537 



agement and direction of the hotel and have been 
for many years. The Baldwins originally came from 
England, probably in 1645, and settled in Massa- 
chusetts The Barrs came from Germany, in 1683, 
and settled at Gerniantown, Pa. 

The family came to Monmouth in the spring of 
1840, and here Mr. B. began the manufacture of 
wagons and plows, and followed it about 15 years. 
In 1846 he moved upon the spot now, and since 
1855, known as the Baldwin Hotel. It was origin- 
ally a two-story, 20 room building; in 1876 it was 
remodeled and converted into a tiiree-story, 40 room 
house. Mr. B. learned the trade of carriage maker 
in Lancaster Co., Pa. He farmed some since com- 
ing to Illinois, but for 20 years has devoted his time 
to hotel business. His house, for many years the 
best in Monmouth, was for many years the rendez- 
vous of the famous Lincoln and his friends. The 
room the great man occupied is now No. 17, and 
contains the furniture he so often used. Mr. Doug- 
lass, when at Monmouth, stopped at the old Warren 
House, when not with his friend, Hon. J. W. David- 
son. Mr. B. is a member of no church ; has never 
sought office, but the history of Warren County must 
in truth print his name upon its pages as one of the 
best men tlie county has ever claimed as a citizen. 




*4^ 



Hfeenry H. Pattee, secretary and treasurer of 
the Pattee Plow Company, of Monmouth, 
was born at Canaan, Grafton Co., N. H., 
April 17, 1840, and was the youngest son living 
of Daniel and Judith (Burleigh) Pattee, natives 
of New Hampshire, and descended from the 
French. The senior Mr. Pattee was by occupation a 
farmer, and brouglit his four sons up to tliat voca- 
tion, though none of them followed it any great 
length of time. The father and mother both died in 
New Hampshire, he in 1875, aged 76 years, and she 
in 1883, aged 83 years. 

Henry H. Pattee was educated at the common 
schools of his native State, and after learning the art 
of telegraphy repaired to Canada, in 1862, as man- 
ager of the Vermont and Boston Telegraph Co. He 
left Canada in 1866, and came to Galesburg, 111., 

, ■ -X ' 



where for three years he was engaged in millingbusi- 
ness. In 1869 he came to Monmouth, and in com- 
pany with his brother ran the Star Flouring Mill 
four years. In 1873, he engaged in the manufacture 
of agricultural implements. (See Pattee Plow Com- 
pany.) The stock company was organized in i88r, 
and Mr. Pattee has since been its secretary and treas- 
urer. 

He was first married at Canaan, N. H., in 1867. 
His wife, nee Miss Lizzie R. Morgan, daughter of 
Dr. Arnold Morgan, now deceased, died in her na- 
tive town (Canaan) in 1879. 

Aug. 25, 1881, Mr. Pattee married Miss Anna E. 
Willets, daughter of the late Hon. Elias Willets. 
(See biography of Judge Willets, this volume.) 



fohn W. Matthews, State's attorney for 
1^ Warren County, resident at Monmouth, is a 
son of the late Rev. Robert C. and Louisa 
Matilda (Martin) Matthews, and was born at 
'W Macon, Noxubee Co., Miss., July 7, r848. (See j 

y biography of Rev. Robert Matthews, D.D., this 
volume.) John W. Matthews was educated at 
Monmouth College, graduated and in the class 
of 187 1, with the degree of A.B. Immediately 
after leaving college he began reading law with John 
J. Glenn, and two years later in the office of Hard- 
ing, McCoy & Pratt, Chicago. He was admitted to 
the Bar at Ottawa, in September, 1874, and returned 
to Monmouth, where he became the junior member 
of the firm of Glenn & Matthews, for a year, which 
then became the firm of Glenn, Kirkpatrick & Mat- 
thews. At the end of one year Mr. M. withdrew 
from the firm, and was one year alone in practice, 
and iuivnig satisfied himself that he was able to hold 
his own at the Warren County forum, he formed, in 
1880, the existing partnership, Matthews & Peacock, 
Mr. T. G. Peacock being a talented young attorney, 
and the junior member of the firm, 

In the fall of 1880, Mr. Matthews was elected 
State's Attorney, which office he filled with such sat- 
isfaction to the people, that four years later they 
placed him again at the helm as a pilot of the pleas 
of the commonwealth. 

May 30, 1864, he made up his mind tliat the re- 




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538 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



bellion had gone on long enough, so offered his coun- 
try his service as a " backbone breaker " and high 
private in Co. A, 138th 111. Vol. Inf., for the term of 
100 days. Serving out his term in the 138th, he was 
discharged Oct. 14, 1864, at Springfield, 111., and on 
the 1 8th of February following enrolled as a musi- 
cian in Co. H, 47th 111. Vol. Inf., and served until 
August 17, 1865. With the 47th he penetrated well 
into "Dixie," and his experience in that country will 
be remembered by him for many a long year. He 
left the service to accept a scholarship at Annapolis 
Naval Academy, but ill health forced him to aban- 
don it. 

He was married at Monmouth, in 1876, to Miss 
Mary G. Stevens, a native of New York, and his son 
is named Robert C. A daughter, Anna Louisa, died 
in infancy. 

Mr. Matthews is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and also of the A. O. U. W. and I. O. O. F. 



i4— 



\h A. Carmichael, banker and merchant at 
SJjpf^g^ Kirkwood. Among the early pioneers 
|g who came into Warren County in 1836, were 
^^ Arthur P. Carmichael and Jane Henderson, 
both natives of South Carolina. Two years 
after their arrival they were united in marriage, 
which was a prominent event among the pioneers of 
that day. The newly married couple "settled down" 
in Warren County, but sliortly afterward moved into 
Henry County, where they lived for 15 years. 
They at present reside at Red Oak, Iowa. The 
elder Carmichael was for many years engaged in the 
mercantile business, ijut since 1877 has been a grain 
dealer. They had a family of six children — C. A. 
being their eldest, who was born in 1840 while his 
parents were living in Henderson Count.'. When 
he was a young man of zr years of age, the late war 
had just broken out, and with his brave heart and 
love for his country he enlisted in Co. F, 17th 111. 
Vol. Infantry, and for three years and three months 
did valiant service in behalf of the Union. He was 
twice wounded, but slightly, however. His fust bat- 
tle was at Frederickstown, Mo ; then he was at the 
terrible conflict at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, 



Vicksburg. and many of the other desperate engage- 
ments of the war. He held the position of Sergeant 
and at tiie end of a long service was honorably dis- 
charged. 

After the war had closed and Mr. C. had returned 
home, he found a situation as clerk in a mercantile 
house at St. Louis. Here he remained only one 
year, however, when he came to Kirkwood and se- 
cured a position as clerk for Carr & Beers. At the 
end of a year they sold out to A. P. Brown, with 
whom he remained for a year and a half. He then 
engaged with Chapin, Houlton & Davis, with whom 
he remained for 15 years. At the end of this long 
service, in 1882, he bought an interest in the firm, 
since which time the firm name has been Chapin, 
Houlton & Co. He is an enterprising, pushing 
business man, and has long held the confidence and 
esteem of a large circle of friends. Politically he is 
a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Uni- 
ted Presbyterian Church, of which denomination he 
is a Trustee. He is also a member of the Village " 
Council, and of the Masonic Lodge, and of the G. A. 
R , in fact is an active worker in everything which . 
has for its tendency the buildiug up of the commu-" 
nity and doing good. 

Mr. Carmichael was married to Miss Jennie, the , 
daughter of Nelson and Sarah J. Carr, of Kirkwood,"' 
both natives of New York, Jan. 21, 1869. Nellie, 
their only child, was born Dec. 17, 1869. 




jilton C. Robison, general farmer and 
stock raiser, residing on section 6, Cold 
Brook Township, was born in Kelly 
Township, this county, on section 32, Oct. 
25, 1835. His father, Andrew Rcbison, a 
farmer by occupation, and a native of North 
Carolina, came thence to Ohio, where he was mar- 
ried to Miss Nancy Stitt, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who was reared in Kentucky, and of Irish parent- 
age. She came to Ohio when a young woman. In 
that State three children were born to them: Isa- 
bella, Mary and Robert G , the latter being the only 
survivor. They afterward settled in Warren Co., 
Ind., and while residing there three more children 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



H^-X> 



541 



were added to their family : John, Martha and Wil- 
liam, the latter now deceased. 

In the year 1829, the family came to Illinois, and 
settled in Wai re n County, while it was unsettled, and 
there the father secured a tract of wild land. His 
demise occurred in Cold Brook Township, where the 
son, our subject, now resides The mother died at 
the same place in 1875. 

Of the three children born in Illinois, our subject, 
Milton C. L., was the youngest, and also youngest of 
a family of nine children. He resided at liome until 
he reached his majority, in the meantime assisting 
his father in the duties of the farm, and alternating 
his labors thereon by attendance at the common 
schools, at which he acquired a fair English educa- 
tion. When he reached man's estate his father died, 
and he began farming on his own account. 

The marriage of Mr. Milton C. L. Robison and 
Miss Drusilla Hennen was celebrated on the 2 2d of 
February, i860, in Monmouth Townsliip, the latter 
being a native of Ohio. She came to Illinois with 
her parents when a young woman, and they engaged 
in agricultural pursuits to a small extent. Mrs. Rob- 
ison died at her home in this township, March i, 
186 r, after having borne to her husband one child, 
Drusilla, who lived only 17 days, and whose death 
occurred the same day as that of tiie mother. 

Mr. Robison is the possessor of 122 acres of im- 
proved land, on which he now resides ; in his chosen 
vocation, agriculture, he has met with decided suc- 
cess. 

In politics, he is a stanch Democrat. 




en. Abner C. Harding, deceased, was born 
at East Hampton, Conn., Feb. 10, 1807. 
He removed with his parents to Plainfield, 



Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 18 15, and soon after 
that date he engaged in working at a carding 
machine, but did not continue at that long. 
He began teaching at 15 years of age. The educa- 
tion of Mr. Harding was acquired at the schools of 
Hamilton, N. Y. 

In 1 82 1 young Harding enlisted as midshipman in 
the United States Navy, but was rejected for want 



of proper stature. The next year, in 1832, he en- 
gaged in peddling tin ware and also taught school. 
In 1823 he followed the vocation of a drover and 
was also engaged in teaching school. In 1834-5 his 
occupation was that of a school teacher. In 1826-7 
he read law at Bridgewater, N. Y., and the following 
year, 1828, removed to Pennsylvania, and was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, at Lewisburg, that State. Jan. 30, 
1829, Mr. Harding was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Rebecca L. Byers, nee Leibricks, who died at Bloom- 
field, Pa., in 1833, leaving two children — George F., 
born in 1830, and Mary R., born in 1833. The for- 
mer lives in Chicago, and the latter is the wife of 
George Snyder, a resident of Monmouth. In 1835 
Mr. Harding was elected to the Constitutional Con- 
vention of Pennsylvania. Also, during that year, he 
formed a second matrimonial alliance, at Bloomfield, 
that place, with Miss Susan K. Ickes, a native of Perry 
Co., Pa., where she was born, July 28, 1815. Their 
marriage took place June 30. During the year 1837 
Mr Harding served in the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of Pennsylvania, where he became acquainted 
with Thad. Stevens, and in 1837 followed his profes- 
sion, the law. Miss Ickes, to whom Mr. Harding 
was married, was a daughter of Dr. Jonas Ickes, who 
at present resides with Mrs. Harding, near Mon- 
mouth. He was born in Montgomery Co., Pa., Feb. . 
3, 1793, and is therefore, at this writing (November, 
1885), nearly 93 years of age. He has lived in Illi- 
nois since 1856. His wife, «f^ Mary Duncan, to 
whom he was married in Perry Co., Pa., June 24, 
1814, bore him four sons and five daughters, and 
lived to be 76 years of age, departing this life in July, 
1868. 

In June, 1838, Gen. Harding removed to Mon- 
mouth and at once engaged in the practice of his 
profession. He was a good lawyer and a better bus- 
iness man. He became interested m politics, acting 
with the Whigs in all matters of interest in his 
county and State. In 1847-48 and '49, Gen. Hard- 
ing continued to follow the practice of his profession 
at Monmouth. During this time he also became in- 
terested in railroading and built and supervised the 
building of the road running between Peoria and 
Burlington, now a part of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad. In 1848 he was chosen delegate 
to the Constitutional Convention ; was a member of 
the Illinois Legislature in 1848-49 and '50. In 1851, 
while Gen. Harding was actively engaged in railroad 



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IVARREN COUNTY. 



♦ Lowe, 



matters, his eyesight began to fail him, and from that 
time he ceased to practice law. From 1852 to i860, 
he spent a portion of his time traveling for his health 
and when not engaged in traveling he was occupied 
in railroad matters. 

In 185 I, Gen. Harding, in partnership with Chan- 
cy Hardin and Judge Ivory Quinby, under the style 
of C. Hardin & Co., engaged in the construction of 
what was then known as the Peoria & Oquawka 
Railroad. Gen. Harding having procured the char- 
ter some time previous to the above date, the riglit 
of way was procured by the above named gentlemen 
and they changed somewhat the original route and 
built the road from Burlington to Knoxvilleand from 
the latter place it was to be continued by Kelly, 
Moss & Co. The latter firm proved unable to com- 
plete the road, and Gen. Harding bought out their 
contract and completed the same in 1856, and for a 
short time the road was operated by the above com- 
pany, they subsequently selling the same to the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. 

Gen. Harding enlisted as private of the 83d III. 
Vol. Inf., in 1862. He was elected Colonel, and 
mustered into service Aug. 21, of that year. As in 
civil life, so he was in war, bound to rise. In shoit, 
he was one of tlie few men born to command. On 
March 23, 1863, he was promoted to Brigadier Gen- 
eral of volunteers. Another writer has said that this 
promotion was a reward for his gallant conduct in de- 
fending Fort Donelson so successfully after it fell 
into Federal hands, and against an attack of the 
Confederate Generals, Wheeler, Forrest and Whar- 
ton, with a command of over 8,000, while Harding 
had only 800. For the truth of history, it might be 
well to say that Gen. Harding was at that time al- 
ready in the line of promotion, though his conduct 
on the occasion mentioned may have hastened his 
commission. The true history of that, lo Harding, 
most imiiortant engagement shows that on Feb. 3, 
1863, a portion of Gen. Forrest's command, under 
Gen. Wheeler, left Palmyra and advanced on Fort 
Donelson, then garrisoned by Col. Harding, in com- 
mand of some nine companies of the 83d III. Vol. 
Inf , a battalion of the Fifth Iowa Cav., and Flood's 
Battery, consisting of four rifled guns and one 32 
pounder siege gun, mounted on a pivot on the north- 
west corner of the fort. Gen. Harding, learning that 
the enemy was approaching, telegraphed to Colonel 
Lowe, at Fort Henry, asking for reinforcements. 
-A 



That officer sent word back for Harding to send out 
scouts and learn the exact course of the rebels, 
which was done. Lowe could send no aid, but tel- 
egraphed the gun-boats, then pushing up the river, 
that Donelson was in a tight place, and at tlie same 
time telegraphed lo Col. Harding to " iiold the place 
at all hazards until dark, when help would arrive. " 
At 2 o'clock p. m., the fort was attacked from the 
eastward, and an effort made to carry the works. 
The ammunition of the garrison was low, but it was 
skillfully and economically handled. Col. Harding 
was everywhere encouraging his men. Wherever 
the fight was most severe or the danger most immi- 
nent, there he was, swowd in hand, advising and 
commanding his men. Night came on, the enemy 
had surrounded the three sides of the fort, and Gen. 
Wheeler under a flag of truce demanded a surrender 
of the garrison or to take the consequences. Gen. 
Harding sent back word that they "would take the 
consequences." The fight was renewed; a second de- 
mand to surrender made, and again refused. It was 8 
o'clock, and Capt. Fitch's fleet astounded the enen-y 
with well directed broadsides from his several gun- 
boats, and in 20 minutes not a healthy rebel was in 
sight. Col. Harding had obeyed orders unnecessary to 
be given. With the information that help was assured 
any time within a week, Harding would have held the 
fort against all such generalship as that manifested by 
Wheeler in tiiat attack. Why a General, with a su|)er- 
ior force would hang around a small garrison 6 hours, 
and in just such position as to have 250 of his men 
killed, 600 wounded and 105 taken prisoner, might 
be explained by Wheeler, but by no one else. Col. 
Harding lost 13 killed, 51 wounded and 20 taken 
prisoners. It was certainly a successful defense. 

In 1864 Gen. Harding was elected as the candi- 
date of the Republican party to represent his dis- 
trict in the United States Congress, and served in 
the 39th and 40th (Congresses, being re-elected in 
1866. While in Congress, Gen. Harding served on 
the Committees on Manufactories and Militia in the 
39th, and on the C'ommiitees on Union Prisoners' 
Claims and Militia in the 40th Congress. While in 
Congress, he secured the charter, in his own naine, 
to build the railroad bridge over the Mississippi River 
at Burlington, Iowa. The ownership of tiie charter 
proved to be very valuable property, which he sfter- 
ward sold to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad Company, who built the bridge. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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S43 



111 1869 ihe health of Gen. Harding began to fail, 
and in May, 187 i, he went to Europe, where he re- 
mained until the October following, when he again 
returned to his home at Monmouth. Here he contin- 
ued to reside an invalid during the years 1872-3, 
and July 19, 1874, at nine oclock p. m., he passed 
away. The foundation of Gen. Harding's fortune 
may be said to have been laid in his judicious in- 
vestment in real estate and the consequent rise of 
the same in value. As a lawyer he ranked high, es- 
pecially in tlie branch pertaining to the laws relating 
to titles and real estate. As a pleader, his papers 
were prepared with consummate skill, resulting from 
a broad and comprehensive knowledge and applica- 
tion of the law bearing on the case in hand. As an 
advocate, he was a clear, terse and powerful reas- 
oner, and frequently very eloquent. He participated 
during his extended practice in some of the most im- 
portant cause celebra which have shed lustre upon 
the jurisprudence of Illinois. 

He began life a poor boy, but as an accumulator 
of wealth he certainly proved the greatest success 
known to Warren County. He died leaving a very 
large fortune. As a gentleman, worthy to be recog- 
nized in this work as one of the leading citizens of 
Warren County, in the days that are past and gone, 
we take pleasure in being enabled to present to the 
reader a true likeness of one of the County's self- 
made, respected and honored citizens. 




evi Maley, now deceased, was one of the 
pioneers of 1837, in the township of Sumner. 
He was born March 22, 1822, in Ritchie 
Co., West Virginia. His father, William Maley, 
was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Aug. r, 1780. 
The family is of Irisli origin, the father of Mr. 
Maley last named having been born in that country, 
whence he came to America about the time of the 
War of the Revolution. He entered the Colonial 
military service, and after his enrollment, while on 
his way to join his command, in company with the 
organization to which lie belonged, was surprised by 
a detachment of British dragoons, taken prisoner and 
confined for some time on board a prison ship, in the 



harbor of New York. After the close of the war, 
about 1796, he went to West Virginia. He had be- 
come the possessor of a tract of land in that part of 
the Old Dominion which was located in Wood Coun- 
ty, and by a subsequent municipal division was set 
off to Ritchie County. The condition of the route 
thither from the then limited bounds of civilization 
can better be imagined than described. The way 
was literally trackless from the county of Rockbridge, 
in Virginia, where he was warned of the insecurity 
of the place where he purposed to settle, on account 
of the Indians there. He heeded the advice and lo- 
cated in Rockbridge County, among the mountains. 
Their stay continued four or five years and then 
three of the sons, one of whom was tiie subject of 
this personal narration, pushed their way to Wood 
County. They took possession of their father's 
claim, erected a log cabin and proceeded to clear 
the land from the heavy growth of limber. As soon 
as the work of improvement was fairly under way 
they were joined by their parents and the remaining 
members of the family. The grandparents were in- 
cluded in the household, and their lives came to a 
close in Wood County, on the frontier farm. 

William Maley married Nancy Wells. She was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and her father was one of 
the pioneers of Wood County. From him she re- 
ceived a tract of land which comprised 320 acres. 
Her husband cleared it and placed it in profitable 
condition for agricultural purposes. It was their 
home for many years and was the birthplace of their 
13 children. In 1837 the household, including 15 
persons, started for an overland trip to Illinois ; the 
party made quite a little procession with their eight 
horses, two wagons and a carriage. They cooked 
and ate, and slept on the way in their wagons, and 
after a journey of four weeks arrived in Warren 
County. In the vicinity of Little York they found a 
vacant cabin, which they took possession of, and 
which was their home through the first winter. 
Meanwhile the father bought land in the Township 
of Sumner, on Section 31. It had no house and the 
family found shelter in a log house which stood on 
another farm in the immediate vicinity, of which 
they were the occupants until August of thai sum- 
mer, when their own house was in readiness for 
them. With the assistance of his sons the senior 
Maley improved a farm, and on it he passed the re- 
mainder of his life. He died in 1858. His wife's 



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S44 



WARREN COUNTY. 



death transpired in 1838. She was a member of the 
Presbyterian church. He belonged to the seceding 
branch of the same denomination. 

Levi Maley came to Warren County with his fa- 
ther, and was an inmate of tlie parental home until 
his marriage, Dec. 6, 1841, to Margaret F. Paxlon. 
She was the daughter of William and Margaret Pax- 
ton, and was born May i, 1829, in Greene Co., Ohio. 
Her parents were pioneers of Warren County. Her 
husband, associated with two brothers, bought land 
on section 20 in Sumner Township, on which they 
located at the time of their marriage. Their home 
was at first the pioneer log cabin, but this in time 
gave way to a laree frame house, and soon after the 
other buildings on the place were made to correspond 
in value and appearance. Mr. Maley died July 15, 
1866. His five children were born in the following 
order: William, born June 5, 1852 ; died Dec. 23, 
1S76, leaving a wife and three children. Margaret 
A. is the wife of William Berry. They live at Little 
• York. Clarissa married B. S. Dodson, and they are 
residents of the same place, as is John P. Elizabeth 
married J. Alison. Mr. Maley united with the Uni- 
ted Presbyterian church, to which his wife belonged 
before her marriage. Mrs. Maley is a resident of 
Little York, with her son John P., who is a stock 
dealer. 




jpVrus Bute, resident of Kirkwood,at which 
place lie is the Police Magistrate, was 
born in Fayette Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1929, his 
parents being John and Mary (Morrison) 
Bute, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania 
respectively. His father was a farmer in his na- 
tive State, and continued to reside there with his 
wife until his deatii, which occurred in 1855, that of 
his wife occurring two years later, in 1857. 

Cyrus Bute, a sketcii of whose life we give in this 
volume, remained under the family roof-tree until he 
attained the age of manhood. He received a com- 
mon school education in his native county, and as- 
sisted his father on the farm up to the time he left 
the old homestead. After leaving home he was 
engaged in running his father's flour mill, and con- 



tinued in that vocation until 1850. He then came to 
this State and located in the neighborhood of Mon- 
mouth, where for four years he was engaged in culti- 
vating a rented farm. At the expiration of this time 
he purchased 75 acres of good farm land, located on 
section 9, Tom))kins Township, where he has since 
resided. 

In 1862, Mr. Bute enlisted in the 83d III. Vol. 
Inf., Co. A, and served in the Union army until the 
close of the war. He was appointed 3d Sergeant of 
the company, and served in that capacity until Feb. 
3, 1863, when, after the battle of Fort Donelson, he 
was promoted to Second Lieutenant, continuing to 
hold that position until he was honorably discharged 
at the close of the war, in July, 1865. He was en- 
gaged in many battles and skirmishes, and received 
but one wound, although he had his clothes pierced 
with the enemies' bullets in many places. His com- 
pany gave him the control of a large amount of prop- 
erty to deliver at Fort Henry, and while on the way 
he was attacked by guerillas and had two of his men 
shot, but by killing the leader of the band they suc- 
ceeded in safely delivering the property at Fort 
Henry. ,* 

After the war was over, Mr. Bute returned to War- I 
ren County and was elected Sheriflf in 1868, and 
served a term of three years. In 1873 he was elect- 
ed to the position that he at present occupies. Police 
Magistrate. 

His marriage took place in 1841, at which time 
Miss Margaret Gibson, a native of Pennsylvania, 
became his wife. Of their union four children were 
born, all of whom are living, and named as follows: 
Mary E., Achsa J., Margaret E. and John M. The 
last named enlisted in the war for the union at the 
age of 13 years, having joined Co. L. 12th Cav. He 
participated in quite a number of skirmishes and 
engagements, never receiving any wounds. After the 
war was over he continued in the service over a year 
(being under the command of the late lamented 
Gen. Custer) doing service in Texas. He was mus- 
tered out of the service at Houston, Tex. Mr. Bute 
had one son killed in the army, M. DeLafayelte. He 
enlisted in Co. C, 36th III. Vol. Inf., and was killed at 
the battle of Chicamauga, Sept. 20, 1863. 

In politics, Mr. Bute is a stanch Republican, and 
socially he is a member of the Order of Masons. 

Mr. Bute is regarded as one of the representative 
men of this county, always aiding any laudable en- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



545 



terprise that is calculated to benefit the community 
in which he resides. 

The children of Mr. Bute are settled as follows : 
Mary E., married Dr. E. Hicks, of Greenfield, Iowa ; 
Achsa J., married L. D. Earp, and resides in Mon- 
mouth, and has two children, Effie and George ; 
Margaret E. married Mulford Sewell, and now re- 
sides in Huntington, Indiana ; John M. married Car- 
rie Hall, and has one child, Thadeus. 



— .se?- 



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Ifciram Sheldon, one of the successful and 
prominent agriculturists of Warren County, 
residing upon section 33, Floyd Township, 
is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., at which 
place, on the 20th of November, 183 1, he was 
born, being a son of Wilson Sheldon, who was 
born in New York city, Feb. 3, 181 1. He died Sept. 
13, 1873, in the city of Monmouth. 

In 1837, Wilson Sheldon, the father of our subject, 
came to Illinois and located in Floyd Township. He 
married Miss Sarah Matteson, a native of New 
York, Feb. r4, 1830. She was born Feb. 26, 1817, 
and still survives, residing in Monmouth, enjoying 
good health. Of this union nine children were born, 
namely : Hiram, Martha, George, Seneca, Burr, Al- 
ma, Aurilla, Mary and Jerome. With the exception 
of Jerome and Aurilla, all of the above are living. 
Martha is the wife of Wyram Wiswell ; they reside 
in Galesburg. Alma married David Van Winkle, 
and lives in Chicago. Mary resides with her mother 
at Monmouth. George is married and lives in Ne- 
braska. The balance reside in this county. 

Hiram Sheldon married Miss Emma J. Aylsworth, 
Jan. 29, 1862. She is a native of Warren County, 
and was born in Berwick Township, April 6, 1841. 
She was a daughter of Hiram Aylsworth, a native of 
Connecticut, born in the year 1816, and about the 
year 1836 came to Illinois, and two years later mar- 
ried Miss Harriet Roberts. She was born on July 
16, 1 817. They became the parents of two chil- 
dren, viz. : Norman and Emma J., who is the wife of 
our subject. Mr. Aylsworth came from Otsego Co., 
N. Y., to this State, his demise occurring in 1846, 
and that of his widow Sept. 4, 1885. After the death 



of the first husband, Mrs. Aylsworth married An- 
drew Whitenack, who still survives her. 

Mr. Hiram Sheldon is the proprietor of 800 acres 
of good land in this county. His home dwelling is a 
substantial residence, two stories in height. His 
barn is 36 x 48 feet, with 20-foot posts. 

Mr. Sheldon is largely engaged in shipping and 
feeding stock, and has made this business a very 
profitable one. Besides this lie is one of the Direc- 
tors of the Monmouth National Bank, having been 
connected therewith for about 12 years. He has 
served in the capacity of School Director and 
Road Commissioner. Mr. Sheldon is considered 
one of Warren County's solid and substantial cit- 
izens, besides being a well-to-do and well known ag- 
riculturist of Floyd Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Slieldon have a family comprising 
four children: Wilson J., born Oct. 28, 1862; Irene, 
J.in. 10, 1864; Donna L., Sept. 5, 1868, and Ken- 
neth R.,Oct. 28, 1876, all now residing at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, with three of their children, 
are members of the Baptist Church, and politically, 
Mr. S. is a Democrat. 



-i3- 



-E>- 



';; jt<r[f^;;' ames Henry Spriggs, of the firm of Spriggs 
I'v; & Bro., prominent druggists and pharma- 
si'r^'^'4' cists at Monmouth, was born in the city of 
Philadeli)hia, Sept. 15, 1822, and was the eld- 
est son of his parents. (See biography of James 
S. Spriggs, this volume.) After the death of 
his father, James H. had largely the care and sup- 
port of his mother and the younger children, a trust 
ever discharged by him with the utmost degree of 
good faith and filial devotion. As with the boy, so 
with the man, true to the instinct of that high order 
of humanity that springs naturally fron. a heart un- 
incumbered by any of the passions that mark and 
mar the lower class. 

James H. Spriggs, in his dealing with people has 
been purposely the cause of no pang of pain or sor- 
row to any one. With this small tribute the com- 
ment of the hiatoriaii ends, and by a brief recital of 
minor events will conclude the biography of jne of 
Monmouth's best citizens. He was educated as op- 



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546 



IVARREN COUNTY. 



portunity offered at the common schools and acad- 
emies of liis neighborhood, and from the age of 22 
to 35 was conducting a farm in Cumberland Co., Pa. 
He came to Monmouth in 1857, and in partnership 
with his brother, engaged at once in the drug busi- 
ness. This has since received his attention, varying 
its duties somewhat occasionally by outside ven- 
tures. For instance, he was one of the organizers 
of the Monmouth Mining & Manufacturing Co., and 
was for two years its President. He was also a stock- 
holder and director of the First National Bank of 
Monmouth, but when the limitation of the charter 
expired he sold his stock and severed liis connection 
therewith. He also represented his Ward three or 
four times in the common Council. Politically he is 
identified witli a preference for the time-honored 
principles that made the old Republican |)arty. His 
first vote was cast for Henry Clay. 

Mr. Spriggs was married in Cumberland Co., Pa., 
Dec. 23d, 1845,10 Miss Eleanor J. McCunc, native 
of that county, and has had borne to him five chil- 
dren, as follows: Mary E , born January, 1847, died 
1851 ; Ellen M., born Sept., 1848, died 185 t ; John 
S. was born April, 1850; Albert, formerly Secretary 
of the Mining & Manufacturing Co., was born in 
April, 1852, and William Henry, born March 16, 
1854, died April, 1866. Since 1854 Mr. Spriggs and 
wife have been members of the Presbyterian church. 



^^ 




C. Twitchell, one of the most prominent 
young business men of Roseville, where he 
is engaged quite extensively in the business 
of a merchant, was born in Delaware Co., N. 
Y., April 22, 1856, his parents being Perry and 
Belarma (Woodmansee) Twitchell, natives of 
the Empire State. Mr. Perry Twitchell, the father, 
was a soldier in the late civil war, having enlisted in 
1862, and served within two months of its close. 
He was a member of Co. C, i2t]i Conn. Vol. The 
I 2th was a part of the army of the Potomac, subse 
quently transferred to Butler's command at New Or- 
leans. He is at present a resident of Wallingford, 
Conn. His wife died April 25, 1878. 

J. C, our subject, remained companion to his par- 



ents until he had attained the age of 22 years, hav- 
ing worked in the meantime with his father at the 
carpenter's trade, and attended the public schools, 
receiving a fair education. 

He arrived in Roseville Dec. 8, 1877, and began 
clerking for J. L. Woodmansee, his uncle, remaining 
with him until 1881. He then bought out the busi- 
ness, and has continued to conduct the dry goods, 
grocery and boot and shoe business, in which he has 
met with splendid success, with a trade constantly 
increasing. 

Mr. J. C. Twitchell and Miss Margaret Harbaugh 
were married in 1882, she being a native of Illinois, 
and a daugliterof Peter Harbaugh. 

Mr. Twitchell is a member of the Methodist 
Church, and regarded as a representative and solid 
business man of Roseville. 

Politically, Mr. Twitchell affiliates with the Re- 
publican [)arty. 



^+4 



h L 



y~r 



£S- 




rank J. Pine is the senior member of the 
firm of Pine & Porter, hardware merchants 
of Alexis. IIj was born in Kelly Town- 
ship, Warren County, Sept. 14, 1855. He is 
C^^ the son of Joseph and Letitia (Watson) Pine, 
and the parents were pioneers of the township 
where the son was born. They were farmers, and 
reared their children to the same calling. Mr. Pine 
was educated in the common schools of the pioneer 
lieriod of Warren County, and obtained a fair degree 
of knowledge of books, although the facilities of the 
schools of that day were in no sense like those of the 
present. It is an open question whether the latter, 
with their attendant ease, are of greater benefit as 
a means of mental discipline. At a later date Mr. 
Pine passed 18 months at Knox College, where he 
took advantage of all that institution afforded in the 
way of advancement, for the limited time that he was 
within its reach. 

In 1877 he entered the employ of Messrs. Gibson, 
Postlewaite & Co., as a clerk, and continued in their 
service one year. The next year he passed in Gales- 
burg, and he returned from there to the township 
where he was born, and interested himself in farm- 



i* 



1^=^^^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



547 



1 1 Pi 



ing. He indulged in that calling until he had raised 
two crops. In 1880, in company with R. T. Wray, 
he opened a hardware store at Alexis, and establish- 
ed a popular and profitable business. The firm was 
known in business circles as R. T. Wray & Co. In 
addition to the lines of goods common to the trade, 
they were agents for agricultural implements, 
in which line of traffic they did a prosperous busi- 
ness. 

In the spring of 188 1 Mr. Wray was killed on the 
railroad, and the father of Mr. Pine bought the in- 
terest of the deceased man in the business, which 
father and son managed together until 1884. In that 
year the change was effected by which the firm be- 
came as now. The business is the same as when the 
firm was first established, and is operated with satis- 
factory results to all concerned. 

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Pine was married to 
Louisa Thierne, a native of Chicago, and they have 
one child — Ethel. 



4— 



' """^|ugh K. Gilliland, of the mercantile firm of 
_ F. S. Talbot & Co., at Alexis, has been a 
resident of the county in which he is a 
^^ prominent business man, since 1852. He is a 
^^ citizen who has made a creditable record in 
I point of manly worth and probity, and has the 
satisfaction of realizing that he has advanced in ex- 
act proportion to his merits and abilities. 

He was born Oct. 22, 1828, in Barre Township, 
Huntington Co., Pa., and is the oldest son of John 
and Margaret Gilliland. His parents were worthy 
people, but for good and honorable reasons liad not 
been successful in storing an abundance of the 
world's surplus. This was not the worst condition 
in which tlie oldest son of a family might be placed, 
as riches do not always exert the best influence on 
the young, and whatever might have been the result 
to Mr. Gilliland of a different state of affairs, it is 
quite certain that he had little opportunity of specu- 
lation about possibilities, as necessity compelled him 
to take a practical view of the situation at an early 
date in his life. He was 16 when the privilege of 
providing for his own wants was accorded to him, 




and he went to Mifflin County in his native State to 
accept a situation on a farm, where he earned $4 
per month. He passed eight months in the same 
employ at the same wages. His pay increased until 
he could command nine dollars a month, which was 
the largest amount he received until after he was 
21. The discontents and strikers of the present day 
have forgotten those times when the consideration 
was to obtain work without much reference to the 
remuneration, and when tlie quality of service a man 
could render was also considered. The winter suc- 
ceeding his arrival at the age of manhood he taught 
school in his native county, and received $18 a 
month and boarded himself. He officiated as ped- 
agogue in the same school-house where he first at- 
tended school. 

He remained in Huntington County two years and 
then came to Warren County, as has been stated. 
He passed the first season in Hale Township as a 
farm assistant. In the ensuing fall he went to 
Spring Grove Township, where he passed the winter 
and labored at 50 cents a day, husking corn, taking 
his pay in corn at ten cents a bushel. 

His marriage to Rebecca E. Campbell occurred '^ 
March i, 1853. This event, transpiring at this 
period in the history and fortunes of Mr. Gilliland, 
proves the material of which he is made, as he is . 
not a man to assume a responsibility to which the 
test would be likely to prove him inadequate. The 
young couple took possession of a rented farm, 
managed on shares. It was situated in Suez Town- 
ship in Mercer County. They rented land in the 
same township in the following year, and were its 
occupants until the fall of 1854, when they took pos- 
session of a tract of 40 acres which had been located 
by Mr. Gilliland in 1853. The land was on section 
4 in Spring Grove Township, and was in unimproved 
condition. The proprietor built a house on his 
property and lived there until 1872. In the mean- 
time he bought additional land, until he was the 
owner of 120 acres. He put the place in tillable 
condition and in the year named rented it, and re- 
moved to Alexis. He bought a lot and built a house. 
In January, 1874, he bought a drug business and 
managed it until the spring of 1876. He closed his 
affairs in that line and went to the Centennial at 
Philadelphia, and also visited his old home and 
friends in Mifflin County, where his father still lived. 
He returned to Alexis in the fall and formed a part- 



Jlj 



4-^ 
548 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



nership in the mercantile business under the name 
of Gibson, I'ostlewait & Co. At the end of six years 
the firm dissolved, and Mr. Gilliland bought an in- 
terest in the general store of F. S. Talbot & Co., 
which is still in existence. 

Politically, Mr. Gilliland was formerly a Democrat, 
but has latterly cast his fortunes with the prohibition 
element. While a resident of Spring Grove Town- 
ship, he officiated as Assessor several terms, and as 
Collector. 

Mrs. Gilliland was born in Huntington Co., Pa., 
and is the daughter of Matthow and Hannah Camp- 
bell. She is the mother of two daugliters. Maggie 
H. is the wife of F. S. Talbot, her father's business 
associate. Tlie younger is named Mary E. 




eorge W. Claycomb, Supervisor of Mon- 
mouth, and a retired farmer living there, is 
a son of Frederick and Mary Ann 
Claycomb. (See biography of Andrew Clay- 
comb in this volume of family history). He 
was born in Breckenridge Co., Ky., Feb. 4, 
1828, and came with his parents to this Slate in 
1836. He was brought up on his brother's farm and 
educated at the common schools. 

At the age of 21 years Mr. Claycomb began busi- 
ness for himself. He bought an 80-acre tract of 
land in Cold Brook Township and improved it. He 
then traded it for a 120-acre tract in tlie same town- 
ship, which he now owns and which is occupied by 
his son ; and from tiiis comparatively small begin- 
ning he owns at this writing (C)ct. 18, 1885) one of 
the best farms in the county. It contains about 415 
acres and lies about eight miles northeast from Mon- 
mouth Court House. 

He was united in marriage in Floyd Township, 
Dec. 17, 185 I, with Miss Sarah A. Godard, a native 
of Indiana, and daughter of Francis Godard, one of 
the [lioneers of Warren County, whither he removed 
from Indiana at an early day. He was a native of 
Kentucky and died at the age of 84 years. Mr. Clay- 
comb retired from active farming in 1882, and in 
April, 1885, was elected Supervisor. 

Mr. and Mrs Claycomb have had born to them 




*t 



four children — Laura E. (Mrs. P. H. Shelton), Al- 
bert R., born Nov. 7, 1853, died aged seven years; 
Frank E. and Alta M. The family belongs to the 
Christian Church, and Mr. Claycomb, socially, is a 
member of the Order of Masonry. 






ohn Salter who, in his 7olh year, is resting 
from the labors of the past, enjoying the 
comforts wiiich a life of toil, energy and 
economy have brought him, at his resi- 
st dence, one-half mile from the village of Kirk- 

)" wood, was born in New Jersey, Aug. 24, 1815. 

The parents of Mr. Salter, Paul and Elizabeth 
(Culberly) Salter, were natives of New Jersey. They 
came to this State in 1 845, his fatlier settling in Hen- ■ 
derson County, where he purchased 800 acres of 
land, which he subsequently supplemented by 400 
acres more, and on which he resided until a few . 
years prior to his death, when he purchased a resi- 
dence and lot in Kirkwood village. He continued 
to reside at the latter place until his death. 

The gentleman whose name we place at the head 
of this notice remained with his parents until he at- 
tained his majority, receiving a good common-school 
education. Prior to the age named, when 18 years 
old, he engaged in the oyster and fish trade, and, 
after leaving home, he continued in the same busi- 
ness until 1855. During that year he came to this 
State and located in Henderson County, on 160 
acres of land, which he had purchased. He per- 
chased ten acres one-half hiile from the village of 
Kirkwood, which he sold and bought another house 
and lot, wliere he is at present living. He remained 
on his farm until 1883, following the vocation at 
which he passed the major jjortion of his life and 
meeting with success, when he moved to his present 
residence, as stated. 

The marriage of Mr. Salter was solemnized in 
1839, at which time Miss Jane Vreeland, a native of 
New Jersey, became his wife. She was born Oct. 
17, 1 82 I, and has borne her husband eight children 
seven of whom survive — Eliza J., Henry V., Lucin- 
da, Mary A., John, Sarah T. and Emma. Rachel, 



'J^l 



V 



■ )(• . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



j_T» 



ss^ 



C. was drowned in Peoria Lake, at the age of 13 
years and 4 months. 

In politics, Mr. Salter affiliates with the Republi- 
can party, and he and his wife attend the Presbyte- 
rian Church. Mr. Salter is one of the representa- 
tive citizens of Warren County, and although his 
hair is silvered by the lapse of time, he is yet in 
comparatively good health, and taking a retrospect- 
ive view of the past, he can call to memory no acts of 
injustice to his fellow-man, and lives in the knowl- 
edge that his accumulation of this world's goods is 
the outgrowth of no legacy, but of his own energy 
and perseverance, coupled with the active co-opera- 
tion of his good helpmeet and children. 



1*1 A C-3_ 

1 — 7~"^ 




ohn P. McClanahan, M. D., is a well known 
and highly respected physician of Warren 
County, his reputation extending far be- 
yond the bounds of Alexis, where he resides, 
or of the northern part of the county. John P. 
McClanahan is the sixth son of John McClan- 
ahan, whose sketch is given in this volume and to 
which we refer for the record of the family of Dr. 
John P. The latter was born Nov. 5, 1831, in 
Adams Co., Oliio. He was six years of age when 
his parents with their family removed to Brown 
County of the same State, and there the remaining 
years of his mmority were passed, not only in ac- 
quiring a knowledge of books, but in learning to suc- 
cessfully labor in business and agricultural pursuits. 
He at first attended the schools in iiis immediate 
neighborhood, taught mainly by his father or one of 
the older members of ihe family. He next had the 
advantages of the high school at Ripley, which was 
the adjoining town, and later attended a select school 
at North Liberty, Ohio. In 1851 he began the 
study of his profession, in the office and under the 
preceptorship of Dr. Alexander Dunlap of Ripley. 

The Docior attended his first course of medical 
lectures at the Western Reserve Medical College, of 
Cleveland, Ohio, and his second course at the Jeffer- 
son Medical College of Philadelphia. He gradu- 
ated from the latter institution in the spring of 1854. 
Soon thereafter he located at Ashland, Ky., where he 

* , ' -Al 



practiced for two years. In the spring of 1856, he 
determined on making a move, and having heard 
favorable reports from Illinois, he made this State 
his objective point. He located at Norwood, Mercer 
County, where he remained practicing his profession 
until 1862, when he entered the army, as First As- 
sistant burgeon of the S3d 111. Vol. Inf. Upon his 
return from the service of his country, he resumed 
his practice at Norwood. 

In 1872, the Doctor decided to change his location 
from Norwood to Alexis, on account of better rail- 
road facilities, and with this aim in view, purchased 
a building site adjoining Alexis on the Mercer County 
side. Here he erected a duelling, with the neces- 
sary accompanying structures. To the original site 
he subsequently added several acres adjoining, thus 
combining with his village property that of the farm. 

During the trying times of the late Rebellion, in- 
spired with like patriotism of many of his friends and 
neighbors, he responded to his country's call, and 
was commissioned First Assistant Surgeon of the 83d 
111. Vol. Inf , which was organized at Monmouth in 
1862. He served faithfully in this capacity for two 
years, when, in 1864, on account of failing health, 
he resigned and returned to his Illinois home, where, 
even before his health had been no more than slightly 
improved, he took up his old line of practice, in 
Warren and Mercer Counties. This arduous labor 
he has faithfully performed to the utmost extent of 
his limited physical ability to the present time (Jan- 
uary, 1886), though never equal to the call for his 
services. 

Dr. McClanahan was married Nov. 14, 1854, to 
Margaret J. Jones, daughter of Richard Jones, of 
Ashland, Ky. Mrs. McClanahan is a lady of 
refined taste and culture, and a prominent figure in 
the social circles of the community. She had not, 
however, the advantages of either a collegiate or 
academical course during her school days, but im- 
proved such early opportunities as she enjoyed in 
such a way as to have made of herself an excellent 
scholar. She has, also, daily added to the accumu- 
lations of earlier years by constant, careful reading, 
when leisure from household cares permitted. Mr. 
and Mrs. McC. have three children — the eldest, H. 
M. McClanahan; the second, A. A. McClanahan; 
the third, Alice M., sole daughter of the home, is a 
graduate of the Morgan Park Female College in the 
class of 1884. Dr. H. M. McClanahan, whoisprac- 



¥ 



-8-J-r:?!! 



!?^^4-^ 



ss* 



WARREN COUNTY. 



ticing his profession at Woodhuli, 111., received his 
collegiate educai ion at Monmouth College, and grad- 
uated in his profession from the Jefferson Medical 
College, of Philadelphia, in 1878. The second son, 
also a Monmouth College student, is a practicing 
attorney located at Omaha, Neb. He attended the 
law school at C'hicago the first year, and the second 
at Bloomington, 111 , and was admitted to the Bar at 
Springfield, 111., in May, 1885. 

Tiie Doctor is a Republican in political principles, 
and the entire family are Presbyterians in religious 
belief. 

As one of the leading professional men of this 
portion of the State, as well as an esteemed and en- 
terprising citizen, the publishers take pleasure in 
presenting lo their patrons the portrait of Dr. Mc- 
Clanahan, whicii is done in connection with this 
sketch. 




J^j amuel Graham, retired farmer, residing at 
Monmouth, was born in Washington 

K^ Co., Pa., April 10, 1806, and was the son 
of John and Martha (Hutchinson) Graham, 
natives also of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch 
and Irish descent respectively. Of the seven 
sons and three daughters reared to men and women 
by John and Martha Graiiain, Samuel, of whom we 
write was the seventh in order of birtli, and the fourth 
of the sons. At this writing (September, 1885) 
three sons and two daughters only are living. 

The senior Mr. Graiiam was a farmer by occupa- 
tion in his lifetime, and brought up his sons in that 
honorable calling. He and his wife s|)ent tlie last 
years of their lives in Washington Co., Pa., and there 
their reiTiains were laid to rest. 

Samuel Grahain has himself grown old. He was 
born wlien the present century was but an infant, 
and hii memory runs back to events in tlie history of 
our country that to nearly all of us, as wc read of 
them, sound as remote as the wars of the Medes and 
Persians. He heard tlie beat of the drums that 
marshalled again the defenders of a new and unde- 
veloped country against an ancient foe, and he clap- 
ped his childisli hands in glee as the bells from the 
tops of the little wiiite ciuirches pealed forth their 



chimes of victory. He was a man of family when 
Taylor's army trod the streets of Mexico ; and he 
had grown almost too old for service when the late 
war between the States cast a shadow of gloom 
across the threshold of every family in the land. 

The common schools at best in his day offered but 
comparatively small opportunity for education, and 
his circumstances were such as deprived him even 
of much of that. He came to Warren County, in 
1839, and settled in Sumner Township, where he 
spent many years of his life, coming to Monmouth in 
1863. For about two years after coming to town 
he was engaged at milling, since wliich time he has 
taken life easy. 

Mr. Graham was first married in Washington Co., 
Pa., April 21, 1831, to Margaret Eaton, who died in 
Warren County, Dec. 14, 1854, leaving two children : 
Mary Jane, now Mrs. Thos. W. Smiley, and Lucin- 
da M., who died Jan. 24, 1835, at the age of 16 
years. Six of her little ones preceded her to the 
other world, viz.: John, who died June 10, 1841, • 
aged five years, and five infants, not named. In 1856 
Mr. Graham returned to Washington C!!o., Pa., and 
there, on Sept 15 of that year, he was married to < 
Ann Wright, who died Sept. 20, 1871, leaving one 
child, which lived but a few months. In Scott Co., 
Iowa, Nov. 21, 1872, Mr. Graham was married to 
the excellent lady wlio presides over his household at 
this writing. Her name was Mary Ann McConnell, 
a native of Allegheny Co., Pa., and daughter of 
George and Jaennette (Stark) McConnell, who came 
respectively from Virginia and Pennsylvania, and 
who spent the last years of tlieir lives in Scott Co., 
Iowa. 

Below will be found the record of the parents of 
Mrs. Graham : Thomas McConnell, her grandfather, 
was born Sept. i, 1759; Mary Ann (Watt) McCon- 
nell, his wife, was born April 23, 1765. They were 
married Sept. 4, 1791, and on the 14th of June, 
1795, they set sail for America on the ship Cincin- 
nati, arriving in this country after a long and tedious 
voyage of 47 days. Upon landing they went direct 
to Richmond, Va. Of their union nine children were 
born. The father of Mrs. Graliam. George McCon- 
nell, was married to Jaenette Stark, Aug. 23, 1825, 
in Pennsylvania. The latter was the daughter of 
John and Jaenette (Morton) Stark, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. Their ])arents were born and married in 
Scotland. George McConnell had 10 children, six 



*x 



"V 



-eX 



WARREN COUNTY. 



±* 



553 



sons and four daughters eight of whom are living. 
After his marriage, Mr. McConnell remained in 
Pennsylvania until 1850, when he removed to Scott 
Co., Iowa, where he purchased a farm and remained 
thereuntil his demise. He was born Dec. 31, 1795, 
and died April 5, 1865. His wife was born Nov. 24, 
1800, and died in 1873. 

Whatever of this world's goods Mr. Graham pos- 
sesses and enjoys, he has acquired by his individual 
effort and industry. He began life a poor boy, but a 
ripe old age finds him in the enjoyment of a hand- 
some competency. 

In politics he is a Republican, and his religious 
faith is founded upon the tenets of the scriptures as 
expounded in the United Presbyterian Church. 



o.s$-<l!i»>^s>o — i>-5<- 



osephus Wray, residing on five acres ad- 
joining the village plat of Kirkwood, where 
he is passing the closing days of his life in 
peace and quiet retirement, having the greater 
portion of his years followed the vocation of an 
agriculturist, was born in Kentucky, June 6, 
The parents of Mr. Wray, Isaac and Mary 
(Carlton) Wray, were natives of Virginia. They 
moved from their native State to Kentucky, and from 
Kentucky to Indiana in 1827, where his father was 
engaged in farming until 1837. During that year, 
in company with his family, he came to this State and 
located on section 7, Tompkins Township, where 
the parents resided until their death, that of the 
father occurring Oct. 14, 1844, and that of the 
mother Oct. 16 of the same year, only two days 
apart. They were buried in one grave in the beau- 
tiful cemetery at Monmouth. 

Josephus Wray, their son, and the subject of this 
notice, with his brother John, purchased 160 acres 
of land on the same section on which his parents 
resided. Josephus lived on that land, engaged in 
the occupation of an agriculturist, until 1878, when 
for the purpose of educating his children, he moved 
to Kirkwood and located, as stated at the com- 
mencement of this notice. He has a fine residence 
on his five acres, and is living in the enjoyment of 
the accumulations of a life of labor, coupled with 
that of energetic effort and determination. 




The marriage of Mr. Wray to Miss Rebecca J. 
Woods, a native of Pennsylvania, was solemnized in 
1861, and their union has been blessed by the birth 
of two children — Samuel W. and Mary C. After 
nine years of married life, the wife was c.iUed to the 
better land, and Mr. Wray is living with his chil- 
dren. 

He is Republican in politics, and one of those gen- 
tlemen of Warren County whose veracity in business 
matters, or socially, is never doubted. 




Jelville C. Soule, real estate dealer at Mon- 
mouth, is a son of Rev. Justus and Mary 
ii^iSX^Ann (Harding) Soule, natives of New York, 
^^x' and of mixed French and Irish ancestry. Mr. 
Soule was born in New York State, April 10, 
_, 1847, and was the second in order of birth of a 
family of two sons and one daughter. 

The late Rev. J. Soule was 19 years a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to Mon- 
mouth in 1856, preached here awhile, itinerated 
to Geneseo, 111., and from there, at the end of a 
couple of years, to Moline, where he died Oct. 21, 
1859, aged 50 years. His widow reared the family, 
saw the children all settled in life, and has since 
made her home with them. Her eldest son, E. O. 
Soule, is Division Superintendent of the Burlington, 
Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad, and her 
daughter, Ella F., is the wife of the Rev. Reed Stu- 
art, of battle Creek, Mich. In the year 1867, at the 
age of 20 years, he embarked in the book, stationery 
and music business at Monmouth, under the firm 
name of Clark & Soule. 

Melville C. Soule was educated at Monmouth Col- 
lege. At the age of 21 years he became a local 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dur- 
ing a part of the year 187 i and '72 he had charge of 
a congregation at Groveland, 111. Failing health 
compelled him to give up the active work of the 
ministry, and, much to the regret of the people of 
Graceland, he returned to Monmouth, where, in 
1872, he engaged in the lumber business, under the 
firm name of W. F. Smith & Soule, afterward Soule 
& Graham. While in this line they did a very large 



'JKl 



' 5 



554 



. .y. ■ ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



and lucrative business, running two large lumber 
yards and taking contracts for building, having at 
times 27 or 30 men in their employ. Mr. Soule sold 
out in 1877, and for two years was engaged in the 
boot and Shoe business. During all these years, he 
was interested more or less in real estate, which has 
since 1880 occupied all his time. He is also inter- 
ested in banking, but notwithstanding all the labor 
incident to tliese various interests, he gives much 
time to temperance, church and Sabbath-school 
work. For 15 years he has been Recording Steward 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Monmouth; 
for six years a member of the Board of Trustees of 
Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, 111. ; and dur- 
ing the same period has been a member of Hedding 
College( at Abingdon, III.) Board of Trustees ; and 
for tlie jxist three years President of the Board. Mr. 
Soule was married at Monmouth, April 12, 1869, to 
Miss Ina Belle Smith, daughter of W. F. Smith, 
whose Ijiography appears in this work, and has had 
borne to him seven children — Edwin Olin, born 
Feb. 16, 1870; Francis J., May 19, 1872; Melville 
Glenn, July 6, 1874 ; Elbert Earl, Nov. 23, 1876; 
^ Mary Ella, Nov. 23, 1876, died Aug. 25, 1882 ; Ina 
Aleta, born March 13, 1880; Myrta L., born May 
13, i«83- 

-5 #-# <- 




rank L. Hall, general farmer and stock- 
grower, section 17, Cold Brook Township, 
was born in this township, June 10, 1865. 

He is a son of W. M. Hall (see sketch), now 
aifs:, residing in that township, and who is one of 

the most extensive land owners there. Our 
subject resided under the home roof with his parents 
until he entered college at Abingdon, in 1881. While 
there he took a special course in the college, and 
there met his present wife. After she had completed 
her regular course, June 6, 1884, they were united in 
marriage, at St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 31, 1884, the lady 
being Miss Minnie M. Younkin, daughter of Dr. E. 
Younkin, Professor of Surgery in the American Med- 
ical College, at St. Louis, since about the year 1872. 
Her mother was Mattie Hart, native of Ohio, and her 
father a native of Pennsylvania, both of whom are of 
American parentage, and the father of German an- 



cestry. They both in their younger days attended 
college at Abingdon, and there formed the acquaint- 
ance which afterwards resulted in marriage. The fa- 
ther completed his education in surgery at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, and they are now residents of St. Louis, 
wliere they occupy a high position in society and 
Ptof Younkin takes first rank in the school of medi- 
cine. Mrs. Hall, of this notice, was born in West 
Liberty, Iowa, Dec. 21, 1863. Afterward the parents 
moved to Abingdon, 111., thence to Leavenworth, 
Kas., and afterward to St. Louis, Mo., where they 
have since lived. Mrs. Hall received her early ru- 
dimentary education principally in St. Louis. Since 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hall have resided in 
Cold Brook Township. 

They are both members of the Christian Church, 
and politically, Mr. Hall is a supporter of the princi- 
ples advocated by the Democratic party 



«A/\*t — ♦♦ 



* f ^^y^ 




ames C. Blythe, of the firm of D. B. Ji 
Blythe & Co., dealers in haidware, at Kirk- \ 
wood village, is a native of Pennsylvania, 
where he was born, June 14, 1S50, his parents 
being David B. and Mary M. (Finley) Blythe, 
natives of the same state. The father of Mr. 
Blythe came to Illinois in 1865 and settled at Knox- 
ville, Knox County, where he engaged in merchan- 
dising. At the present time he resides in Tompkins 
Township, this county, on 400 acres of land, and is 
also tlie senior member of tiie firm of D. B. Blythe & 
Co., at Kirkwood. His wife, the mother of our sub- 
ject, died in Pennsylvania in 1865. 

The gentleman whose name we place afthe head 
of this notice was under the care of his parents until 
he attained his majority, receiving in the common 
schools a good education, which was supplemented 
by a thorough business course at the Keokuk Busi- 
ness College, Iowa, from which institution he grad- 
uated in 1877 In 1878 he engaged in the drugbus- 
iness at Woodburn, Clark Co., Iowa, and was thus 
occupied until 1882. During that year he sold his 
interest in the business mentioned and came to Kirk- 
wood, where he embarked in the hardware business, 
and iias continued the same until the present time. 
By strict attention to business, honest and fair deal- 



"T^ 



■^ 



4-- 



■ V. . " 

WARREN COUNTY. 



ISS 



ing witli his customers and quick sales, he has built 
up a business, which is a profitable and constantly 
increasing one. 

Mr. Blythe was united in marriage with Miss Lau- 
ra A. Randolph, April 2, 1879. She was the accom- 
plished daughter of D. W. Randolph, of Woodburn, 
Iowa, and has borne her husband three children, all 
sons, namely: Charles B., Harry R. and Edward F. 
In political matters, Mr. Blythe is an active worker 
in the interests of the Republican parly. Socially, 
he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is also Presi- 
dent of the School Board, is Fire Marslial at Kirk- 
wood and a member of the Board of Health. He 
carries the kirgest stock of hardware in Kirkwood 
village, and is one of the leading business men, as 
well as respected citizens, of that thriving little place. 



*r 



-amuelT. Shelton, the subject of this bio- 
p5"^ graphical notice, is one of the most prom- 
^^\ inent agriculturists of Warren County, as well 
as one of its old pioneers and leading citizens. 
He was born Sept. 6, 1821, in tiie vicinity of 
Mammoth Cave, near Pruett's Knob, Barren 
Co., Ky. He attended school in the old log school- 
house of that early day, which was sustained by sub- 
scription. His lessons were learned by the feeble 
light which struggled through window panes made of 
greased paper. There was only one arithmetic in the 
school, the lessons being given out on slates and then 
copied into books. 

Mr. Shelton, accompanying his father's family, left 
his native place Oct. 27, 1837, and emigrated to 
Warren Co., where he arrived November 24, of tliat 
year. The outfit for moving was a large Kentucky 
wagon, with a yoke of oxen by the tongue and a span 
of horses in the lead. The family stopped on the 
way with the early settlers, and were feasted on ven- 
ison and wild turkey. Arriving at their destination, 
the whole family of 12 persons wintered in a log 
cabin, in size about 16 feet square. The cooking 
utensils consisted of skillet, oven, pot, frying-pan and 
coffee-pot. Stoves were unknown at that time, as 
well as matches, and fire had to be " borrowed " from 
neighbors. 

Mr. Shelton worked on his father's farm in his na- 



tive state until the family arrived in Illinois, when 
his first labor in this state was to assist his father in 
splitting rails, for sustenance, meanwhile attending 
school winters, and studying evenings by the light of 
a log fire. On April ist, 1838, he commenced for 
himself as a farmer, renting his labor to his uncle, 
Isaac Murphy, at $15 per month and board, and his 
earnings being paid principally by his obtaining a 
horse and partly in goods from the store. Payment 
for labor was largely made in pork, which was quite 
a circulating medium in those days. Payment was 
also made in wheat at the rate of two bushels per 
day in e.vchange for an individual's labor, in harvest 
time. The wheat so obtained was then often hauled 
to Peoria, a distance of 60 miles, which occupied a 
week's time, and was there sold in 1846 at 40 cents 
per bushel, pay being taken in salt at 50 cents a 
bushel, which was hauled back home and peddled 
out in exchange for something else. Mr. Shelton 
continued to work out until about the time of his 
marriage, and in the meantime was engaged in teach- 
ing about six months. 

About this period in Mr. Shelton's life he ran in 
debt for 80 acres of land in Floyd Township, the 
same being purchased in the Fall of 1847, but not 
paid for until 185 r. He remained on that land, en- 
gaged in following the vocation of an agriculturist for 
about 30 years, then moved to Cold Brook Township 
March 27, T876, and purchased 70 acres of land ly- 
ing in Cold Brook Township, and a portion of the 
same being within the corporate limits of the town 
of Cameron, in which he now lives. He is also the 
owner of the old homestead of 400 acres, and 240 
acres elsewhere, and in 1839 located a claim in 
Washington Co., Iowa, which he afterwards sold. 

Until he left his old home in Floyd Township, Mr. 
Shelton had been a practical and successful farmer, 
stock-raiser and dealer. He became School Director 
about 1850, and successfully served as Trustee, 
Township Treasurer, Assessor and Collector, and was 
also Supervisor from 1863 to 1870. He was elected 
a member of the State Legislature, in 1870, serving 
out his term, during which time there were four ses- 
sions to revise the laws under the New Constitution, 
and Mr. Shelton also had the pleasure of assisting in 
the election of John A. Logan the first time he 
ever became Senator from the great Commonwealth 
of Illinois. Mr. Shelton has always been active in 
politics, and has gained no inconsiderable reputation 

A- • . 



V 



<-^':^ 



556 



■"¥'■ . 

WARREN COUNTY, 



•^r^r¥ 



as a public speaker. He was for many years a Re- 
publican, but is now an Anti-Monopolist Greenback- 
er and Prohibitionist. At present he holds tlie office 
of Justice of the Peace. 

Mr. Shelton was united in mirriage in Cold Brook 
Township, June i6, 1846, with Miss Eliza Murphy, 
Rev. John G. Haley offici.iting. She was born March 
10, 1824, in Northumberland Co., Va. They have 
four children, namely: Patrick H., born Oct. 30, 
1848; Melissa F., Dec. 17, 1849; James M., Feb. 2' 
1852; Ophelia E., March 27, 1855. Patrick H. mar- 
ried Laura E. Claycomb, Nov. 14, 187 i, and resides 
near Cameron; Melissa F. became the wife of Zach- 
ariah T. Nelson, June r2, r87o, and resides in David 
City, Neb.; James M. married Julia E. Sayles, Feb. 
4, 1874, and resides near Cameron; Ophelia E. be- 
came the wife of Eugene M. Clay, Jan. 30, 1876, and 
resides on the old homestead, near Cameron. 

David Shelton, father of Samuel T., was born near 
Danville, Ky., Dec. 23, 1792, and was one of the 
r veterans of the War of 1812. He died March 16, 
1847. His mother, Patsey, was born June 12, 1795, 
in Virginia, and died Nov. 30, 1883, after a remark- 
s' bly strong and healtliy life of over 80 years. All the 
family were long-lived and marvelously healthy. 

The descendants of David and Patsey Shelton in- 
creased during a period of 70 years, two months and 
two days, from the birth of their first child, Sept. 28, 
1813, to the death of Patsey Shelton, Nov. 30. 1883, 
in numbers as follows: 14 children, eight males, six 
females; eight living and six dead ; 95 grandchildren, 
55 males, 40 females; 74 living, 21 dead; 150 
great grandchildren, 75 males, 75 females; 124 living, 
26 dead; 15 great threat grandchildren, six males) 
nine females, 10 living, 5 dead, and making a total of 
274 children, 144 males and 130 females, 216 living 
and 58 dead. Also six sons-in law and nine daugh- 
ters-in-law, 26 grandsons-in-law, and 27 grand- 
daughters-in-law ; 4 great grand-sons-in-law and 
three great daughters-in-law, making a total of sev- 
enty-five which, added to their descendants enumer- 
ated, makes a grand total of 349. There are twen- 
ty-eight different names among the 274 descendants, 
as follows : 105 Sheltons, 29 Freemans, 20 Whit- 
mans, 16 Robinsons, 15 Norrises, 9 Means, 9 Clay- 
tons, 7 Otises, 6 Haleys, 6 Mills, 5 Loafmans, 5 
Bradleys, 5 Goddards, 4 Clays, 4 Durhams, 4 John- 
sons, 4 Smiths, 3 Legerwoods, 3 Riggles, 3 Nelsons, 
3 Keisers, 2 Hascalls, 2 Sayles, i Thompson, i 



n 



Jones, I Seals, i Vesser and i Cutler. The above 
named live in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Mis- 
souri and California, tlie larger portion living in the 
state first named. A newspaper containing the 
above summary relative to David and Patsey Shel- 
ton was placed in the corner-stone of the Presbyte- 
rian Church at Monmouth, 111., which was laid in 
1882. 

Mr. Shelton and his wife belong to the Christian 
Church, in which he bears the title of Rev., having 
been ordained an Elder by the congregation, and has 
served 30 years or more ; also as an Evangelist since 
i860. 



e=K- 



«^/l* 



i 




5 sal P. Randall, residing on Section 2i,Ber- 
1^ wick Township, where he is engaged in ag- 



ricultural pursuits, and on which section he 
owns an excellent farm, was born in Jefferson 
County, N. Y., May 6, 1812. His father was 
Thomas Randall, a native of Vermont, born in 1787. 
The father participated in the War of 1812, and was 
engaged in the battles of Brownsville and Sackett 's 
Harbor, and remained in the army until the close of 
the war, dying in JefTe-s-in Co., N. Y., in 1838. He ' 
married Miss Hannah Field, also a native of Ver- 
mont, born in 1791. She also died in Jefferson Co., 
N. Y , in 1882. Their children were seven in num- 
ber, namely : Betsey, Elijah, Alvira, Asal, Alfred, 
Deborah and Ardelia, all of whom are deceased ex- 
cept three. 

Asal P. Randall formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Jane A. Brown, at Watcrtown, Jefferson Co., N. 
Y., in 1836. She vifas born in that county in 1816, 
and bore her husband two children, Hilly E., born in 
1S37, and OrlandoT., in 1843. The wife and mother 
died in 1852, in Wisconsin, whither Mr. Randall had 
removed with his family one year previous. 

After the death of his wife Mr. Randall again re- 
turned to York State, where, in 1856, he was again 
married, to Miss Mary Ann Mather, at Brownville, 
that state. She died June 9, 1878, in Berwick Town- 
ship, this county, having borne her husband seven 
children: Edgar, born 1849; Emma, 185 1; Eva, 
1855; Francis, 1859; William, 1861 ; Homer W 
1863 and May A., 1865. Four of Mr. R.'s children 



T 



WARREN COUNTY. 



•^^^^ 



557 



4 




are married, namely : Orlando, Edgar, Dilly and 
Francis. Mr. Randall is pleasantly situated on 70 
acres of good land, which he has under a good state 
of cultivation, and there, with his devoted daughters 
and sons, is passing the sunset of his life in peace 
and quiet. He and his family are Close Communion 
Baptists, and in politics Mr. Randall is, and always 
has been, a Republican. 



^^HJMt^ 



M3 
kapt. John P. Higgins, of Monmouth, was 

if born in Cumberland Co., Ky,, Aug. 8, 

1830, and his parents were Uurrett and 

i|fe Mary (Graves) Higgins, who reared seven 

-f^ sons and four daughters, John being the third 
son in order of birth, and one of the three 
sons now living. The sons were brought up as 
tillers of the soil upon the farm of their parental 
ancestor. The family came to Illinois in 1835, and 
the parents spent the rest of their lives in Tazewell 
County, the father dying in 1851, at the age of 62 
years, and his widow in i860, at the age of 62 years. 

From the common schools of Tazewell County, 
the subject of our sketch took a scientific course at 
Galesburg Liberal Institute (now known as Lombard 
University), and in 1855 began teaching school. 
For nearly 20 years he taught in Warren County. 
His home was in .Swan Township, where he held the 
office of Supervisor for four years, beginning in 1879, 
and was also holding llie office of Justice of the 
Peace at the same time. In 1881 he removed to 
Monmoutli, where he was at once appointed County 
Superintendent, to fill out an unexpired term of that 
office. 

Capt. Higgins has always been a Democrat, and 
as such has held several minor offices in the county. 
In 1883, he was the candidate of that party for 
Sheriff, but was defeated, almost as a matter of 
course in a county &o radical in its blind following of 
party as to exclude the possibility of recognition of 
the claims of even a battle-scarred veteran when he 
chose to assert a conviction contrary to their own. 

At Macomb, 111., in July, 1862, Mr. Higgins en- 
rolled as a private soldier in the service of the 
United States, and at the organization of Co. A, 84th 



111. Vol. Inf , he was chosen Captain, a position he 
filbd until Jan. 25, 1865, when, on account of i 
health he was forced to resign. Up to that time he 
was with his regiment all the time, and partici- 
pated in its numerous engagements. In March, 
after leaving the army, he came to Warren County 
and has since made this his home. Capt. Higgins 
inherited nothing in the way of a fortune. What he 
has he has earned by the sweat of his brow. 

He was married in Swan Township, Dec. 4, 1856, 
to Miss Zoa A. Simmons, and their three children 
were named respectively, Hezekiah D., who died in 
1 871; Robert P. and Nellie C. The Captain is 
Past Master in Good Hope Lodge in Masonry, and 
for two years was first Commander of the G. A. R. 
Post at Monmouth. 



-i3' 









€i- 



'i.'Ff^Uchael W. Hall, residing in Cold Brook 
-l- r^"'-^A3 l Township, a gentleman of more than 



jf|WlV\.\.s 



''^ ordinary business ability, owning 1,500 
-ji^'''-'\ acres of land in Warren County, and a suc- 
■■V- cessful farmer and stock-raiser, was born in 
I Barren Co., Ky., April 30, 1837. The father 
of Mr. Hall, Robert S. Hall, was also a native of 
Barren Co., Ky., and followed the occupation of a 
farmer during his life time. He was married in the 
county of his nativity to Julia Harber, and six chil- 
dren were born of their union, in Kentucky. After 
the demise of his wife he was again married to Julia 
Madden, a native of Ohio. Of both marriages of 
Mr. Hall, senior, nine children were the result — six 
by the first marriage and three by the second, with 
record as follows: Susan married A. B. Miller and 
resides in Kansas : six children have been born to 
them, of whom two are deceased. Mildred became 
the wife of Alick Anthony, and the mother of five 
children : she is now deceased, as also are two of the 
children. Mary Jane married Edward Grover, and 
they reside in Mercer County and have a family of 
five. Michael W. was fourth in order of birth. John 
D. married Phoebe Airsmith, and they became the 
parents of two children : father and mother are both 
deceased. Joseph lives in Texas. Kate is married 
and resides in Michigan. Robert S. lives in Mon 



■^1 



"T 



*t 



5S8 



— .. /zn — . •- 

WARREN COUNTY. 



k- 



mouth. Tlie three hitter are by the second mar- 
riage. 

Michael W. Hall came witii his parents to this 
county and located in Monmouth Township. His 
father purchased partly improved land, >vhose value 
he augmented by cultivation, and at the date of his 
death was the owner of 400 acres. His death oc- 
curred in Monmouth Township at about tiie begin- 
ning of the War for the Union, his wife, the mother 
of Michael W., liaving departed this life some live 
years previous. She was killed near the city of 
JefTersonville, Ind,'by ihe train on wliich she was 
riding being thrown from tlie track. The cause of 
the accident was a bovine, who obstinately refused 
to give way to tlie " iron horse." She was at the 
time on a visit to her former home in Kentucky, and 
the accident she received was so severe that, al- 
though she reached her native State, she lingered 
but a short time, and tlien, in Louisville, Ky., de- 
parted this life. 

After the death of his mother, Mr. Hall engaged 
in farming on his own account. He liad i)reviously 
purchased about 50 acres of land in Monmouth 
Township, and on this he began the occupation 
which he has continued during his entire life. Sept. 
8, 1859, at the residence of the bride's parents in 
Monmouth Township, Mr. Hall was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Candis, the accomplished daughter 
of John and Permelia (Tapscott) Miller natives of 
Barren Co., Ky. Her parents were niariied in Glas- 
gow and were of Virginia parentage and Scotch ex- 
traction. Her father was a cabinet-iliaker, and for 
some years after marriage resided at Cllasgow Ky., 
at which place Mrs. Hall was born, Dec. 16, 1843. 
She was next to the oldest in order of birtli of 
four children, viz. : Charley, who was married to 
Adaline Parker, now deceased ; Candis the wife 
of Mr. Hall; and two who died in infancy. In 
1845, when but two years of age, Candis, now Mrs. 
Hall, was brought by her parents to this State. They 
located in Monmouth Township, wliere her father 
followed his trade up to within a short time before 
his death, which occurred June 7, 1854. Her mother 
was again married, and died in Cold Brook Town- 
ship Dec. 22, 1876. 

After Mr. and Mrs. H. were united in marriage, 
they located upon a farm in Monmouth Township, 
which Mr. Hall had previously purchased. Six 
months later tiiey moved on a farm in Cold Brook 



Township, consisting of 124 acres, to which Mr. H. 
has since added tracts located in Cold Brook and 
Monmouth Townships to the extent as heretofore 
mentioned and most of which is under an advanced 
state of cultivation, with the exception of 125 acres 
which is timber. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Christian 
Church located at Talbott Creek, to which denomi- 
nation they have belonged for some 25 years. The 
issue of tiieir union has been seven children. The 
living are Frank (see sketch), George C, Addie B., 
Ella M , James B. and George M., all of whom are 
living at home and have received good educations. 
Edison G. is deceased. 



* -€^- ^ 

^vjlil^ij obert S. Patton, Treasurer of Warren 
>] RJk^ - County, was elected first in 1879 and re- 
? &^^"" elected in 1882, term to expire in Decem- 
•f]\y ber, 1886. The gentleman whose name heads 
\y this notice was born in Adams Co , Ohio, 
1 Jan 16, 1837, and was the first child of five 

born to Jolm S. and Sarah (Morrison) Patton, na- 
tives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. They were 
of Irish extraction. The father was married before 
to Miss McCague, and by that marriage four chil- 
dren were the result — George A., Mary J., 
Natlianicl T. and M.irtha. Of this marriage all are 
deceased except Nathaniel T. He married Esther 
Stevenson, she being a native of Ohio and now de- 
ceased. The five children of the second marriage 
are Robert S., Carrie S., Eliza M., John H. and Sa- 
rah ; the latter died while young. Cary S. married 
Miss Lizzie Harsha; Eliza married J. B. Woods; 
John H. married Sarah M. Woods. Judge Robert 
Morrison, grandfather of Mr. P., on the maternal 
side of the house, was an officer in the war of 1812. 
His grandf.ither, Nathaniel Patton, on the paternal 
side of the house, was one of the first defenders of 
his country. 

Mr. Patton settled in Hale Township in i860. 
His parents came the next year and in that town- 
ship spent the rest of their lives, the senior Mr. Pat- 
ton dying in 1863, aged ''^4 years, and his widow in 
1876, at the same age. 

Robert S. Patton lived on his father's farm in Hale 



*x 



:ki. 



-x^ 



■c T _ L 



IVARREI^ COUNTY. 



•^^ 



S«i 



Township, which he had previously bought from the 
heirs, until the spring of 1880, when he removed to 
Monmouth to take charge of the office that he was 
elected to fill. He has always been a consistent 
Republican, but his selection for the office which he 
so ably filled was made not so much on account of 
his politics, as his fitness. With the exception of 
the School Treasury of his township, which he han- 
dled for 12 years, the present is the only official po- 
sition he has ever filled or sought to fill. 

Mr. Patton was married in his native county to 
Miss Sarah Ann Sheppard, on the 2d of February, 
i860, and of the seven children born to him, Anna 
S., George, John and Guy are living, and three were 
buried in infancy. Mrs. Patton was the daughter of 
Johnston and Mary (Henry) Sheppard. She was 
born in Adams Co., Ohio, June, 1839. Her parents 
came from Ohio. Her parents are of American or- 
igin as far back as known. 

Mr. Patton belongs to no secret order, but has been 
many years a consistent member of the United Pres- 
byterian Church. 




4 



;ohn P. Terpening, a well known resident 
of Kelly Township, is a settler of Warren 
County of 1836. He is a native of Sara- 
toga Co., N. Y., and accompanied his parents 
^r to Illinois in 1835. His father, Ezekiel Ter- 
pening, was born in the town of Clifton Park, 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1781. The great-grandfather 
of John P. came from Holland and settled in New 
York after i's capture by the English. From there 
he moved with his family to Ulster County, that 
State, where he died. One of his sons, Peter, moved 
to Saratoga County, to what is now called Clifton 
Park, where he passed the remaining years of his 
life. He served as a soldier during the war of the 
Revolution. His son, who was the father of our sub- 
ject, was a soldier in the war of 18 12. His grandfa- 
ther, on the maternal side, assisted in defending the 
rights of the colonies, and died from the effects of 
the hardships that he endured while in tlie service. 
His naine was Peake, and he was of English ances- 

Ezekiel Terpening had learned the trade of a 



blacksmith. He gave his attention to that business 
until the proceeds of his labor enabled him to buy a 
farm, after which he abandoned his trade for the 
pleasures of agriculture. In 1835, accompanied by 
his family, he set out to seek a home in the West. 
They st.irted on the Erie Canal, by which they 
reached the city of Buffalo, whence they took a steam- 
boat to Cleveland. From that city they again took 
passage on a canal extending from that place to 
Portsmouth, on the Ohio River, where they embarked 
on a steamboat on the same river and reached the 
Mississippi River, on which they journeyed to Si. 
Louis. The freezing of the river detained them there 
a month, and at the end of that time they proceeded 
to Quincy, where they arrived on the ist day of Jan- 
uary, 1836. No vacant house could be found at 
Quincy, and, in company with other emigrants, they 
took possession of a camp three miles from the city, 
where they remained a month. About the ist of 
February, the father and son (the latter the subject 
of this sketch) set out for Rock Island County to see 
the claim J. P. had previously bought, but met a man, 
who was then living where Moline is now located 
and whom he knew was living near the place he had 
purchased. Mr. T. learned from him that the claim 
had again been sold, the man getting only $5 more 
than Mr. T. was to give. He had agreed to pay 
him $450 on taking possession, the ist of March. 
They were then some 30 miles south of Monmouth, 
but thought best to go to Hendersonville, Knox 
County, and look around. They finally found a de- 
sirable location, on section 33, in township 12 north, 
of range t west (Kelly Township). Previous to 
starting, the family had removed to a vacant house 
in Quincy, where the remaining members were com- 
fortable situated while the father and son were away 
seeking a place for their future home. They re- 
turned to Quincy and remained in that city until 
spring, when, with a pair of horses and a wagon they 
drove to their new home. There were a few im- 
provements on the place, consisting of a log hous; 
and stable and four acres of prairie broken. This 
was the homestead during the reinaining years of the 
life of the father, and he also bought additional land, 
until he was the owner of 480 acres. He died July 
16, 1864. The wife and mother died Feb. 8, 1867. 
Their family included 11 children. 

Mr. Terpening of this sketch is the third in order 



'SlAl 



-P^ 



-t4^r?! 



5<^2 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



"T* 



of birtli. He was born in the same town in which 
his father was born, April 12, 181 1. He was reared 
on the homestead in Saratoga County and received 
a good common-school education. At the age of 21 
he became a clerk in a grocery, at Rexford's Flats, in 
the county of his nativity. In May, of that year 
(1835), he set out for Illinois. He stopped in vari- 
ous places in the intervening States of New York 
and Ohio, and after he reached Jackson, in the Buck- 
eye State, he came the remainder of the distance to 
Illinois on foot. In September of the same year he 
returned to Saratoga County for the sake of fulfilling 
a promise to a young lady named Mindwell Smith, 
to whom lie was joined in marriage, Sept. 24tli after 
he arrived home. She is the daughter of Richard 
and Sally (Peck) Smith, and was also born in Clifton 
Park Townshij), Saratoga County, April 2, 18 13. 

Mrs. Terpening was the eldest of a family of eight 
children, namely: Abijah, Eliza, Nathan, Richard 
P., Samuel, Sglomon P. and one who died in in- 
fancy. Eliza married Solomon Waite, and now lives 
in St. Clair Co., Mo. Samuel now lives in Pettis 
Co., Mo. Solomon C. resides at Waterford, N. Y. 
He was a Colonel in the late war, in which he lost 
one of his arms. Of the paternal side, as far back as 
she can trace, Mrs. T. is of American ancestry, and 
on the maternal side is of English origin. 

Upon the 2d of November, 1835, the elder Ter- 
pening and liis family, including the bride of his son, 
set out for the journey to Illinois that has been re- 
lated in detail in connection with what has been told 
above coacerning the fortunes of the father. The ar- 
rival of the entire party in what is now Kelly Town- 
slap, occurred March 9, 1836. The elder Terpen- 
ing bought the southwest quarter of section 33 of L. 
VV. BilUips. Upon this was a log cabin, 18 x 20 feet 
in size, and Mr. Hilhips and his family of ten and 
Mr. Terpening's family of twelve, twenty-two in all, 
lived in it for tliree weeks. Mr. Terpening says that 
" we were thicker than three in a bed, as the floor, 
our only bed, was covered. " At the end of three 
weeks, Mr. B. had completed his house in the vi- 
cinity and moved out. (It should have been stated 
that the elder Teri)ening assisted a man ard his fam- 
ily to come with himself. This ina^i settled in Scuy- 
lerCo., Ill) 

The first year of his stay in Warren County, Mr. 
Terpening rented a farm on section 28, and in 1837 
he bought 80 acres of land on section 26. It was 



nearly all covered with timber, but a small log cabin 
had been erected, of which he and his wife took pos- 
session for a short time, until a more comfortable 
and convenient dwelling could be prepared for their 
use. The new house was built of logs, but it was 
the home of the household for seven years. At the 
end of that time, Mr. Terpening bought a farm on 
the southwest quarter of section 34, to which he re- 
moved. They were there resident five or six years, 
after which the proprietor bought and removed to the 
place a frame house. He continued to manage the 
place until he had broken and fenced about 50 acres, 
when he again sold his farm and bought a place on 
section 2, of the townsliipof Cold Brook. The family 
were the occupants of this until 185 r, when Mr. 
Ter[)ening bought the farm on which he is at pres- 
ent residing. It was then unbroken ])rairie. He 
moved a log house to it and commenced to improve 
his property. He has placed it in a condition which 
will compare favorably witii others in the township of 
similar pretensions. 

Mr. Terpening's household included eight chil- 
dren. Smith, the eldest son, resides in Galesburg, 
111. ; J. Wesley is a resident of Marion Co., Mo. ;^ 
Sarah is the widow of William M. Armstrong, who' 
was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion and Cap- 
tain of Company B, io2d 111. Vol. Inf., to which ref-, 
erence has so often been made in the course of these 
records. At the battle of Averysburg he was se- 
verely wounded and never recovered from the con- 
sequences of the injury. After his return he was 
elected Sheriff of Warren County, but did not live to 
fill his term of office. Harrison P. is a resident of 
Marion Co., Mo.; Olive is the wife of W. B. Arm- 
strong, and they are settled in Vernon Co., Mo. ; 
Nathan is a citizen of the same county ; Charles is 
the manager of the homestead ; Edwin lives in the 
township of Cold Brook. The son, Harrison, was a 
soldier in the Rebellion, and served in the SQth 111. 
Vol. Inf. William, Wesley and Nathan were soldiers 
in the same company and regiment of which their 
brother-in-law was the chief officer. .Ml served 
through the war. 

The record of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Ter- 
pening is as follows : Maria T. is the wife of George 
W. Brown, of Galesburg, the inventor of the corn 
planter that bears his name ; Olive is Mrs. Bos well ; 
Peter lives in Vernon Co, Mo. : George is a resident 
on section 28, in Kell) Township; "David lives on 



I 



WARREN COUNTY. 



563 



section 33, of the same; William H. is a citizen of 
Pettis Co., Mo. 

Mr. T. has held various township offices, such as 
Collector, Assessor, School Director and Superintend- 
ent of Highways. He was appointed Postmaster of 
the office at Utah, under the administration of Zach- 
ary Taylor, and held the office for eight years. Dur- 
ing the late war, he was enrolling officer. He wanted 
to enlist himself and follow the fortunes of his three 
sons in the service of his country, but owing to his 
age the recruiting officer would not accept him. His 
friends very justly thought he had already shown 
sufficient patriotism and done enough by sending to 
the front three of his sons, two of his sons-in-law and 
one brother, Samuel Terpening. Politically, he is a 
Republican, and he was elected President of the 
Union League. His wife is a member of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

As one of the best known of the early pioneers of 

this part of the State, as well as a venerable and 

[highly respected citizen of the county, the portrait of 

John P. Terpening will be regarded as one of the 

most valued in this Album. 



*««- 



illiam D. Miller, of Berwick Township 
Warren County, who is the owner of a fine 
farm, with beautiful surroundings, on sec- 
3> tion 10, was born in Perry Co., Ind., Feb. 
i6, 1848. John Miller, father of the sub- 
ject of this notice, was born in Kentucky, in 
January, 1805, and came to Illinois in 1851. 
He was a farmer by occupation and died on his liome 
farm, in this county, Oct. 8, 1878. He was married 
to Miss Lucy Carrin 1830. She was born in Ken- 
tucky, in 1807, and died in this county, Nov. 21, 
1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller eight children were 
born, five of whom still survive them. 

William D. Miller is the present Supervisor of 
Berwick Townsliip, and has faithfully served the 
townsliip in that capacity for seven years. He has 
also served as School Director for ten years, and as 
Assessor for three years. By industry , enterprise 
and frugality he has accumulated a handsome prop- 
erty, and has beautified his farm with a neat resi- 







dence and inviting surroundings. In addition to his 



agricultural pursuits, he has devoted considerable 
time to raising stock and dealing in graded cattle. 

May 21, 1873, Mr. Miller was united in marriage 
with Miss Georgia Cable. She was born Sept. 27, 
1 85 I. To them a son, Walter, was born, Dec, 19, 
1879. 

In politics, Mr. Miller, like his father before him, 
affiliates with the Democratic party, and is one of 
the recognized leaders of the democracy of Berwick 
Township. His wife united with and is a member of 
the Baptist Church of Berwick. 



-HC3- 



-et- 




asurr Sheldon, owning 304 acres of good 
%f farm land, located on section 32, Floyd 
' '' Township, where he resides and is active- 
ly engaged in its improvement and cultiva- 
tion, was born Nov. 8, 1838, in the same 
township, and is a son of Wilson Sheldon, 
born in New York city, Feb. 3, 1811, and now de- 
ceased. 

The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came 
to this State in 1837, located on the northwest quar- 
ter of section 32, Floyd Township, and became the 
owner of 640 acres of land, where he resided, follow- 
ing the vocation of a farmer, until 1868, when he 
moved to Monmouth and lived there until his death, 
Sept. 13, 1873. He was married to Sarah Matteson 
in 1831. She was born in Rhode Island, in 1813, 
and when eight years old her parents removed to 
Oneida Co., N. Y., where she continued to reside un- 
til the fall of 1837, when she came to this State with 
her husband, the subject of this notice. Of their 
union nine children were born — Hiram, Martha, 
George, Seneca M., Burr, Alma, Aurilla (who died 
on attaining her 21st year), Mary and Jerome, the 
latter dying in infancy. 

Burr Sheldon was married to Miss A. J. Morey, 
Oct. 13, 1869. She was born Dec. 10, 1845, in Knox 
Co., III., and bore her husband two children — Clar- 
ence M., born Jan. 18, 187 i ; and Carrie, Jan. 16, 
1879. The father of Mrs. Sheldon, Hiram T. Morey, 
was born in New York, about 1820; married Miss 
Caroline I. Patrick, a native of Kentucky, January, 
1845. She was born in 1825, and bore him five chil- 




■J'kI 



S64 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Ju 



dren — Anna J) Caroline, William F., Hiram and 
Jane. He came to this State about 1840, and lo- 
cated at Knoxville, Knox County, where he contin- 
ued to reside for 20 years, during which time he 
served as Circuit Clerk four years. He then moved 
to Monmouth, where he is at present residing, and is 
keeping books for his son, Hiram Morey, engaged in 
business on Main Street. 

The farm of Mr. Sheldon of this notice is under an 
advanced slate of cultivation, and in addition to the 
tilling of his land, he is to a considerable extent en- 
gaged as a stock-dealer, and has also added to these 
interests the baling and shipping of hay. He has a 
fine hay press and is doing a very extensive business 
in that line. 

Socially, Mr. Sheldon is a member of the k. F. & 
A. M. Lodge, No 619, Berwick. In religion, he and 
his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and in 
politics, Mr. Sheldon always casts his vote with the 
Democratic party. He served his township as School 
■ Director for a number of years. 



— o®r 



yman H. Young. The subject of this 
sketch is among the substantial and pro- 
gressive farmers of Warren County. He 
was born in Litchfield, Conn , Feb. 25, 1822, 
and is the son of Stephen and Annis (Smith) 
Young. The former was a native of the above 
named county, but his father was born in Scotland. 
He came to America and settled in Connecticut, 
while it was yet under colonial government. There 
he lived, and when Stephen was but five years old, 
died. The maternal grandf;ither of our subject, Joel 
Smith, was of English nativity. He came to Con- 
necticut, where he followed the vocation of a farmer. 
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Young is descended 
from the best English and Scotch ancestry. 

Mr. Young was reared and educated in his native 
state, ayending the excellent schools, and also re- 
ceiving a good academic education, which he has 
supplemented with a careful and extensive course of 
reading, and is not only well informed on general and 
current topics, but has a mind stored with valuable 
and practical information. After leaving school he 




engaged in teaching for the next six months. He 
ventured West in the Spring of 1854, and settled in 
Cold Brook To.vnship, Warren County, where he 
purchased land on Section 7. Here he has since 
followed farming and stock raising, in both of which 
departments he has been more than ordinarily suc- 
cessful. 

Mr. Young was united in marriage Oct. 11, 1846, 
with Miss Emeline A., daughter of Walker and Con- 
stant (Humaslon) Cole. The ceremony was per- 
formed in Medina Co., Ohio, where Mr. Cole and 
family resided. They were also natives of Connect- 
icut, but had settled in Ohio, at an early day. There 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young seven chil- 
dren, whose names in the order of birth, are as fol- 
lows : Stephen Nelson, who is married and living in 
Nodaway Co.. Mo.; Clark Milton, a farmer of Cold 
Brook Township, and a sketch of whom is given else- 
where in this Album. Clarence is married and a 
farmer of Kelly Township. George L. is also mar- 
ried, and is a resident of Nance Co., Neb. Elmer • 
died at the age of four years. Levi E. is married, 
and also a resident of Nance Co., Neb. Dr. Arthur 
Young, now a student of Monmouth College, is the =^ 
youngest of tliis family. Mr. Young has given all 
his children the benefits of a thorough practical ed- 
ucation, and they have gone forth into the world fully 
equipped to meet the responsibilities of life. 

In 1876 Mr. Young organized and put into suc- 
cessful operation the Cold Brook Rural Mut4.ial In- 
surance Company, and was elected its President. 
About two years afterwards the State Legislature 
passed an Act permitting mutual companies to or- 
ganize, and under that Act a re-organization was ef- 
fected which includes the entire County of Warren. 
It then took the name of the Monmouth Farmers' 
Mutual County Insurance Company. Mr. Young 
was elected its President, which position he has 
since held. Under his fostering care and guidance 
the Company has grown to be second to none of sim- 
ilar character. The volume of business or amount 
of policies carried last year aggregated $960,000. 
The benefits accruing to the fanners of the county 
can be easily estimated. Much credit is due Mr. 
Young for inaugurating and carrying forward this en^ 
terprise, which has been of great advantage as secu- 
rity from loss in case of fire, in the farming districts. 
Mr. C. M. Young, son of the President, is the Secre- 
tary of the Company. Father and son perform the 



*r 



¥ 



■ cT_i 



~ . .v. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•!^W 



S6S 



duties of their respective offices for a mere nominal 
consideration, having the general good of the Com- 
pany at heart. Mr. Young has held the office of 
School Trustee and Road Commissioner. In politics 
he was formerly a VVhig, but since the organization of 
the Republican party has been a staunch supporter 
of it. 



•s/W\<~\ta££r©-^ 



»^,SiO?J?'»v."./\/w 





: rville Ray, engaged in stock-raising and ag- 
ricultural pursuits, on section 8, Berwick 
.Township, where he resides and owns 200 
acres of land, was born in Kentucky, Feb. 18, 
1819, and is a son of Hickerson Ray, a native of 
Virginia, who emigrated to this State in 1845, 
locating in Roseville Township, this county, where 
he died about 1855. 

The father was married to Miss Sarah Kelly about 
1815. She was born in Virginia, about 1800, and 
died in 188 r, in this county. Of their union the 
C following children were born : Wyatt, Orville, William, 
Thomas and Elizabeth, twins, Hickerson, John C, 
Jane, Emily, Harriet and Paradine. 

Mr. Ray came to Warren county as early as 1840, 
for a time worked by the month. By using economy 
and diligence, for which he is noted, he had put him- 
self in s^uch shape that by 1845 he was able to pur- 
chase some land, and began farming for himself. At 
that time he located in Roseville Township. He 
moved from there to Floyd Township, where he 
lived until 1870. 

Orville Ray was united in marriage with Miss 
Jane Smith, Feb. i, 1845. She was born in March, 
1827, in Kentucky, and has become the mother of 
seven children, six of whom are living, namely, 
Archie M., Ira T., Harvey L., Eliza, Victoria and 
Silas O. John H. died in infancy. Archie married 
Elizabeth Welch, who died leaving two children, 
Charles and Mary. Ira T. married Miss Millee 
Ayers, and they have one child. They live in Gage 
County, Neb. Harvey selected for a wife Milinda 
Jane Carr : the names of their two children are Mary 
E. and Mable. Eliza became the wife of John W. 
Smith, of Ringgold County, Iowa, and is the mother 
of four children — Nora, Henry, Arthur and Lena. 
Victoria is the wife of Joshua Roswell. They have 



four children living, as follows : Arnold N., Charles, 
deceased, Mina Ester and Harvey. Silas O. lives 
with his parents. 

Mr. Ray is the owner of 200 acres of land where 
he resides, and in addition to its cultivation, is de- 
voting a considerable part of his time to raising and 
dealing in fine horses. He has some fine roadsters 
and heavy draught horses, 23 head in all, and in 
this branch of his vocation he is meeting with marked 
success. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Ray are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. R. 
votes with the Democratic party. 

The father of Mrs. Ray, wife of the subject of this 
notice, John Smith, was born in Kentucky in 1800, 
and died in this State in 1839. He was married in 
1822, to a Miss Usurla Hendricks, who was born in 
Virginia, in 1800. She died in April, 1873, in this 
State, after having borne her husband eight children, 
namely : Elizabeth, David, Nancy, James A. J., 
John T., William H., Brison B. and Keziah Jane. 
The parents came to this State during the Black 
Hawk War, in 1832. They were consistent mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, and in politics her father 
was a strong supporter of the principles advocated by 
the Democratic party. 



«^-~ 



ohn A. MeKnight, of the township of 
Spring Grove, is a descendant from a fam- 
'*''^ ily that became associated with the history 
of this country previous to the War of the 
Revolution. His first ancestor on the Amer- 
ican Continent was James MeKnight, who 
was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch progeni- 
tors, and therefore belonged to the class of people 
distinctively known as the Scotch Irish. Their na- 
tionality as Scotch is practically intact, as in few 
instances did they intermarry with the native people 
of Ireland. They were all Protestants of decided 
type. The first of the family in this country, who 
has been referred to, settled in Adams Co., Pa., 
where he continued to reside until 1808. He then 
went to Crawford County in the same State, and 
there, by the purchase of a large acreage, became an 
extensive landholder. The land was covered with 

A • ■ ^ 




T 



!?=-4-> 



S66 



WARREN COUNTY. 



r 



timber and he passed his life in its improvement. 
Captain James McKnight, his son, became noted for 
his predilection for military affairs, and at the age of 
1 8 he was made Captain of a militia Company, which 
he commanded in the War of 1812. His father gave 
him a tract of land, on which he settled at the close 
of the war and which he cleared from its original 
condition. He remained thereon resident until 
1864, when he came to Illinois. He located in War- 
ren County and bought the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 31 in Spring Grove Township and lived there 
until the date of his death. His wife, previous to 
her marriage to him, was Miss Lucinda Adams. She 
was born in Virginia, April 17, 1799. They had 
nine childven: Mr. McKnight of this sketch is tlie 
oldest; Mary Ann is deceased; James C. lives in 
La Bette Co., Kan.; William lives in Mercer Co., 
111.; Margaret is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of 
Allen Dunn, a farmer of Spring Grove Township; 
Thomas resides in the township of Monmouth; 
David S. lives in Alexis; Lucinda, the youngest, 
who was the wife of Jeff Calvin, of La Bette Co., 
Kan., is deceased. 

John A. McKnight was born in Mead Township, 
Crawford Co., Pa., July 10, 1823. His father, of 
whom an account is incorporated in this sketch, was 
'' born in Adams Co., Pa., April i, 1786. Mr. Mc- 
Knight was brought up in the county where he was 
born and was reared in the calling in which all his 
ancestors had been engaged. He received such ed- 
ucation as could be obtained in the district schools. 
On arriving at the age of independent manhood, he 
fitted himself for the business of a carpenter, which 
he followed eight years. 

Mr. McKnight was married to Elmina C. Dunn, 
Sept. 28, 1854. Sl-,e was born in Erie Co., Pa., 
March 13, 1835. On making ready to locate in life, 
Mr. McKnight bought a farm in Hayficld 'i'ownship 
in his native County. The place had no buildings 
on it and only 20 acres had been cleared. He 
erected the necessary buildings for the family and 
his stock and crops and proceeded with the work of 
clearing the land. He cut the timber on 15 acres 
while he continued to occupy the farm, but disposed 
of it in 1857 and came to Illinois. He settled in 
Warren County on 60 acres of land situated on the 
southeast cpiarter of section 31. The previous owner 
had erected a log cabin and had placed 30 acres un- 
der the plow. The family passed the winter in the 



log building and in the spring Mr. McKnight built a 
small frame house. He has since made additional 
jjurchases of land and he is now the owner of the 
whole quarter-seciion on which he at first settled. 
The buildings and all the accessories of the place 
are of excellent character. He also bought land in 
Monmouth Township. 

The first wife of Mr. McKnight died in Septen.- 
ber, 1 866. Feb. 25, 1868, he was again married, to 
Sarah J. Stevenson. She was born in Adams Co., 
Ohio, Jan. 28, 1838, and is the daughter of James 
and Margaret (Cameron) Stevenson. Her father 
was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and her 
mother was a native of Pennsylvania. 

Of the first marriage of Mr. McKnight there were 
born five children — James E., Emma E., John O., 
Ida L. and Edward L. Of the second marriage, 
Alexander C. and Albert S. are the issue. 

Mr. and Mr . McKnight are members of the 
United Presbyterian Ciuirch. He is a Republican 
in political faith and connections. 



-4-S 






< 




^lamuel Douglas is a resident of Monmouth. 
He is a veteran of two wars, and is an 
Irishman by birth and a Scotchman by 
descent. He was born in County Antrim, 
Ireland, in February, i8r9. He was brought 
upon the Green Isle, and educated in the 
common schools. At the age of 19 he came to the 
United States, accompanied by his mother and 
brother. They landed at the port of New York af- 
ter an ocean voyage of six weeks' duration. After a 
residence of a few months in the city of New York 
he went to St. Louis, Mo., and was occupied in va- 
rious pursuits in that city until 1839, when he rented 
land on the bluffs of the river near the city, and 
turned his attention to farming. He was occupied 
in thai vocation until 1846, when he came to Mon- 
mouth. He was one of the early settlers there, and 
he bought a house and lot and rented land on the 
borders of the village, as it then was. The Mexican 
war attr.icted him with an irresistible influence, and 
he determined to enter the military service of his 
adopted country. He enrolled Aug. 6, 1846, under 



*t 



V 



■c T _? _ 



— . .)(^:=r^ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



!?=^^ 



567 



Captain Wayne B. Stupps, and went to the "halls of 
the Monteziimas." The company was independent, 
and was mounted and did effective service as volun- 
teers. 

On March 11, 1848, Mr. Douglas was discharged 
and returned to Monmouth. Soon after lie bought 
a farm situated two miles east of the city. He was 
its owner and occupant three years. He then sold 
the place and removed to town. He was a resident 
of Monmouth two years, and managed a tract of 
land which he had purchased in the same township. 
He was occupied in its improvement when the civil 
war broke out, and he was one of the first to enlist 
in defense of the Union. He enrolled July 5, 1861, 
in Co. B, First 111. Cav., and on the organization of 
the command was made First Lieutenant. The reg- 
iment was mustered into service July 15, 1861. Mr. 
Douglas received a severe wound at the battle of 
Lexington, Mo., and was taken prisoner in tlie same 
action by the rebel cavalry under General Price. He 
was taken to St. Louis and shortly after was set at 
liberty on parole. He resigned on account of disa- 
bility June 23, 1862, and returned to Monmouth. 
For some years after he was in active business life, 
but has been livins; for some years in retirement at 
his pleasant residence in the suburbs. 

Mary A. Merrifield became the wife of Mr. Doug- 
las. She was borji in Logan Co., Ky,, in February, 
1824. She is the daughter of John and Mary A. 
(Burroughs) Merrifield. A son, Hercules Douglas, 
resident at Monmouth, is the only child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Douglas. 





ohn G. Burchfleld. Among the many 
notable events of the late war, there were 
few if any that at the time of their occur- 
rence created any greater sensation than did 
the killing of Gen. John H. Morgan, the fa- 
mous guerrilla chief of Kentucky. Many and 
different versions of the affair have from time to time 
been given, but generally by persons wholly unac- 
quainted with the facts other than through hearsay 
testimony. 
The subject of this sketch was one of the piinci- | 

_ ^ • -X ' 



pal actors in that tragedy, being present from first 
to last, and a participant in the raid that had for its 
design the routing of Morgan from the vicinity of 
Greenville, Tenn. The very bitter and unrelenting 
hatred engendered in the hearts of the whole Union 
people against the leaders of the Rebellion and par- 
ticularly against Morgan, was calculated later on to 
fit the mind of the unbiased reader for the accept- 
ance as true, of the claim of Basil Duke and others, 
that their chief had been ruthlessly murdered after 
his surrender. 

Mr. Burchfleld, who was a member of Co. G, 13th 
Tenn. Cav. (Federal), after detailing much, and very 
minutely, the movements of his immediate command 
upon the morning of August 4, 1864, makes the fol- 
lowing statement in explanation of the killing of the 
distinguished partisan at Greenville, Tenn., upon 
that occasion : 

" It was just growing light ; we had dashed through 
the town, completely surprising and putting to rout 
1,500 or 2,000 rebels there encamped, and turning, 
back the street through which we liad charged, I 
rode up to the hotel of Mrs. Col. David Fry, and ad- 
dressing that lady, who was my cousin, by the way, 
was informed by her that Gen. Morgan was just 
back of the hotel at the house of Mrs. Williams. I 
reported the fact at once to Capt. Wilcox, who was in 
command of our men, and he ordered us to surround 
the block. Andrew Campbell (now of Hawville, 
Ind.) was on the west side of the block; Lieut. Wil- 
CO.X and myself entered the grounds and passed 
north towards the premises of Mrs. Williams. In 
passing an outhouse on the southeast corner of Mrs. 
Williams' lot, two officers, Rodgers and Clay, came 
to the door and surrendered. At that moment a 
man in shirt sleeves and bareheaded, ran from behind 
the outliouse towards the residence. We followed 
through the grape arbor and got between him and 
the house and ordered hiin to surrender. He fired 
at us and passed beliind a bunch of vines. I saw 
Campbell ride out from behind a stable and fire, 
when we shouted to him not to shoot, as the man 
was on a line between Campbell and us. The man 
walked a few paces toward Campbell, who dis- 
mounted, laid his gun on the fence and was taking 
deliberate aim, when the man faced about with pis- 
tol raised, took a step or two towards us, and Camp- 
bell fired. The ball entered just below the left 
shoulder and passed out below the left nipple, and 



V 



4 



J^ 



S68 



WAX REN COUNTY. 



Gen. Morgan, with tlie exclamation 'Oh, God!" fell 
and was dead." The maltreatment of the dead body 
is all contradicted by Mr. Burchfield. 

John G. Burchfield was born at Clark Springs, 
Tenn., May 5, 1846, and was the youngest of five 
sons of John and Elizabeth (Gourley) Burchfield, 
both now deceased. He was brought up to farming 
and received in his eatly life only four months' 
schooling, but a relative, James I. Tipton, who reared 
him, taught him and placed him at Henry and 
Emery College, Abingdon, Va. The war closed the 
college, and young Burchfield returned to Tennes- 
see to find that his guardian had died ; and he was 
apprenticed to a blacksmith, John J. Edens, at 
Elizabethtown, Tenn. 

In November, 1861, he went out with Fry's bridge 
burners, and liel[)ed burn the railroad bridges at 
Union, across the Holistein River, Nov. 9, 1861, and 
staid in the mountains until February, 1862. In 
August, 1863, he entered the army and served until 
f Sept. 5, 1865. 

In January, 1866, he came to Illinois, worked at 
various places, landed at Monmouth in 1879, and 
>^ has since been in the employ of the Weir Plow 
Company, He is a skillful mechanic and highly rt- 
spected by all who know him. He is Past Master 
of Monmouth Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Principal So- 
journer in the Chapter, and illustrious Grand Master 
of the Council. He is also Past Master of A. O. U. 
VV., and Officer of the Day in the G. A. R. In 1880 
he was the candidate of the Greenback party for 
Circuit Clerk; he is now a Republican. 

He was married in Springfield, 111., Dec. 10, 1868, 
to Miss Margaret Bumgardner, and they are the 
parents of six children — William E., Martha E., 
George S., Charles M., Orion and Nellie V. The 
three last named are deceased. 



enry C. Miles represents one of tlie most 
important industries of Warren County. He 
is a brick and tile manufacturer and is lo- 
cated on section i, in the township of Cold 
Brook. He is also interested in the manufac- 
ture of lumber and is the owner of a saw-mill. 
He was torn in Kelly Township, July 6, 1832, and 
is the son of John and Sarah (Froman) Miles. He is 




a member of one of the earliest of the pioneer fami- 
lies of the county in which he has passed most of his 
life. After he had spent about the allotted time at 
school and had worked on the farm until about 17 
years old, he commenced to learn the trade of a 
carpenter. He operated for a short period as a jour- 
neyman, and afterward commenced to act in the ca- 
pacity of an independent builder and contractor and 
has since managed his business as a craftsman in 
those departments, to which lie has also added 
bridge building. 

In 1858 Mr. Miles bought the Ferris steam-mill in 
Henderson, Knox County, and was engaged in its 
managemeni until 1862. The civil war interfered 
with his business and he took up arms in the de- 
fense of the union. In August of the second year of 
the war he enlisted in Co. B, io2d 111. Vol. Inf., and 
after a service of six montlis he was discharged for 
disability. He relumed to his home, resumed his 
former business and continued to conduct the affairs 
of the mill for four years, when it was burned. He im- 1 
mediately rebuilt the structure and continued to con- 
duct it for a period of two years. Then the boiler 
exploded and blew the mill to pieces, 'Killing two 
men. The pecuniary loss to Mr. Miles was $3,000. 
He then turned his attention exclusively to the busi- 
iness of a contractor and builder, in which he was 
occupied two years, after which he bought a quarter 
interest in the steam-mill in Kelly Township, and in 
which he is at present interested in connection with 
other business. For the first six years he had a 
partner, but at the end of that time he became by 
purchase the sole owner and has since operated 
singly. He added the tile and brick business in 
1882, and is prospering in the several industries in 
which he is interested. The clay beds are situated 
about two miles from the factory. 

Miss Harriet T. Rogers became the wife of Mr. 
Miles in September, 1854. After their marriage they 
located in Galesburg, and after a residence there of 
two years went to Brown Co., Kas., and pre-empted 
a claim of land, on which they resided six months. 

At the expiration of that time they returned to 
Henderson, which was their place of abode until 
1882, when they removed to section i, in Cold Brook 
Township. The farm of Mr. Miles contains 120 
acres and is in thorough, good condition for prosper- 
ous farming. He is also proprietor of r6o acres of 
land in Kelly Township, situated on section 24, and 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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571 




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has a tract which includes 20 acres on section 25, of 
the same township. The farms are under the man- 
agement of his sons. The household comprises 
seven children — John H., Eddie H., Frank G., Geo. 
C, Willie, Theodore and Helen. Mrs. Miles is a 
native of New York. Mr. Miles is a Republican. 



jlohnCalder. One of the most substantial 
farmers and highly esteemed citizens of 
Kelly Township, is John Calder. He is a 

native of Somersetshire, England, and was 
1^ born Jan. 12, 1819. He is the son of William 

and Elizabeth Calder, who were engaged as 
farmers in their native land. John remained at 
home until he attained his 14th year, when he was 
apprenticed to the trade of a butcher. He served 
his time faithfully and then went to London to fol- 
low the calling he had thus chosen. He remained 
in that city during tlie winter of 1839 and 1840, and 
in the spring shipped for South Australia. From 
there he went to Van Diemansland, where he re- 
mained engaged in different avocations several 
months. He then went to China, where he stayed 
for 18 months, going thence to Bombay City, India. 
He remained a citizen there for six months, when he 
returned to England. After a six-months sojourn at 
home, he became restless, and the desire for a change 
was too great for him to resist. He therefore ship- 
ped for Aden in Arabia, and from there up the Per- 
sian Gulf, then back to India, where he remained 
six months and then returned to England. There 
he was content to remain during the winter, but on 
the following spring he embarked for South America 
and stopped at Monte Video, Buenos Ayres and 
other places along the River La Platte and in the 
Argentine and Uraguay Republics a little over two 
years. From ihence he went to the Brazils, stop- 
ping at Rio de Janeiro six or seven months, and 
returned to England in March, 1848. 

During the last year named, 1848, the expedition 
was being fitted up to go in search of Sir John Frank- 
lin, under the command of Sir James Ross and Cap- 
tain Bird. Mr. Calder shipped in H. M. S. Investi- 
gator, under the command of Captain Bird. The 
fleet set sail in the spring of 1848, and passed 
through David's Straits, Baffin's Bay, Lancaster 



Sound into Barrow's Strait, at Prince Regent's Inlet, 
and wintered at Leopold Bay, North Somerset, but 
discovered no traces of the fated explorer, and, una- 
ble to push further North, returned to England, in 
November, 1849. 

The country had now become thoroughly alarmed 
for the fate of the great explorer and his party and 
immediately set about organizing an expedition that 
would make a thorough search for Sir John and his 
crew. The Government fitted out the Enterprise, 
commanded by Capt. Collison, and the Investiga- 
tor, under Commander McClure. They set sail in 
January, 1850, and parted company after passing 
through the Straits of Magellan, never seeing the 
Enterprise afterward. The Investigator, the vessel 
upon which Mr. Calder shipped, as Captain of the 
forecastle, passed the winters of T850 and 1851 at 
Prince Royal Island, in the Arctic Ocean. In the 
spring of 1851 Commander McClure turned his ves- 
sel southward around the southern extremity of Bar- 
ring's Island, and commenced to force a passage to • 
the northward, between the western shore of that 
land and the enormous fields of ice which pressed 
upon it. The cliflfs rose up like walls on one side, »< 
while on the other the stupendous palaeoerzostic sea 
arose from the water to a level with the yards of the 
Investigator. After many hair-breadth escapes, Mc- 
Clure took refuge in a bay on the northern shore of 
Banksland, which he named the Bay of God's Mercy. 
Here the Investigator remained, never to move 
again. 

In the summer of 1852 Commander McClure, with 
a part of his crew, among whom was Mr. Calder, 
made a journey across the ice to the Melville Island 
and there deposited some papers which were after- 
ward found by the commanders of the "Resolute" 
and " Intrepid," giving them a clew to McClure 's 
company. The supply of food, however, ran short 
the third winter, and all hands were compelled to go 
on extremely short rations. The cold was intense, 
often ranging from 60 to 66 degrees below zero. Wa- 
ter was scarce, in fact their only supply was ob- 
tained by melting snow, and during the extreme 
cold weather the snow fall was very light. Water 
and food were husbanded with the greatest care, and 
every precaution taken to withstand the terrible suf- 
fering and starvation as long as possible. In the 
Spring of 1853 McClure was preparing to abandon 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



the vessel and with the crew atteirpt to reach the 
American coast, the same as Sir John Franklin did. 
In tiie meantime, however, the government of Eng- 
land was fitting out the Resolute and Intrepid to 
rescue McClure and his men. The latter vessel, for- 
tunately, found McClure and his crew just as all ar- 
rangements had been perfected, and they were ready 
to make the start for the trip across the ice to tlie 
coast of America. 

After suitable arrangements could be made they 
finally deserted the "Investigator," June 4, 1853, 
traveling across the ice to the east side of Melville 
Island, where the "Resolute" and "Intrepid" were 
stationed. During their short sojourn on this Island 
they killed several musk o.x. From there, on board 
the "Resolute," they sailed out into Melville Sound, 
making a journey of about sixty (60) miles, when 
they were bound in by ice and obliged to remain 
there during that winter. On April 14, 1854, they 
abandoned the "Resolute" and "Intrepid," making 
their way down to "Beechey Island," where they found 
the "North Star" awaiting them. Lying there until 
September, they started for England. They finally 
reached England, having been gone four years, nine 
months and fifteen days, and thus closed one of the 
most noted Arctic expeditions known in all the his- 
tory of explorations to that far-off region. Mr. 
Calder had spent five winters in the Polar seas. The 
many incidents, narrow escapes, the intense suffer- 
ing and heroic conduct of officers and crew if told 
would fill a large volume. A grateful government 
recognized their eminent and heroic services, and 
presented the crew with medals appropriately de- 
signed, and in addition Parliament voted them 
^10,000. Mr. Calder was presented individually 
witii a medal for "meritorious conduct," in addition 
to that received as one of the crew. With a just 
pride he regards thcni as his most valuable treasures. 
There is not a man in Warren County, and but few 
to be found anywhere in America who have traveled 
so extensively, visited so many foreign ports, or 
passed so many months in the distant Polar sea. 

In 1855, Mr. Calder came to .America and settled 
at Chicago, where he was engaged in butchering, 
feeding cattle and speculating, until 1863, when on 
account of failing health he was compelled to leave 
the city. He came to Warren County and purchased 
some land on section 8, Kelly Township, where he 



embarked in farming and stock raising. Here he 
has since continued to reside, and in the quiet and 
peaceful calling he has chosen, so radically different 
from his former experiences, he has been quite suc- 
cessful. He has an elegant home, a view of which 
we present in connection witii this sketch, and seem- 
ingly enjoys life fully as well as when his vessel was 
plowing the cliilly waters of the North, or sailing in 
distant seas. 

On the 20th of February, 1855, before leaving 
England for America, Mr. Calder was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Fanny, daughter of William and 
Esther (Tilly) Cattle. She was born in Somerset- 
shire, England, June 22, 1829. There has been born 
to them seven children, four of whom are yet living, 
the others dying in infancy. Those living are in the 
order of their birth : John, born Oct. 9, 1858 ; Ka- 
tie, May 6, 1864; Elizabeth E., July 4, 1866; and 
Frederick, Jan. 28, 1870. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Calder were reared in the Epis- 
copal Church, and |>olitically Mr. C. is a Repub- ' 
lican. 




i-^avid C. Brent, general farmer atid stock- 

ii;, raiser, residing on section 18, Ellison 

Township, was born in Lancaster Co., Va. 

rOct. 12, 182 1, and is a son of Kenner Brent 
(see sketch of Paul Brent). Our subject, David 
C, is the eldest of the living children, and was 
14 years old when he came to Illinois. He lived on 
the farm with his father until his marriage, in the 
meantime acquiring a fair English education His 
marriage was celebrated on the 7th of March, 1850, 
in Ellison Township, the lady chosen to become his 
wife being Miss Jane, daughter of William Brown, 
from Lancaster Co., Va., who was by occupation a 
farmer and carpenter, his demise occurring in July, 
1883, in this townshii). Mrs. Brent was the eldest 
child of her father's family of seven children, and 
was born Jan. r. 1830. Slie was only a small child 
when her parents came to this township, where she 
remained with then) until her marriage. 

The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Brent has been 
blessed by the birth of 12 children, three of whom 
are deceased. The living are six sons and three 



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573 



daughters, as follows : Elizabeth C, born April 25, 
1854; Augusta, Feb. 22, 1856; William K., Dec. 14, 
1857; Melvin D., Jan. 8, i860; Thomas, Feb. 14, 
1862; Manie, June 17, 1864; Edmund, July 26, 
1868; Frank, Oct. 15, 1870; Joseph A., Nov. 27, 
1872. 

After marriage, Mr. Brent settled on the farm 
where he now lives and is the possessor of 304 acres 
of excellent land, nearly all of which is improved. 

Mrs. B. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Brent has held the office of Road 
Commissioiier, and, politically, is identified with the 
Republican party, being a staunch advocate of its 
princijjles. 




and 



Chapin, banker and merchant at 
Kirk wood, is not only one of the best 
known men in the county, but is classed 
among the early pioneers of this part of the 
State. His parents, Ebenezer and Catherine 
(Daggett) Chapin, were natives of New York 
Vermont respectively. They came west to 
Indiana in 1832, and were living in Crawford County, 
that State, when Nealy A. was born, Jan. 28, 1828. 
His parents were among the early settlers of Indi- 
ana and after a few years' residence there pushed on 
westward and found a desirable location in Knox 
Co., 111., where they arrived in 1836. At that early 
day there were but few settlers in that section and 
but little land ever turned by the plow. They re- 
mained there three years, when they moved into 
Oquawka village (then in Warren County, but after- 
wards in Henderson County), where the father died, 
in 1877. He was formerly a merchant, was an en- 
terprising, influential and valuable pioneer, and a 
man highly respected by the community in which he 
lived. 

Nealy A. received a liberal education. He as- 
sisted his father in his store and finally learned the 
trade of harness-maker, which occupation he fol- 
lowed until the spring of 1840. After leaving home, 
which he did in the year of 1840, he was employed 
as a clerk for three years. He then embarked in the 
lumber and mercantile business as a member of the 



firm of Knowles, Ray & Chapin, at Oquawka. Here 
they remained until 1858, when they removed their 
business to Kirkwood, where the old firm conducted 
the business for one year. The firm was then re- 
organized under the name of Chapin, Creswell & 
Houlton, who were the leading merchants of the 
place until 1865, when the company was again re- 
organized and their business enlarged. The firm 
was then known as Chapin, Houlton & Davis, mer- 
chants and bankers. No other change was made 
until 1882, since which time the firm name has been 
Chapin, Houlton & Co. 

Mr. Chapin has been an active, enterprising busi- 
ness man, and has done a great deal for Kirkwood. 
He had a great faith in the future prosperity of 
the village, and while the wild prairie grass was 
growing on the site of the village plat, he erected a 
fine residence there. The company put up a fine 
brick business block, 56 x 64 feet, in 1868. Mr. 
Chapin has also large landed interests in Henderson 
County, but his time is entirely given to his banking 
and mercantile business, and he is justly recognized 
as one of the leading business men of Warren 
County. 

The marriage of Mr. Chapin and Miss Cordelia 
Perry occurred Jan. 28, 1854. Mrs. C. is a daugh- 
ter of Jonathan Perry, a prominent citizen of W^arren , 
County. They have a family of seven children (one 
deceased) namely: Willis A., born Oct. 31, 1852, 
died Sept. 4, 1868; Eben H, born Nov. 21, 1854; 
Florence, Dec. 9, 1856; Katie B., Sept. 29, 1859; 
Fred L., June 16, 1863; Jennie M., Dec. 11, 1865; 
Laura A., April 9, 1869; William R., March 24, 
1875. Eben married Miss Kate Mathews, of Merid- 
ian, Conn., Oct. 18, 1882, and is at present the 
Pastor of the First Universalist Church at Lincoln, 
Neb. ; they have one child named Charles. Flor- 
ence married George C. Ellis, an attorney at Med- 
icine Lodge, Kan. Katie B. married James F. 
Morgan, superintendent of telegraphy of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, June 14, 1879, and 
they are now living in Chicago; two children have 
been born to them — Bessie and Olive. Florence 
married George C. Ellis, an attorney, now of Medi- 
cine Lodge, Kan., Feb. i, 1882 ; one child has been 
born to them, named Nealy, after his grandfather, 
the subject of this sketch. 

Politically, Mr. Chapin is a Republican, and, with 
his wife attends the Universalist Church. 



T" 




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574 



r 



WARREN COUNTY. 




9<00€ 



lavid S. Hayden, gunsmith and dealer in 
sporting goods, at Monmouth, was born in 
Behiiont Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1830. His 
father, John Hayden, was a farmer and a na- 
^J- live of Maryland, and was the only son of John 
) Hayden, Sr., who came from Dublin, Ireland, 
where he had been bound out as a' coverlet weaver 
at the age of i 2 years, and who, after serving an ap- 
prenticeship of about two years, became dissatisfied, 
and stole on board a vessel setting sail to the United 
States, and secured passage to this country. In Bal- 
timore, Md , he accepted a position as a coverlet 
weaver, where he remained until his enlistment in 
the Revolutionary War, and there served for seven 
years. He was wounded with a spent ball, this being 
the only injury received during his seven years' en- 
listment. At the expiration of his term of service he 
again engaged with his former employer, at Balti- 
more, Md., where he served out his apprenticeship. 
He died in the latter State, at an advanced age. 

John Hayden, Jr., the father of our subject, was 
an only child, and determined at the age of 14 years 
to make his own way in the world. In the year 
1 8 17 he came to Ohio, having been previously mar- 
ried to Nancy Ellis, in Maryland, in T814, and of 
their union have been born 1 1 children, of whom our 
subject, David S., was the youngest but two. His 
parents lived in Monroe Co., Ohio, until their deaths, 
the father at the advanced age of 95 years and the 
mother at 75. 

David S., whose name heads this personal narra- 
tive, resided with his parents until he attained his 
21st year, then setting out to learn his present trade. 
He served his apprenticeship under his older broth- 
er, Joseph, who was residing in O.xford, Ohio,, from 
1851 to 1858. At the latter date he left Oxford for 
Monmouth, arriving here Marcli 12, 1858, and com- 
menced business on his own account. He was the 
only man of his calling in the county at that time, 
and has been the pioneer of his trade and followed 
it from the time he came here, being at present the 
only gunsmith in the city. He is the proprietor of 
25 acres of land and two houses near the city limits, 
the land being well improved and valuable. 



Mr. Hayden was married in Henderson County, 
this State, at the residence of the bride's parents, the 
event being celebrated on ihe 19th of February, i860, 
to Miss Martha A. Michaels, daughter ot Frederick 
Michaels, farmer from Tennessee, and it was in that 
State that the daugliter was bo:n, March 20, 1^40. 
She came to Illinois with her father, her mother hav- 
ing died when she was nine years of age. They af- 
terwards resided in Henderson County, where the 
father still lives, at the advanced age of 89 years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hayden are the parents of seven chil- 
dren — Frederick, married; Thomas F., and Ira B., 
deceased; Fannie M., Lotta A., Ralph D., Ruth G. 
and Ran. W., all of whom, except the eldest, reside 
at home. Mrs. Hayden is a member of the Chris- 
tian Church. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic 
Order and has been a member of the City Council. 
Politically, he is a Republican. 




ames W. Morgan, a successful dealer in f 
real estate, residing in a comfortable and 
beautiful home near the city limits of Mon- 
mouth, is the second son and third child of Jas. 
C. and Penelope (Green) Morgan, and was born 
Dec. 17, 1828, in Erie Co., New York. The 
father of James was the fourth child and third son of 
Benui Morgan, who married Mary Clark, and by her 
had six children. He was a member of a cavalry 
company in the Revolutionary War, and died in 
Connecticut, aged 69 years. He was the fourth son 
and child of James Morgan, who became the father 
of seven children by Grace Smith, and who died at 
Griswold, Conn., Oct. 15, i8or, aged 72 years. James 
Morgan, the grandfather of James W. Morgan, sub- 
ject of this notice, was the elder son in order of birth 
of a family of 1 1 children, his father being Samuel 
Morgan, who was born Dec. 16, 1705, and died while 
in office at Preston, Conn.. Dec. 29, 1769, aged 65 
years. 

Samuel was married to Elizabeth Forsyth, and was 
the oldest son and child of James Morgan, who was 
born about 1680, and died at Preston, Conn., Nov. 7, 
1721, and who became the father of five children. 
He, James, was the seventh and youngest child of 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



575 



^ 



his father, Capt. John Morgan, and of the first mar- 
riage of his father, seven children having been born 
by his first, and eight children by his second mar- 
riage. He, Capt. John Morgan, was the second son 
and third child of James Morgan, and was a prom- 
inent, public man, being Indian Commissioner and 
Deputy of the General Court in 1690, and was born 
March 30, 1645, and died in 17 12, aged 67 years, 
his father, James Morgan, having been born in Wales 
in 1670. James, the latter, was quite a young man 
when he came to the United States, and married 
Margery Hill, of Roxbury, Mass., and died in Au- 
gust, 1685, aged 78 years. His family consisted of 
seven children, and he was a proiinnent public man 
of his day, and is the progenitor of one of the best 
known and most successful families of the States. 
He was the son of a prominent family in Wales,who 
had figured conspiculously in that country in both 
general and public life. We find among the family 
in this country, merchants, fanners, speculators, of- 
' ficials, one of the most prominent being Edwin D. 
Morgan, e.x-Governor of the State of New York. He 
was firsi elected Governor of the State in i860, and 
re-elected in 1861, his administration being a suc- 
cessful and popular one. He afterward received the 
appointment from President Lincoln as Major Gen- 
eral of Volunteers. He was also connected with the 
Western Union Telegraph Company, many Railroad 
corporations, and was proprietor with Mr. Jones, of 
the New York limes. 

James C. Morgan, father of James W., of this 
notice, was first married to Penelope Green, Jan. i, 
1823. She was the daughter of Dyer Green, of 
Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y. The wife and moth- 
er died July g, 1846, after having borne seven chil- 
dren, and Mr. Morgan, on Dec. 2, 1846, was again 
married to Nancy Gette, a daughter of James Gette, 
of Hamburg, N. Y. She bore Mr. Morgan one 
child — Henrietta, born Jan. 2, 1848, and died March 

4. 1849- 

James C. Morgan, at the age of iq years, moved 
from Preston, Conn., to Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. 
Y., and for five years had charge of his uncle's busi- 
ness there, which was paper making. In March, 
1823, he removed with his young wife to Hamburg, 
Erie Co., N. Y., and engaged in the hotel business 
until November, 1843, when he came to Monmouth, 
111. He lived at the latter place, owning 40 acres of 
land inside the city limits, and known as the Morgan 



Addition to the city of Monmouth, and continued to 
reside there, the sunset of his life being passed in 
retirement from active labor, until old age called him 
to the better land, at the age of 74 years. His death 
occurred Jan. 31, 1872. He was a good business 
man, possessing sterling qualities, and a strong sup- 
porter of temperance. 

The children of his first wife are recorded as fol- 
lows: Emeline, born Jan. 10, 1824. became the wife 
of J. W. Robertson; George W.,born May 31, 1826, 
died while in the Mexican War, Sept. 13, 1847, and 
James W., the subject of this notice. 

James W. was married Dec. 2, 1857, at the resi- 
dence of the bride's parents, in Henderson Co., 111., 
to Miss Anna Maria Vantuyl, the accomplished 
daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Williams) Vantuyl, na- 
tives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively, and of 
German descent. Her parents were married in Ohio 
and resided on a farm near Dayton, that State, where 
Mrs. Morgan was born April 2r, 1833. Her father's 
family came in 1854 to this State, and located on a 
farm in Henderson County. Her father lost his 
first wife in Ohio, and was again married in the same 
State. He afterward came to this county and located 
near Kirkwood, where he died Oct. n, 1880. He 
was a leading citizen in the community in which he 
resided, and met with success in the vocation of his 
life. Mrs. James W. Morgan, after receiving a rudi- 
mentary education in the common or district schools 
attended college at Monmouth, 111., in the basement 
of the old Presbyterian Church, now known as Unity 
Church, and of her union with Mr. Morgan two 
children were born— Flora, Jan. 17, 1859, and Lewis 
Howard, June i, 1867. 

The subject of this sketch came with his father 
in 1843 from Hamburg, N. Y., to Monmouth, this 
county. In 1850, with an ox team and a party of 
men, he crossed the plains to the land of gold, which 
required a trip of six months. He remained in Cali- 
fornia until 1853, in search of gold, spending two 
winters in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in a small 
cabin, the snow 14 or 15 feet deep, and no commu- 
nication with the outer world, from October until the 
following May of each year. His experience was 
similar to those of many who sought their fortune in 
that distant clime. One of his best friends and 
neighbors, Amos Harding, late of Monmouth, died 
there of the cholera. 

Mr. Morgan returned to Warren County in 1853, 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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remaining there until August 6ih, 1862, when, in an- 
swer to the second call for men to fight in the war 
for the Union, he enlisted in Co. F, 83d 111. Vol. Inf., 
and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. 
He was elected Second Lieutenant, subsequently pro- 
moted to First Lieutenant, and served under Gener- 
als Rosecrans and Sherman, participating in all of 
the battles in which his regiment was engaged, until 
he received an honorable discliarge June 26, 1865, at 
the close of the war. Among the most prominent 
battles in which his regiment was engaged, was that 
of Fort Donelson, in February, 1863, when the odds 
in favor of the Confederate army were in the pro- 
portion of 10 to I, and where the Union forces suc- 
ceeded in holding the fort. 

After the close of the war, Mr. Morgan returned 
to Monmouth, where he has since, mostly, resided, 
until the present time. He and his brother became 
owners of their father's 40 acres of real estate within 
the city limits, which constitutes Morgan's Addition 
to the city of Monmouth. James W. managed the 
sale of the lots for a time, and then bought out his 
brother's interests. He also owns 24 acres where 
his residence is located. He and "Deacon Brown," 
of Monmouth, are also the owners of an entire sec- 
rion of land in Seward Co., Neb., and Mr. Morgan is 
the proprietor of 320 acres in Thayer County, that 
State. 

Mr. Morgan has been one of the Directors of the 
Monmouth National Bank for some years, and is at 
present a stoi kholder in the same. He and his wife 
are members of the Unity Society, of which Mr. M. 
is Trustee. 

Politically, Mr. Morgan votes with the Republican 
party. 

The remaining members of the family of James 
C. Morgan, are John Titus, born Nov. 25, 1831, 
married Maria Harroun, Nov. 8, 1858; Decatur, born 
July 23, 1834, Married Elizabeth A. Richardson, 
lives at VVatseka, 111., and was for a number of years 
Deputy Internal Revenue Collector; Angeline, born 
June 25, 1837, married David B. Stevens, and was a 
graduate of Monmouth College ; Henry, born March 
20, 1840, and died Feb. 20, 1841. 

John Titus was educated at Lombard University, 
and graduated at the law school, Poughkeei^sie, N. 
Y., after which he began practice at Monmouth, en- 
tered the army during the rebellion as Captain of 



Co. F, 83d 111. Vol. Inf.; look part in the battles in 
which the regiment was engaged. At the close of 
the war resumed his law practice ; was elected a 
member of the Lower House and afterwards to the 
Senate. He acquitted himself honorably as a mem- 
ber of the Legislature. He was appointed by Presi- 
dent Hayes Chief Justice of Idaho Territory, and re- 
appointed by President Arthur. He has now re- 
sumed the practice of law in that Territory, and 
resides at Oxford. 




^^ eorge W. Bellinger is a general farmer 
on section 9, in Kelly Township. He has 
"^ been Justice of the Peace since 1878. He 
was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1844. 
His father and mother, Charles and Sophia 
(Pine) Bellinger, were natives of the shire of 
Somerset, England, and came to America, where 
they located in Ohio. Mr. Bellinger was two years 
old when they removed to Warren County. They set- 
tled in the township where he is still living and 
where he was brought up and educated, so far as 
the common schools were concerned. He attended 
Knox College three terms, which were passed in the 
preparatory deiinrtment. He lived at home with his 
parents until he was 20. He had become the pos- 
sessor of the farm on which he now lives and previ- 
ous to that time he had made some improvements 
on it. 

His marriage with Lucinda Holcomb took place 
March 12, 1869. She was born in Kelly Township, 
Nov. 15, 1848, and is the daughter of Henry B. and 
Phebe (Ingersoll) Holcomb, who were pioneers of 
Kelly Township. A log house had b.en built on the 
farm of Mr. Bellinger, and when he was married he 
took possession of the humble abode with his wife. 
They have now a good farm house and other struc- 
tures suited to the purpose to which the farm is de- 
voted. The value and general appearance of the 
place is much increased by the addition of fruit and 
shade trees in great numbers. 

The politics of Mr. Bellinger are in unison with 
the creed of the Democrats. He has been promi- 
nent in his interest in general educational matters, 



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577 



and has served many years as School Director in his 
district. 

The children of the household of Mr. Bellinger are 
as follows : Ben. was born Aug. lo, 1879; Judd, 
April 8, 1878; Jessie, Jan. i, 1880; Maggie, July 8, 
1882 ; Ethel, July 29, 1885. Their first child was 
born Sept. 4, 1870, and died Jan. 17, 1885. John, 
the second child, was born Nov. 30, 1873, and died 
Aug. 31, 1876. The father of Mrs. Bellinger was 
born in Lorain Co., Ohio, and her mother was a na- 
tive of Broome Co., N. Y. The former is still living, 
in LaBette Co., Kas. 



^^ 




4" 



|ealy Gordon, Postmaster at Kirkwood vil 
f lage, is a native of Georgia, having been 
born in Covington, Newton County, that 
State, March 31, 1836. The parents of Mr. 
Gordon, Cornelius and Agnes (McKenzie) Gor- 
don, were natives of North Carolina. They em- 
igrated to this state in 1855, locating in Henderson 
County, where they resided until 1862, and where 
the father followed the occupation of a farmer. Dur- 
ing the year named, they came to this county, and 
settled in Kirkwood village, where they lived until 
their deaths, which took place in January, 1869, and 
in April, 1870, respectively. 

Mr. Gordon, whose name we place at the head of 
this biographical notice, lived with his parents until 
their death. He received a good common-school 
education, and after he attained his majority rented 
a farm and was engaged as an agriculturist until 
1862. At this period the nation became imperiled 
by the Southern States seceding, and the call having 
gone forth for brave hearts and strong hands to bat- 
tle for its perpetuity. Mr. Gordon enlisted in Co. K, 
84th 111. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battles of 
Stone River, Chicamauga, Atlanta, Franklin and 
Nashville, and many smaller battles and skirmishes, 
receiving an honorable discharge in June, 1865. 

Returning from the war, Mr. Gordon engaged in 
the nursery business at Kirkwood and was thus oc- 
cupied until he received his commission as Postmas- 
ter at that place, and has held the office until the 
present time. April zr, 1874, Miss Mary Wood, a 




JlJ 



native of Henderson County, this State, became the 
wife of the subject of this notice, and to him she has 
borne two children — Frank W. and Fred C. So- 
cially, Mr. Gordon is a member of the G. A. R., be- 
longing to Post No. 81, at Kirkwood. Religiously, 
he and his wife are both members of the United 
Presbyterian Church. 



^^avid E. Morse, a well-to-do and highly 
jii, respected farmer, located on 180 acres of 
" good land, on section 35, Berwick Town- 
f^ ship, was born in Sangamon Co., 111., Dec. 2, 
^ 1832, and is a son of Samuel G. Morse, a na- 
tive of Windham Co., Conn., where he was 
born, in April, 1786. The father came to Illinois in 
i8ii,and located in Vandalia, where he remained ■ 
some years, then moved to Bond County. While a 
resident of the latter county he was elected to the 
Constitutional Convention in 1 8 1 8, that met at Spring- 
field. He was also Sheriff of Bond County, and a 
man of considerable political influence at the time in 
the county in which he resided. He married ■ 
Miss Jane M. Kirkpatrick, about r82o. She was 
born in Tennessee, in i8or, and survives her lius- 
band, who died in 1863, in Greenbush Township. 
He came to this country in 1835 and located at Ber- 
wick. Of their union 10 children were born, five 
daughters and five sons, namely : Adeline, Harriet, 
Roswell, Margaret A., John, William, Samuel, Da- 
vid, Mary J., Asenaih and Emeline, all of whom are 
living except Harriet and Samuel. The mother is 
residing in Anderson Co., Kas. 

David E. Morse, of whom we write, was united in 
marriage with Miss Margaret Davis, May 5, 1857. 
She was born in Henderson Co., 111., July, r84o, and 
is the daughter of William F. Davis, who was born 
in Ohio, in i8r5, and at preseni resides in Mills 
Co., Iowa. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Jam- 
ison, in 1839. She was horn in Kentucky, in 1809, 
and is still living. Their union has been blessed 
with the birth of five children — Margaret Ann, James, 
Minerva, Thomas and Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. 
Morse by their union have become the parents of 
three children — Ann, born May 26, i860; Samuel, 



^ 



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i* 



578 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Sept. 26, 1862; and Mary, March 19, 1872. They 
also have three grandchildren — Edwin McQueen, 
born in November, 1882 ; and David and Lolta Mc- 
Queen, twins, born Dec. 25, 1884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Morse are pleasantly situated on 
their fiiie farm of 180 acres, on section 35, Berwick 
Township, all of wliich is under an advanced state 
of cultivation. On the place there is a good resi- 
dence and barn 28 x 34 feet in dimensions, and the 
place presents an appearance to the passer-by indic- 
ative of that push and perseverance characteristic of 
its proprietor. In addition to the cultivation of his 
land, he is engaged in raising fine horses. In poli- 
tics, Mr. Morse is a believer in and asupporter of the 
principles of the Republican party. 



»ooo« 




acob Jewell, retired farmer, residing at 
Monmouih, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 9, 1814, and was the second son of 
Lemuel and Jane (Cole) Jewell, of Connecti- 
cut and New York respectively, and of English 
and German extraction respectively. They 
were the parents of seven children, six brothers and 
one sister, viz. : Abel, Jacob, Ira, Halsey, Harriet, 
Henry and John. Three are now deceased. Jacob 
left home when ten years of age and began to labor 
for his living. The district schools, with a few 
months at an academy, afforded him such education 
as allowed him to teach school a few years while yet 
a young man. He came to Will County, this State, 
in 1837, removed thence to DuPage County, in 1838, 
and to Berwick, in Warren County, in 1839. From 
the time he arrived in Warren County, he advanced 
steadily in the accumulation of property up to the 
time of his retirement. He moved into Lenox Town- 
ship, in 1843, and from there to Monmouth, in 1867. 
Of his immense farm property he gave to his children 
until he now has only about 270 acres. Strictly 
speaking, he did not retire from active business until 
1882, when he turned matters over to his sons. 

Mr. Jewell was married in Roseville Township, 
April 10, 1843, to Mrs. Julia Harrison, nee Brooks, 
native of Richmond, Ky., and daughter of Thomas 
and Elizabeth (Lee) Brooks. Mr. Brooks enlisted in 
the Union army and served until lie was honorably 
discharged. While in the service he received inju- 



ries, for which he now draws a pension. The chil- 
dren of Mr. Jewell are mentioned as follows : Wil- 
liam, a farmer in Nebraska, born April 12, 1844; 
Charles B., born Dec. 17, 1844, and accidentally 
shot and killed April i, 1882, leaving a wife and five 
children; this son, Charles Jewell, was the inventor 
of the famous twine binder, which he sold to the Mc- 
Cormick Reaper Company for $1,500 ; Henry, farmer, 
born May 19, 1847 ; Olive (Mrs. Chas. Blackburn of 
Monmouth), was born April 29, 1849; l^udley, farm- 
er in Kansas, born Sept. 7, 1850; Decatur, born 
March 25, 1852, died aged six months; and Emily 
(Mrs. Dr. W. S. Holliday), born July 9, 1853. The 
parents of Mrs. Jewell were natives of Kentucky, 
and her grandparents of Virginia. On her mother's 
side she is related to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Mr. J. 
had two brothers and three sisters. The brothers 
are now deceased. Two of the sisters live in War- 
ren County and one in Decatur Co., Kas. 

Mr. Jewell began life a poor boy, but by untiring 
perseverance and labor he amassed a handsome for- 
tune and has the good sense in his ripe old age to 
enjoy it. He has never been a speculator and has 
not grown rich at the expense of his neighbors, but 
hib accumulation of wealth is strictly the product of 
honest toil. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jewell are consistent members of 
the Baptist Church, and Mr. J. is an adherent of the 
Republican party. 



#^ 



—J— 




^^^iLugene J. Clarke, City Clerk of Monmouih, 
is the eldest son of the lateThaddeus 
S. and Octavia (Shaw) Clarke, and was 
born at Macomb, III, June 22, 1855. Here he 
was reared and educated, and under the eye 
of his father brought up and trained in the 
printer's art, in whicl>^ even when a very small lad, 
he became proficient. He has held all the various 
positions on a newspaper, or in the office, with the 
exception of the editor-in-chief He came to Mon- 
mouth with his parents in 1868, where he assisted 
his father in his newspaper enterprise, as well as 
worked in the offices of the other leading papers. 

On the 5th of May, 1879, Mr. Clarke was married 
in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Miss Ella M. Killian. They 
subsequently moved to Cincinnati, where they re- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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S8i 




maiiied for three years, when they returned to Mon- 
mouth. While living in Cincinnati, their only living 
child, Elizabeth June, was born to ihem. A son, 
Clarence Dave, born Sept. 3, 18S4, died March 26, 
1885, being a sufferer the few months of his life 
After lingering and suffering for many months from 
that insidious, though fatal disease, the consumption, 
Mrs. Clarke was relieved by death from further pain, 
on Sept. 4, 1885. 

Upon Mr. Clarke's return to Monmouth, he was 
city editor from the starting of the Evening Gazette, 
until the fall of 1884. In April, 1885, while a re- 
porter on the Daily Atlas, he was elected City Clerk 
of Monmouth, which office he now holds. He is Vice 
Grand of Warren Lodge No. 160 I. O. O. F., and 
Captain of Philo E. Reed Camp, No. 31, Sons of 
Veterans. Politically, he is a Republican. 



.; ichard Haney, D. D. Prominent among 
13|^^^ those who have contributed to the spread 
^%^^' of the gospel in this portion of Illinois, 
f V^ stands the name of Richard Haney, whose 
unceasing labors for many long years past in 
the Master's vineyard, and whose humble 
piety and Christian walk in life have endeared him 
to the thousands who have from timeto time listened 
to his eloquent discourses and fervent prayers, as he 
told the story of the Cross and pointed their wayward 
feet to the realm of eternal bliss. Mr. Haney is a 
native of Cross Creek, Washington Co., Penn., born 
April r5, 1812. He is the ninth child and sixth son 
ofRev. James and Hannah (Freeborn) Haney, both 
of whom were natives of County Donegal, Ireland. 
They emigrated with their parents to this county soon 
after the close of the Revolutionary War, in the year 
1792. They first settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., where 
they were married, and three of their children were 
born in that county. They were both of Scotch-Irish 
parentage. James Haney was a minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for over 60 years. 

From Lancaster the family removed to Washington 
County, where Mr. Haney was for many years in- 
structor in an ac adcmy. He was a fine scholar and 
was recognized as an able educator. He served his 
adopted country as a soldier in the war of 1812, un- 
der the command of General Thomas Patterson, of 



Washington County, who figured conspicuously and 



did signal service on the frontier in that memorable 
struggle, driving the combined forces of English and 
Indians back across the border into Canada. After 
the surrender of Detroit, peace being declared, he 
returned to the bosom of his family, and shortly 
thereafter removed to Richland County, Ohio. His 
wife, the mother of Richard Haney, our subject, died 
there in the year 7821, at the birth of her 12th child. 
Rev. Haney subsequently married Miss Mary Bev- 
ans, who was a native of Wayne Co., Ohio, by whom 
he had two sons — the Rev. Milton L. and Henry. 
The latter died Jan. 26, 7848. Four of the sons of 
Rev. Haney became Methodist ministers ; two are 
dead and two survive. 

Hr. Haney was a remarkable man in many re- 
spects, a mathematician of ability and a powerful, el- 
oquent and graceful speaker. He ranked for the 
period in which he lived among the able pulpit ora- 
tors of the country. In the year 1834 he removed 
from Richland Co., Ohio, to Fulton Co., Ill, where 
he died, on the 5th day of June, r855. 

Rev. Richard Haney received his rudimentary ed- 
ucation at the district schools and under the private 
instruction of his father. He subsequently became a 
student at Norwalk (Ohio) Seminary ; and here it 
may be interesting to state, Mr. Haney was enrolled 
as the first student of that school, which was the first 
institution of learning west of the Ohio River owned 
by the Methodist Episcopal Church. He prosecuted 
his studies there about two years ; a part of the time 
he served as tutor. He left the seminary when 
about the age of 21 years and joined the Ohio Con- 
ference. He was transferred the same year (1834) 
to the Illinois Conference, and stationed at Rush- 
ville, Schuyler County. The county being new and 
sparsely settled, the young preacher had to endure 
many of the privations and hardships which were in- 
cident to those early times. Preaching was fre- 
quently held in the log house of the settler, and 
oftimes the congregations would gather in the groves 
to worship together and listen to the fervid eloquence 
of the young pastor, who, even at that early day, was 
regarded as a strong and earnest worker in the cause 
of Zion. His first presiding elder was the celebrated 
Peter Cartwright, who was the most noted of the 
early Methodist preachers of the West and a man 
who is still revered for his piety and great force of 
character. To him probably more than to any other 
man the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Missis- 



T" 



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T 



*t. 



582 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



sippi Valley owes its present prominence and great 
influence in tlie West. During the long period of 
his ministry, Mr. Haney has held the office of pre- 
siding elder for 25 years. This of itself will attest 
more than anything we can say the strong apprecia- 
tion in which he has been held by his coadjutors in 
the cause of Christ. In all [lositions to which he 
has been called by the church, his piety, unremit- 
ting labor and pronounced individuality of character 
have been the means of drawing multitudes of sin- 
ners from the error of their way. It was the pleas- 
ure of the writer of this brief sketch to have listened 
to the recital, by a gentleman well known to the peo- 
jjle of Warren County, of how he, while listening to 
Brother Haney 's eloquent and masterly presentation 
of the plan of salvation, as laid down by Holy Writ, 
was enabled to see cle rly the road which led from 
sin's dark chaos into the effulgent light of Christian 
peace and happiness. 

The last district in whicii Mr. Haney officiated as 
presiding elder was at Winona, on the east side of 
the Illinois River. He has been continuously in the 
ministry for over 5[ years, having traveled four cir- 
cuits, and the balance of the time filling stations, 
prominent among which were tlie Methodist Episco- 
pal Churcli on Clark Street, Chicago; at Quincy, 
Bloouiington, Rock Island and Peoria. During his 
pastorate at the Clark Street Church, Chicago, from 
1848 to 1850, he called tlie meeting uliich jjrojected 
and brought about the establishment of the North- 
western University, at Evanston, 111. His name 
stands first as one of the incorporators, and he has 
been idetitified as one of the trustees ever since. By 
his wise counsel, he has contributed largely to the 
growth and development of that noted institution of 
learning, which, by the liberality of its many friends, 
has been handsomely endowed to the extent of about 
$2,000,000. It is the leading institution in the West, 
under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and, as one of its founders, Mr. Haney will 
ever be remembered. 

During the dark days of the late slaveholders' re- 
bellion, when our nation's life seemed in danger, Mr. 
Haney came forward early, and laid his services and 
life, if need be, upon the altar of his beloved country. 
He enlisted May 24, 1861, and was made Chaplain of 
the 16th III. Vol. Inf., commanded by Col. R. F. 
Smith. 'I'heir first service was in Missouri. From 
thence they moved to Kentucky, and participated in 
■ • -A 



the breaking of the blockade of Island No. 10. Mr. 
Haney remained with the regiment until the last of 
June, 1862, when he resigned, his health having 
failed, and which he has never fully recovered. 
Shortly after his return home, he resumed active ser- 
vice in the ministry, being stationed at Bushnell. 

In the years 1879-80, at the request of Gov. Cul- 
lom, of Illinois, and Gov. St. John, of Kansas, Mr. 
Haney traveled extensively over several Western 
States, collecting supplies and funds for the relief of 
the negro refugees from the South to the State of 
Kansas. He sent to them large quantities of lum- 
ber, agricultural implements, breadstuffs, clothing 
and household utensils, besides considerable money. 
The managers of railioads exhibited commendable 
liberality in furnishing free trai\siX)rtalion of the 
goods to the destitute colored people. The efforts of 
Mr. Haney were crowned with success. The good 
people of the Mississippi Valley came forward with 
their accustomed generosity and aided the worthy 
cause which he represented. It may here be men-' 
tioned that the extensive establishment of John 
Deere, at Moline, gave 14 plows, and the Moline 
Plow Co., through its president, gave an equal num- 
ber. 

At the session of the Central Illinois Conference, 
held at GalesUurg, in 1862, Mr. Haney, as chairman 
of the committee on the state of the country, drafted 
the resolutions praying President Lincoln to proclaim 
the freedom of every slave in the United Slates. 
The resolution received wide circulation in the press 
and was forwarded to the President by Bishop Ba- 
ker and the secretary of the Conference. This w«s 
the first ecclesiastical body that ever passed such a 
resolution. The patriotic efforts of thj ministry of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church did much to inspire 
confidence in the great President and the soldiers in 
the field. 

In 1834 Mr. Haney became acquainted with Abra- 
ham Lincoln, and voted for him both times that he 
was a candidate lor the presidency. For many years 
before he became protninent, Mr. Haney had learned 
to admire the sterling ipialities and marked ability of 
him, who, in after years, was the most illustrious of 
our Presidents. 

On the 17th of July, 1838, Mr. Haney was mar- 
ried, near Quincy, Ad.ims Co., Ill , to Adaline Mur- 
phy. She was a native of New Hrunswi( k. New Jer- 
sey She came to Adams County with her parents 



WARREN COUNTY. 



583 1 



in 1835. Her father was a native of Ireland; her 
mother, Mary (Allen) Murphy, was descended from 
the French Hugenots, who had been Protestants a 
hundred years before the revocation of the Edict of 
Nance. 

Mr. Haney and his wife were the parents of ten 
children, three sons and seven daughters, three of 
whom are deceased. Their eldest son. Rev. James 
W. Haney, is a member of the Central Illinois Con- 
ference, now stationed in Blandinsville; Adaline is 
the wife of Rev. George Palmer, D. D., of the Cen- 
tral Illinois Conference; Emily the wife of George 
Baker, a merchant in Dwight, 111. ; Luella, wife of 
Prof. Robbins, who has charge of the high school at 
Joliet ; Mary and Elizabeth are unmarried ; Charles is 
married and a resident of Minneapolis, Minn. Mrs. 
Haney died on the isth of January, 1865, in the city 
of Peoria, where they were residing. 

Mr. Haney's second marriage occurred May i, 
1877, when he wedded Mrs. Mary E. Quinby, widow 
' of the late Judge Ivory Quinby (see sketch of Judge 
Quinby). They now reside at their elegant home in 
Monmouth. Mrs. Haney is also a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and has been for nearly 
half a century. 

In politics, Mr. H. was first a Whig, then a Re- 
^ publican, and was an active supporter of that party 
until the question of prohibition became prominent, 
when he became a promoter and advocate of that 
movement. While absent attending Conference he 
was nominated for Congress as the candidate of that 
party in this district, and received a flattering vote, 
many of them being cast by his old time friends of 
both parties. An excellent portrait of Mr. Haney is 
shown on page 580 



=--1^-^ 



'ifdifi illiam E. Hall, of the firm of Mundorff & 
'^MX Hall, liardware merchants at Kirkwood, 
J^^jL this county, was born in the State of New 
3iSfi2> Yoik, Lewis County, in 1846. The parents 
of Mr. Hall, of this sketch, Gaylord N. and 
J ' Hannah M. (Slocum) Hall, were also natives 
of York State. They came to this State in 1865 and 
located on section 32, Tompkins Township, where 
his father purchased 1 10 acres of land and followed 
the occupation of an agriculturist until 1878. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of 



this notice remained with his parents, receiving at 
the common schools a good education and assisting 
his father on the farm until he became of age. On 
becoming his own man, he worked out by the month 
until he accumulated some means, when he rented a 
farm and cultivated the same for a few years. In 
1875, his accumulations and savings increasing, he 
purchased 79 a. res on section 16, Tompkins Town- 
ship, and remained on the same for eight years, en- 
gaged in energetic and continuous labor as an agricul- 
turist. He then sold his land and came to Kirk- 
wood and, in company with Mr. Mundorff, engaged 
in the hardware business, which he has continued to 
the present time. He is the owner of a residence and 
lot in the village, and his firm, by strict attention to 
business and fair and honest dealings with their cus- 
tomers, have established a good and paying trade. 

In 1869 Mr. Hall formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Miss Delilah Mundorff, a native of Pennsylva- 
nia, and of their union have been born two children 
— Myra E. and Leo M. In politics, Mr. H. votes 
with the Republican party, and in religion, he and 
his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
As a business man, Mr. Hall stands prominent among . 
the foremost of Kirkwood village. 



illiam Cowan, blacksmith and an early 
settler of Monmouth, was born in Chester 

Jl^^d-, ' ^°'' ^^■' ^*^^' '°' '8'S> ^"d was the sec- 
i> ond son of David and Margaret (Keyl) 
Cowan, natives of the Keystone State. The 
senior Mr. Cowan was a tanner and currier in 
Chester County, where he spent the last years of his 
life. His widow survived him a few years and died 
in Washington County, that State. 

William Cowan was fairly taught in the common 
schools of his neighborhood when a boy, and at the 
age of 17 years began an apprenticeship with a 
blacksmith, named Hamilton Roney. After complet- 
ing his trade, he " joured " over the country, working 
at various places, finally returning to Pennsylvania, 
and at Lancaster worked some months for Hiram 
Baldwin, now and for the past 40 years proprietor of 
the Baldwin House. He afterward worked in Phil- 
adelphia, for the Gas Company and locomotive 
shops, and from there jumped into the then Western 




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584 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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State of Missouri. From Palmyra, that State, he 
made a short sojourn at Quincy, 111., then back to 
Missouri and enlisted in tlie only Missouri regiment 
in the Seminole War. He was in the battle of Okee- 
chobe and served throughout that Indian war under 
Gen. Taylor. He returned to Palmyra, and in the 
year 1839 landed at Monmouth. In 1839 he settled 
down to blacksmithing in this place, and has since 
stuck to it. His shop is now (October, 1885) in the 
building erected as the first hotel in Monmonth. It 
is an old log structure, originally one and one-half 
stories high, now so decayed away at the bottom, a log 
at a time, that it is scarcely one story from the ground 
to the roof. 

Mr. Cowan served the people of Monmouth five 
years as Alderman from his ward, two terms as 
Mayor and one term as Marshall. He used to be 
an old time Whig, but drifted into the Republican 
party, and finally, as he is growing wiser, he is strictly 
independent. He is a member of no secret order, 
nor is he connected with any Church. 

He was married in Marion County, Mo., Oct. 13, 
1840, to Miss Nancy C. S. Parrish. 



-43- 



-Di- 




" iP^Sth P. Stem, is a farmer, jesiding in Rose- 
ville, and a gentleman of more than or- 
"JC^*^ dinary business ability, with an abundance 
of practical knowledge obtained by actual ex- 
perience. He is a native of Mercer Co., Pa., 
where he was born July 29, 1S33, of parents 
by name Frederick and Sarah (Harris) Stem, natives 
of Westmoreland and Fayette Co.s, Pa., respectively. 
His parents came to this state in 1850 and located 
one and a-half miles east of Roseville on Section 
28, of that township. His father was engaged in 
farming and stock-raising, and followed that vocation 
in this county until his death, whicli took ])lace June 
8, 1875, his wife having preceded him to the other 
world in January, 1868. 

Seth P., the gentleman whose name appears at the 
head of this sketch, remained with his parents until 
he was 33 years old. He then rented land from his 
father, on shares, which he engaged in cultivating. 
Having received a good English education he taught 
school for several years, also buying and selling land, 



in which he was rather fortunate, and was enabled to 
make a little money thereby. 

The marriage of Mr. Seth P. Stem and Mrs. Mary 
Stem, nee McDermot, occurred Oct. 9, 1866. Mrs. 
Stem was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and of this 
union have been born two children, Elsie L., and 
Nellie B. After marriage Mr. Stem went to farming 
on a 160-acre tract of good land, on Section 17, add- 
ing 61 acres more by subsequent purchases, and 
where he f;irmed for about eight years, when he came 
to Roseville and purchased the property upon wliich 
he has since resided. Mr. Stem was a stockholder 
of the Roseville Union Bank for five years and one 
of its originators,. Having sold out his interest in 
the Bank he now lives a retired life, with the excep- 
tion of overseeing his farm and stock. He resided 
in Dakota one year, where he has 320 acres of land. 

Mr. Stem enlisted in Company H, 2d III. Cavalry, 
on the 6th of August, 1862, and served his country 
until the close of the war, having participated in the 
battle at Bolivar, Tenn., and in all the battles fought 
by Gen. Grant up to the fall of Vicksburg. He then 
went to the Gulf under Gen. Banks, whose army 
was several times surrounded by the enemy, and had 
to cut its way out. At Holly Springs the 2d 111. 
Cavalry was surrounded by the Rebel forces of Gen. 
Van Dorn, and all the Infantry captured, but the Cav- 
alry succeeded in escaping. Companies G, H, I, 
and K, of the 2d 111. Regt. of Cavalry, were separa- 
ted during the early part of the war, and were not 
again together during the term of enlistment of Mr. 
Stem. His regiment first went to LaGrange, then 
Holly Springs and then Coffeeville, af'er which it fell 
back to Memphis; went down the river to Young's 
Point and was in several engagements between there 
and Grand Gulf, and participated in the battle of 
Chainpion Hills. It struck camp at Black River, 
destroying railroads and lying in wait for Johnson and 
foraging for supplies for tlie army. After the surren- 
der of Vicksburg his regiment followed Johnson, and 
after its return went to Natchez, where it raided the 
country. It then went to Carlton and bivouacked 
for a time. The next move of the regiment was to 
Morganza, where the command was under fire every 
day for some time. Gen. Green commanded the 
Rebel forces, and Maj. Montgomery the 6th Missou- 
ri Cavalry, and at that place Gen. Green captur;d the 
Infantry. After this Mr. Stem was at New Orleans, 
where he spent the winter, and then accompanied an 



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■V. . •' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



•^r^r^ 



585 



expedition up tlie Red River. Reluming from the 
latter expedition to New Orleans, he participated in 
the Mobile campaign, after which he went by way of 
the Gulf to Pensacola, from there back to Vicksburg, 
and was finally mustered out at Springfield, 111., June 
I, 1865. 

Mr. Stem, with his wife, is a member of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church, and he belongs to the G. A. 
R. In politics he affiliates with the Republican par- 
ty. Mr. Stem is regarded as a solid and substantial 
citizen as well as a representative man, of Warren 
County. 



-^+=r 



A A 

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e^ 



[KJJf^^^^^ordelia 




A. Tinkham, residing at Kirk- 



wood, is the widow of Ransom Tinkham, 

1^?^ a native of Vermont, he having been born 
in the Green Mountain State, July 23, 18 15, 
and his demise occurring in this county. Mar. 
21, 1878. The parents of Mr. Tinkham, Ben- 
jamin and Anna (Gray) Tinkham, were natives of 
Vermont and the Pine Tree State respectively. Ran- 
som Tinkham, husband of the subject of this bio- 
graphical notice, remained with his parents until he 
attained the age of 21 years, receiving at their hands 
a good common-school education. In 1836 he came 
to Illinois and located at Monmouth, and while re- 
siding there was elected Constable, which position he 
filled with credit to himself and his constituents. He 
afterward moved to Tompkins Township and located 
on section 19, where he purchased 80 acres of land, 
which he at once began to cultivate and improve. 
Subsequently he added another 80 acre tract, mak- 
ing his landed interests 160 acres, and continued to 
reside there until 1876. During that year he moved 
to Kirkwood and purchased a residence and lot on 
the corner of Kellogg and Plum Streets, where he 
lived in retirement from the active labors of life, en- 
joying the peace, comfort and quiet which his accu- 
mulations permitted, until his death. In politics, he 
was a staunch Democrat, and his life pursuit was that 
of an agriculturist, in which he met with financial 
success. He also gave considerable attention to 
music, and was leader of the first brass band organ- 
ized in Warren County. 

The marriage of Mr. Tinkham to Miss Cordelia 



A. Forwood took place April 23, 1842. She was a 
native of Maryland and bore her husband six chil- 
dren, five of whom survive, namely : Sarah A. A., 
Ophelia C. H., Ransom O. B , Cordelia C. A. and 
George W. P. Erastus W. D., the second child in 
order of birth, was born Dec. 17, 1845, and died 
Sept. 5, 1846. Mrs. Tinkham is residing in Kirk- 
wood with her two daughters and 'wo granddaugh- 
ters. Sarah A. A. became the wife of Charles R. 
Barnett, and to them five children have been born — 
George W., Cora A., Addie O., Charles E. and Flor- 
ence A. Ophelia C. H. was united in marriage to 
Peter Barnett, and of their union two children, Con- 
stance O. A. and Ina C. A. were born. Mr. Barnett 
died in 1870. Ransom O. B. married Sarah F. Ack- 
erman, and they have four children — Lester L., Wil- 
fred C, Daisy M. and Guy R. are the names of 
their family. George W. P. chose for his life part- 
ner Adah L. Oaks, and they have become the par- 
ents of two children, who have been named Forrest 
G. and Ralph D. 



^^f«'^ GiUiland, of the firm of Foster & Gilliland, 
^^^ druggists, at Kirkwood, was born in Hunt- 
l\\ ington Co., Pa., July r, 1830, his parents be- 
.'N' ing Mathew and Elizabeth (Rogers) GilUiland, 
\ natives of Pennsylvania. His father came to 
this state and settled at Sugar Tree Grove, 
Hale Township, Warren County, in 1850, and there 
resided following the peaceful pursuit of an agricul- 
turist until the date of his death, which took place in 
1851. 

Mr. Gilliland, whose name appears at the head of 
this biographical notice, remained under the care and 
instruction of his parents, receiving a good education 
in the common schools until he attained the age of 
majority. On becoming his own man in life he left 
the parental homestead and went forth to fight his 
battles single-handed and alone, and to acquire, if 
possible, a competency. He first worked out by the 
month, and continued to receive remuneration for his 
services as a laborer, until 1855. During that year 
he engaged with W. F. Smith, at Monmouth, as clerk 
in a drug store, and followed tliat occupation for three 
years. In 1859 he crossed the plains to California, 
and on arrival in the Golden State prospected for 



riAji: 



f 



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S86 



WARREN COUNTY. 



gold, and was thus occupied for one year. He then 
went to Nevada, where he worked in the silver mines, 
and there remained until 1865, when he returned to 
Monmouth. His trip across the plains, in a financial 
sense was of but little benefit to him, and on return- 
ing to Monmouth he again engaged as a clerk and 
followed the same for two years. 

Leaving Monmouth Mr. Gilliland came to Kirk- 
wood, and in partnership with Mr. S. C. Foster, 
engaged in the drug business, 'wliich tliey have con- 
tinued until the preseni time, meeting with that suc- 
cess which fair dealing and strict attention to 
business generally bring. The marriage of Mr.Gillil- 
and to Miss Margaret A. Ebert, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, took place in 1869, and two ciiildren have 
been born to tiie family circle, namely, William and 
Lewis. 

In politics Mr. Gilliland is a believer in and a sup- 
porter of the Republican party. Religiously, he and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Socially Mr. Gilliland is a member of the Order of 
Masonry, and is regarded as one of the energetic and 
foremost business men of Kirkwood. 

^ -^^- ^ 




4 



^rs. S. E. Wray, residing at Kirkwood, is 
the widow of John Wray, who died in 
1874. He was born in Kentucky in 1816, 
his parents being Isaac and Mary (Carleton) 
Wray, natives of Ireland. He landed on 
American shores in 1835, and determined to 
follow the occupation of a farmer. Following in the 
train whose watchword was "Westward Ho!" he 
reached the Prairie State and located one mile west 
of the present village of Kirkwood, where his father 
and mother died. 

John Wray was united in marriage vvith Sarah E. 
Davis, a native of Virginia, Aug. 14, 1843, in Hen- 
derson County. She came to Illinois with her par- 
ents in 1833. They settled on a farm of 80 acres, 
and there her father followed the occupation of farm- 
ing and the daughter continued to reside until her 
marriage with Mr. Wray. Of their union ten chil- 
dren have been born, namely : William W., Mary, 
Frances M., Andrew E., Caroline C, Eliza J., Sam- 
uel U., Elizabeth E., John P. and Charles E. 

Mr. Wray, in his political belief, supported the 



Republican party. He took an interest in political 
matters and ivas an active worker for the success of 
his party. In religion, he was a believer in the ten- 
ets of the United Presbyterian Church, as is likewise 
Mrs. Wray. 

Mr. Wray was a hard working man, generous to a 
fault, and never known to refuse aid in any cause 
that was calculated to benefit the community in 
whicli he resided. He lived on his farm and was 
there engaged actively and energetically in its im- 
provement until his death in 1874. Three years 
after tlie death of her husband, Mrs. Wray moved to 
the village of Kirkwood and there purchased a resi- 
dence and two lots, where she is at present living 
with her two sons and a daughter. 



-S3^ 



A. 



T^ 



=£>- 



^Ij^jjCohn S. Spriggs, M. D., of the pioneer drug 

J^^IK" house of Spriggs & Brother, at Monmouth, 

Srsv>^^ , • X /-^ I-, Ki 

v^ was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 4, 

'%^£ 1824. His parents, James S. and Elizabeth 
]u (Leanian) Spriggs, natives respectively of the 
\ States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, traced 
their ancestry back to England and Germany. They 
were married in Lancaster Co., Pa., from whence 
they removed to Philadelphia, where the senior Mr. 
S. was for many years a merchant. He died in that 
city in 1838. His widow survived him about 26 
years, and came West with her son John S. in 1857, 
and died at Monmouth in 1864, in the 70th year 
of her life. 

John S. Spriggs graduated from New London (Pa.) 
Academy, when about 18 years of age, and began 
directly the study of medicine with Dr. John Lea- 
man, an uncle, of Williamslown, Pa., who was his 
preceptor. From Dr. Leaman's office he entered 
the Jefferson College, in 1842, and graduated two 
years later as M. D. He began to practice in Cum- 
berland Co , Pa., immediately upon leaving college, 
and was there 13 years. He came from Cumber- 
land County to Monmouth in 1857, and soon after 
engaged in the drug business. He began business in 
a building that stood upon the site of the present 
Second National Bank. The building was burned 
in 187 I, and he next opened up on the south side of 
the public scpiare, where the firm (for the brothers 
have been together all the time) have since carried 



lAjt: 



t 



u 



4 



■ )!■ 
WARREN COUNTY. 



^■^ 



587 



on an extensive and lucrative business. As skillful 
druggists they undoubtedly stand at the head of the 
trade in Monmouth. Dr. Spriggs was one of the 
organizers of the Monmouth Mining and Manufac- 
turing Co., in 1872, his interests wherein he parted 
with in 1884. 

Dr. Spriggs was married in Cumberland Co., Pa., 
Dec. 16, 1852, to Miss Emily E. Williamson, who 
died at Castile, N. Y., whither she had gone for her 
health, leaving four children, having buried two. 
The living are John W., of Monmouth ; Margaret A. 
(Mrs. W. W. Yeates), of Chicago; Florence E. (Mrs. 
E. J. Robinson), of Iowa City, Iowa; and Laura 
Belle (Mrs. W. R. Smith), of Kansas. Their first 
child, Mary Elizabeth, was born Sept. 17, 1853, and 
died Dec. 23, 1868; William Francis, was born Oct. 
24, 1858, and died Dec. 6, of the same year. 

Ten years after burying his first wife, the Doctor 
found a second in the person of Miss Rachel Dy- 
sart, a native of Belmont Co., Ohio. They were 
married at Monmouth, May 6, 1885. The Doctor 
and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
In politics, he is a Republican. 




H. Gilmore, who is engaged in the gro- 
cery business at Kirkwood, this county, was 
born in Butler Co., Pa., June 16, 1846, his 
parents being Hugh and Catherine (Dorothy) 
Gilmore, natives of Pennsylvania. The father 
V moved with his family to New London, Iowa, 
in 1855, and was there resident for 10 years, coming 
thence to Kirkwood, where he is yet living. 

J. H. Gilmore, the gentleman whose name we place 
as the subject of this biographical notice, was an in- 
mate of the parental household until he attained his 
23d year. His years prior to majority were passed 
in acquiring an education in the common schools and 
assisting in the maintenance of the family. Two 
years after becoming his own man, in 1872, he en- 
gaged with T. F. Lowther in the grocery business at 
Kirkwood, where he continued for seven years, after 
wliich, in 1879, Mr. Gilmore purchased his partner's 
interest, and since then has conducted the business 
for his own individual profit. By strict attention to 
business, quick sales and fair dealing with his cus- 



tomers, he has established a good and constantly in- 
creasing business. 

The marriage of Mr. Gilmore to Miss Louisa 
Brown, daughter of John Brown and a native of this 
State, took place in 1869. Their union has been 
blessed by the birth of two children, Carrie and 
Hugh. 

In politics Mr. Gilmore is a staunch Republican. 
He has held the different offices in his township and 
is one of the foremost business men of Kirkwood. 




ortimer S Baldwin, at the head of the 
firm of Baldwin & Putnam, dealers in 
'f^ flour, feed, pumps, lime; cement, etc., 
at Monmouth, is a son of George and Mary 
L. (Stewart) Baldwin, natives of Pensylvania, 
and of English and Irish extraction, respect- 
ively. He was born in Chester Co., Pa., Oct. 27, 
1846. The senior Mr. Baldwin was by occupation 
a farmer during his life and brought his six sons up 
to that honorable calling. His life was ended in the 
place where it began, and the hand of Time marked 
for him 66 years, A. D. 1869. 

Mortimer S. Baldwin had the benefit of a com- 
mon-school education in Pennsylvania, and when 
about 20 years of age was employed as a clerk in a 
general merchandise establishment at Cochranville, 
that State. He remained here about three years 
and then in a similar cap.icity at Penningtonville for 
about one year. In 1869, we find him farming near 
Virden, 111., and in 187 1 he landed at Monmouth, 
where he learned telegraphy. He followed " brass 
pounding " only a short time and engaged in the 
grocery business in partnership with a Mr. Hawkins. 
In 1 88 1, he sold out his grocery and went to Black- 
foot, Idaho Territory, and there engaged in the 
butchering business, under contract to furnish meat 
to the United States Government. A few montlis of 
this life satisfied him, and Monmouth again became 
his home. He was connected vvith the Monmouth 
Merchant Milling Company, as their Secretary, 
about 18 months, and in 1883 embarked in his pres- 
ent business, taking in a partner in 1884. 

Mr. Baldwin began life subject to all the difficul- 
ties incident to a young man wholly devoid of means, 
and has had his full share of the ups and downs, 



JlJ 



i^ 



4 



ji- 



588 



WARREN COUNTY. 



and, in fact, he has liad occasion to feel that there 
were more downs tiian ups to his allotment, but not- 
withstanding it all, he has made a success of life so 
far, and has outstripped many wlio had mucii the 
advantage of him at the beginning. He owns tlie 
Joel Clothing-House Block at Monmouth, a large 
tract of land in Nebraska, is a stockholder and di- 
rector in the Monmouth Merciiant Milling Company, 
at Mitchell, D. T., and has a half interest in the 
celebrated Portable Hay and Grain Cover, the new- 
est and most useful invention that has been intro- 
duced to the agricultural people for ten years. 

He is a Republican in politics, and, religiously, 
attends the Presbyterian Church. Mr. B. is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows Order. Mrs. Baldwin's 
maiden name was Laura W. Williams; she is a na- 
tive of Chester Co., Pa., wiiere Mr. Baldwin made 
her his wife Feb. 15, 1872. 



^«-i{Mf^ 




fscar N. Kellogg, a gentleman who has met 
with more than ordinary success in life, a 
cA^/ good farmer and i'espected citizen of War- 
&izr' ren County, residing on section 1 1, Cold Brook 
Township, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 4, 1846. Josiah Kellogg, father of the 
gentleman whose name heads this biographical no- 
tice, followed the trade of a harness maker until 
1851, when he came West, and located in Kelly 
Township. He continued to reside there, following 
the vocation of a farmer, until the call was made by 
President Lincoln for soldiers to defend the cause of 
the union, when he enlisted, Sept. 2, 1862, as First 
Corporal in the i02d 111. Vol. Inf., Co. B, under 
Capt. Elisha C. Atchison. The regiment in which 
his company belonged was assigned to the Army of 
the Cumberland, and Mr. Kellogg participated in all 
the battles in whicli it was engaged until March 13, 
1863, when he was promoted to Third Sergeant. He 
held that rank until tlie battle of Resaca, when he 
received a shot from the enemy that caused his 
death. 

Oscar N. Kellogg, whose life history we write, was 
but six years of age when his parents came to this 
county and located in Kelly Townsliij). After the 
deatli of his fatlier, he resided witii liis mother on the 



old homestead, where he was engaged in its cultiva- 
tion and improvement. Oct. 31, 187 i, he was united 
in marriage witli Miss Margaret, the accomplished 
daughter of Alex, and Martha (Richie) Armstrong, 
natives of the North of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish 
descent. Her parents were married in their native 
country and resided in Fermanagh County, where 
eigiit children were born to them. Mrs. Kellogg, 
wife of the subject of this notice, was next to the 
youngest in order of birth of her parents' family and 
was born in Fermanagh County, Ireland, July 2, 
1849. Her parents emigrated to the United States 
and settled in Kelly Township, this county, where 
her father died, in May, 1876, aged 70 years. Her 
mother survives and is residing with her oldest son, 
James, in Kelly Township, aged 73 years. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, they 
located on the old homestead belonging to the father 
of Mrs. K., on section 28, Kelly Township. Mr. 
Kellogg subsequently sold liis jwssessions in Kelly 
Township, and, in February, 1884, purchased 120 
acres of good farm land in Cold Brook Township, the : 
same being the farm on which they at present reside. , 
It is under an advanced state of cultivation and pre- I 
sents an appearance indicative of the push and en- [ 
ergy of its proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg are 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
of which denomination Mr. K. is Steward and also 
Sunday-school Superintendent. In politics, he al- 
ways casts his vote with the Republican party. He 
has held the office of Road Commissioner for six 
years and School Trustee for the same length of 
time. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, two 
children have been born — Bertha, Dec. 17, 1873, and 
Estella, Jan. 24, 1877. 



^^l__a.. , ames W. Standley, M. D., a practicing 
ii^Ht; physician in Alexis, established his rela- 
■'^^ tions with the citizens 01 that place in 

1880. He is a practitioner of the allopathic 
school and is thoroughly well read in his pro- 
fession. He has had a valuable experience 
and is steadily growing in the confidence of the com- 
munity where he has thrown his glove of challenge 
to fame and fortune. 

Dr. Standley was born in Putnam Co., Ind., March 



-^ 



*T* 



f4-^ 



■Y- . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



:^?r4H- 



591 



18, 1846. His father, Thomas Standley, is respon- 
sible for the letter " d " which appears in the family 
name, as it was inserted by him to change its origi- 
nal name of " Stanley." The latter was a native of 
South Carolina and married Lydia Moss, a lady who 
was born in Indiana. The senior Standley removed 
his family to Wapello Co., Iowa, wlien his son was a 
child of nine years. 

The days of the youth of Dr. Standley were passed 
in loiva, and lie was educated primarily in the pub- 
lic schools of the county whither his parents re- 
moved. He went to Putnam Co., Mo., for the pur- 
pose of commencing his studies preparatory to 
entering the medical profession, with his uncle, 
Thomas H. Moss, who was a physician of repute 
and influence, and under whose preceptorship he 
made satisfactory progress. On leaving his office, 
Dr. Standley matriculated at Rush Medical College 
in the city of Chicago and was graduated from that 
institution with the class of 1872. In i86g, he went 
to PlattviUe, Taylor Co., Iowa, to enter upon his 
professional career, and remained there six months. 
He operated in Adair Co., Mo., after that period un- 
til 1871, when he abandoned practice to give his 
entire attention to his collegiate course. After tak- 
ing his degree, he went to Greencastle, Sullivan Co., 
Mo., and practiced as a physician until he came to 
Alexis in the year named. 

Dr. Standley was joined in marriage with Emma 
Bartlett Sept. 9, 1875. She is thedaughter of Charles 
and Emeline Bartlett and was born in Newark, Ken- 
dall Co., 111. The Doctor and his wife are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. 



^JHJ r :l :: : 



4 



^on. Deles Porter Phelps, of Monmouth, 
Asst. Supt. of the Central Iowa Rail- 
way Company, is a son of Porter and Mary 
Ellen Phelp-i, notices of whom appear in 
this work. He was born about ten miles south 
of Monmouth, in Roseville Tovvriship, Warren 
Co., Nov. i5, 1837. In the sketch of liis parents, in 
this volume, will be found an account of his ancestry. 
His father moved from Knoxville, III., in the spring 
of that year, and there began the improvement of a 
small farm. He erected upon it a rude log house, 
covered with nand-riven boards, kept in place by 




logs weighting them down, and beneath that roof the 
subject of our sketch first saw the light. 

The whole country was then substantially a wil- 
derness ; only here and there along the timber could 
be found the rude beginning of some adventurous 
pioneer. He lived there until the spring of 
I S44, and many a time, as he has told the writer, 
has he seen the wolves come up to within hailing 
distance of the house, and the deer play like sheep 
within gunshot of the dwelling. For several direc- 
tions, as far as the eye could reach, there was not 
then an improvement, or the smoke of a chimney in 
view. He saw the prairie fires in the autumn sweep 
across the broad expanse of waving grass swifter 
than the speed of the fastest horse, and with a roar 
that could be heard a considerable distance, leaving 
blackness and desolation behind. During one win- 
ter, while residing there, two of his father's neigh- 
bors caught 46 wolves in one steel trap, and finally 
a large black wolf was caught that broke the chain 
and went off with the trap, and was killed the follow- , 
ing spring 10 miles away, almost starved to death, 
with the trap still clinging to his foot. 

At that time cooking stoves were substantially un- 
known, kettles were used in fire places instead, and 
each cabin, though rude without and within, had one 
of those great cheerful fire-places with its back log 
and fore log, andirons, and great chimneys, so beau- 
tifully described in Whittier's "Snow Bound." Mills 
were scarce and distant, and not unfrequently had he 
seen meal manufactured by grating ears of new corn 
upon the bottom of a tin pan punched full of holes 
with an awl. 

He was taught at home a great deal by his par- 
ents, as no neighborhood had school to exceed three 
months in the year. School houses as described by 
him were made of logs generally about 1 6 ft. square, 
and seats were formed of hewn puncheons; or, if a 
saw mill was near or a whip-saw available, seats were 
made of slabs converted into benches by having four 
holes bored and rude legs placed therein. These 
legs generally protruded through the top far enough 
for a wedge to be driven into them to prevent them 
from falling out, and unfortunate was the unlucky 
urchin who, in that small and usually crowded room 
happened to be assigned his seat over that uncom- 
fortable spot. 

In the spring of 1844 the elder Phelps sold his 
farm for $300, moved to the vicinity of Berwick and 



LT^V 



r 



4: 



592 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



rented a farm. There, he said, he remembered well 
with what pleasure and childish wonder he saw tiie 
iron thumb latches with which the doors were fur- 
nished. Usually at that time there was used a large 
wooden latcli, to which there was fastened a string 
that passed through a iiole in the door above it, and 
by pulling the string tlie latch was raised. At that 
time tliieves were almost unknown, and this latch 
string hung out with a welcoming hospitality to every 
lost or belated traveler. 

This year, 1844, was known as the rainy season. 
The windows of heaven seemed to be opened, and 
the storm king to rule with unrestrained power. 
More than once with his brothers and sisters he was 
put into the cellar, while his father and mother stay- 
ed above to hold the doors and windows. Often, 
too, with a common dipper, has he seen them dip 
water from the well, so saturated was the earth. In 
1845, his father having bought the place four miles 
east of Monmouth, where he lived until his death, 

■ moving upon it in the spring of that year. 

From Berwick there was the wide prairie that lies 
south and east of Monmouth. It was then supposed 

: to be too wet to ever be valuable, and rash indeed 
was considered the man who would leave a point of 
timber and venture to make his home thereon. 

The course thence to Monmouth was a straight 
line, and, in fact, to almost any other point, if one 
could cross the sloughs and streams which were gen- 
erally unbridgfd. The prairie spoken of was cov- 
ered with an immense growth of rank weeds, but a 
few feet apart, that grew to a height of from 10 to 15 
feet, and were covered on top and sides with yellow 
flowers. Many a time after he was large enough to 
hunt the cows, he had to stand up on his horse's 
ba'jk to see over the tops of these weeds, and would 
find them lying down not 100 steps away, when he 
could not see them while sitting on the horse. A great 
bunch of resinous leaves several feet in diameter 
grew at tlie foot of these tall weeds, and after frost 
were as inflammable as tinder. In the event of a 
prairie fire the wind would sweep them in a fiery 
cloud away in front of the bursting flames, and kin- 
dle the fire far in advance, which greatly accelerated 
the speed of the conflagration. Upon this prairie, 
when he was large enough to ride on horseback with 
safety, he attended two grand circular wolf hunts with 
his father and two older brothers, where the lines 
had been formed upon the borders of the county. 



and the deer and wolves driven before until late in 
the day they were found in the circle or square that 
the encroaching horses formed around the prairie. 

The first year of residence upon this place, there 
was killed thereon almost 100 rattlesnakes, and over 
400 other snakes. Often, in riding across that prai- 
rie several years later, he has encountered a wolf or 
deer, or heard therattle of the disturbed rattlesnake, 
which horses seemed to avoid with instinctive fear. 
Here young Delos also attended school for a few 
months in the year in the primitive log school house. 
The privileges of school were valued, because scarce 
in those days. There he first studied Latin under 
the tuition of his sister Ellen, and also under that 
of Rev. J. \V. Butler, who afterward became Presi- 
dent of Abingdon College. President Butler was at 
that time a student at eiiher Knox College, 111., or 
Bethany College in Virginia. His father, Major Pe- 
ter Butler, was almost, if not quite, the first County 
Surveyor of Warren County, and lived about four 
miles east of Monmouth. A block house stood up- 
on his farm that had been built there for protection 
against the Indians. But Mr. Phelps was indebted 
to home instruction for much of his learning, espe- 
cially for iiis love of poetry and eloquence. Extracts 
from Scott and other standard authors were taught 
him by his mother, wlio brought them stored in her 
memory from New York, and taught them to him 
years before he ever saw them in a book. She taught 
him so early that he has no recollection of learning 
to read. He always had a desire to go through Col- 
lege, and in 1856 the establishment of Monmouth 
College gave him an opportunity, and he told his 
father that if he would let him go he would relin- 
quish all interest in his estate, and in September, 
1857, he started. The father did not intend that 
such should be the price of his son's education, but 
jvistly considered that those things desired and ob- 
tained with difficulty, were the most prized. The 
young student pursued his studies at home and rode 
on horseback to Monmoutli to recite, slaying out oc- 
casionally to teach a term in order to get money to 
aid in the expenses; and thus he really earned more 
money than he spent while attending College. 

Mr. Phelps graduated in the cla^ical department 
in r862, having been in college five years. His was 
the last class that graduated from the old college 
building. He studied French under the instruction 
of his cousin. Miss Annie Stevens, afterwards the 



t* 



WARREN COUNTY. 



593 



wife of A. G. Kirkpatrick, as an extra study. He 
also studied law during vacations, and at all spare 
moments, getting the books from A. G. Kirkpatrick, 
then a leading lawyer of Monmouth. 

In February, 1862, however, four months before he 
graduated, he was attacked with acute opthalmia. 
For weeks he was confined to a darkened room. At 
one time the sight of one eye was pronounced by his 
physician as lost, but fortunately he was mistaken. 
Mr. Phelps was determined to graduate with his 
class, however, and his sister Annie read his lessons 
to him, and when he got able to endure the light, 
with a heavy shade over his eyes, he rode to the col- 
lege and recited them. He dictated his commence- 
ment oration to the same sister, who wrote it down 
and read it to him until he had learned it. He was 
chosen by his class to deliver the valedictory ad- 
dress, and delivered that and his oration while so 
nearly blind he could not recognize his friends half 
way across the Church, where the commencement 
exercises were held. 

He always had a great love for oratory, and many 
eloquent passages of great orators and statesmen 
were familiar and delightful to him, and while in 
college he rarely missed the Friday night meeting of 
the Philadelphia Literary Society, of which he was 
a member. Their debates, orations and essays 
were continued, often, to the "wee sma' hours," and 
were to him a source of great pleasure and improve- 
ment. For three successive years, during his college 
course, he was chosen by his society to represent it 
in its annual literary contest with the Eccrittean 
Society, its rival in college. The writer of this has 
heard him say that to the discipline there received in 
that society, he attributed much of whatever suc- 
cess he may have attained afterwards at the bar. 
For two years after he graduated he vainly tried, by 
the help of divers physicians, to recover his sight, 
so as to go on witli the study of his chosen profes- 
sion, until almost in despair; and though usually 
cheerful under the disappointment thus suffered, he 
was wo'it to attribute to it whatever of a sombre 
hue there might be in his character. 

In the spring of 1864, Mr. Phelps, despairing of 
being able to go on with his studies, being still un- 
able to read for ten consecutive minutes, or even 
look upward, and lioping to make a little money to 
aid him in his studies when able to prosecute them, 
went across the plains to Idaho Territory, where he 



began digging gold, with, however, indifferent suc- 
cess, except as to health. The change of climate, 
exercise and being in the open air invigorated his 
health, and did much to strengthen his sight, and 
having lost, in purchasing a mine, what money he 
had, he concluded to go to Idaho City and teach 
school. At that place in the winter of 1864-5 ^^ 
rented a small house, bought some lumber, bor- 
rowed tools, made seats and desks and opened a 
school, at one dollar per week per scholar. His 
school swelled to 55 in number, and finding his 
quarters too small, he raised, by subscription, nearly 
$1,000, and built the first school-house erected in 
that Territory outside of Lewiston, and possibly in 
advance of any built there. This school-house he 
afterward gave to the school authorities there, and it 
was one of the few buildings that escaped the fire 
which destroyed the city. 

While teaching, Mr. Phelps spent his spare hours 
in the law office of Hon. Chas. B. Waite, of Chicago, 
before then Chief Justice of Utah Territory, and he 
and other legal friends examined him in the law 
and wrote a letter in his favor, which he sent to 
Lewiston, with the accustomed fee therefor, and a ^ 
license was issued him to practice law. On May 
18, 1865, Idaho City was destroyed by fire, and his 
law license and almost everything else he possessed 
was burned. That fall he returned East on horse- 
back across the plains. His sight was then restored 
so that he could read a considerable portion of the 
time by daylight, and he continued to study law and 
was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of 
this State in the Spring of 1866, at Ottawa, upon ex- 
amination in open court, not being able to produce 
tiie license granted him in Idaho Territory. Thus, 
aside from the improvement of his general health, 
he had lost about four years of his life, and very im- 
portant ones, too, coming as they did just at the 
close of his college life. 

On the 8ih day of May, 1866, Mr. Phelps came 
to Monmouth and began the practice of law, his 
earthly possessions at that time consisting of a horse, 
blind in one eye, worth about $125. He formed a 
law partnership with Hon. C. M. Harris, of Oquawka, 
which was nominal, rather than otherwise, as he 
continued to reside in Oquawka. In the fall of that 
year he formed a law partnership with Hon. J. H. 
Stewart, which continued until he retired fiqm prao, 
tice, in 1880. 



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594 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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In 1868, Mr. Phelps was nominated by the State 
Democratic Convention for Presidential Elector, and 
challenged Hon. Henry W. Draper, of Carthage, 111., 
Republican Elector, to a joint discussion of the 
questions at issue, at three points in each county in 
the District, which then extended from Quincy to 
Rock Island. Mr. Draper accepted for two points 
in each county, and the debates were held, usually 
before large audiences. While at Rock Island, hold- 
ing one of these joint discussions, he was nominated 
also for District Attorney. Both Districts were 
largely Republican and he was defeated ; but these 
debates established his reputation as a brilliant and 
able speaker, and his name was frequently mentioned 
thereafter as a candidate for Congress, and in 1876 
he came within two or three votes of being nomi- 
nated. In 1 87 8 he was nominated by acclamation. 
Col. Frank B. Marsh, of Warsaw, Hancock County, 
was the Republican candidate, while Hon. A. B. 
Streeter, of Mercer County, formerly a Democrat, 
ran on the Greenback ticket. His candidacy di- 
vided the Democratic vote and defeated Mr. Phelps. 
In Mercer County Mr. Streeter succeeded in convinc- 
> ing his old neighbors that there was no chance for 
Mr. Phelps' election, but that there was for his own 
on the then Greenback tidal wave, and he secured 
in that county 868 votes, while Mr. Phelps secured 
898. The Democratic vote of that county two years 
before had been nearly equal to both these numbers. 
Col. Marsh retained his party strength and Mr. 
Phelps was defeated by 576 votes. In Warren 
County he was beaten by but 298 votes, while the 
usual Republican majority was from 700 to 800. In 
this campaign he had to contend against two other 
candidates. Had Mr. Streeter not been in the field 
Mr. Phelps would have been elected easily by 1,500 
majority. In that campaign he probably delivered 
more public addresses than were ever made iiy any 
candidate in Illinois during the same length of time, 
making 38 speeches of from two and a half to three 
hours each in the last 23 days, or almost two daily, 
yet such was their character that a prominent gen- 
tleman declared to the writer that he "went to hear 
him nine times during that campaign and that the 
last speech was the best of all." 

Mr. Phelps is an ardent and uncompromising 
Democrat, and takes an active part in almost every 
political campaign, and had his lot been cast where 



his party was in the ascendancy there is no position 
to which he might not have aspired. He was ever 
interested in the welfare of his city and neighbor- 
hood. 

In 1875, the citizens of Monmouth, desiring to ob- 
tain some railroad competition, organized the Bur- 
lington, Monmouth & Illinois River Railway Com- 
pany for that purpose. Mr. Phelps was among the 
first subscribers, to the extent of $r,ooo. He was 
made a director of the company, and in 1879, when 
the enterprise seemed likely to fail, Mr. Phelps and 
Mr. William Hanna assumed control and acquired 
the ownership of it, and, as will be seen in the no- 
tice of the Central Iowa Railway Company, pushed 
it to completion, until now it is growing to be one of 
the most important roads of the West. 

There is, perhaps, no more remarkable case upon 
record of as important a railway as this developing 
from so humble a beginning by force of judicious 
management. In this company and in the Peoria 
& Farmington Railway Company, which was its suc- 
cessor, the name of which was afterwards changed to 
the Central Iowa, Mr. Phelps held almost every po- i 
sition of responsibility and trust; being its Vice-Pres- T" 
ident. General Manager, Secretary and Legal 
Counselor. He made the contracts, supervised the 
construction and directed its operations; was instru- ■* 
mental in consolidating it with the Central Iowa, of 
Iowa, of which company he became a director and 
assistant Superintendant, which latter position he 
now holds. He organized the Keithsburg Bridge 
Company, now building an iron bridge over the Mis- 
sissip|)i River at Keithsburg, 111., and was until 
recently a director and secretary thereof. In addi- 
tion to his interests in these railways, which are 
large, he is a stockholder and director in the Weir 
Plow Company of Monmouth, and is a large land- 
owner in Warren County and in Iowa. What he 
has, he has made by his own efforts. While at the 
Bar, he was recognized as standing in its front ranks. 
As a trial lawyer, he perhaps had no superior, and 
as an advocate before a jury he was in a high de- 
gree eloquent and persuasive, while an indomitable 
will made him never despair of winning the most 
desperate cases. The practice of his firm is seen by 
reference to the reports of the Supreme Court, and 
was both lucrative and extensive. He abandoned 
it in 1880, because his time and energies were en- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



u 



S9S 



grossed in his railway enterprise. As a business 
man, he possesses good judgment and great execu- 
tive ability, as will be seen from his industrious and 
successful career. 

On April 13, 1870, Mr. Phelps was married to 
Sarah Jeannette, daughter of Rev. Anson Tucker, 
of whom and of her mother and their ancestry 
sketches appear in this volume. Mrs. Phelps is a 
lady of rare accomplishments and virtues. Mr. and 
Mrs. Phelps occupy a delightful home, beautified by 
many works of art and brightened by two lovely 
daughters — Eleanor Randolph, 12 years old and 
Claire Marguerite, eight years old. With a father's 
partiality, Mr. P. has given the names of Eleanor 
and Claire to two stations upon the line of the 
Central Iowa Railway in Illinois. Mrs. Phelps is a 
member of the United Presbyterian Church, of Mon- 
mouth. She is beloved by the poor and needy of 
that city as their active and earnest friend and as- 
sistant. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are now in the prime 
of life, with promise of abundant years of usefulness 
and happiness in store for them. 



4 



S:[ iSij^phraira S. Swinney, one of the pioneers of 
iiij^^jg Monmouth, was born at Bridgeton, N. J., 
^W' June 23, 1817, and was the second in or- 
iS. der of birth of a family of tliree sons of Daniel 
^' J. and Elizabeth (Seeley) Swinney, natives of 
j Pennsylvania and New Jersey and of Irish and 
Welsh extraction respectively. 

Ephraim S. Swinney was educated at Mansfield, 
Ohio, where his father removed in 1822, and where 
Daniel J. Swinney, who was a physician and also a 
preacher in the Baptist Church, died in 1858, at tlie 
age of 76 years. His widow died at the same place, 
surviving him only one month, aged 72 years. 

Mr. Swinney of this notice came to Monmouth in 
1837, and here he has since lived, and what he does 
not know of the early history of this now proud, little 
city will never be told. He began life here as a la- 
borer, worked at anything or everything, quarried the 
rock that laid the foundation of the present County 
Court House, and in 1839 went into Daniel McNeil's 
store and Postoffice as a clerk. In 1843 he was 



elected Recorder of the county, and held the office 
eight years, or up to the day that office was abol- 
ished. In 1853 he was elected County Clerk, and 
held that office eight years, and since 1861 has lived 
a life of peaceful retirement. 

On Dec. 21, 1843, he was united in marriage at 
Monmouth with Miss Mary Berry, whose father, B. 
Berry, of Flemingsburg, Ky., was killed in the War 
ofi8i2. The ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Swinney are Mary E. (Mrs. William G. Hutchinson), 
Miletus L., Ann M. (Mrs. W. D. Tresham), Daniel 
J., John Milton, Lucy J., Catherine B. (Mrs. C. E. 
Cornell), Henrietta, Octavia G. and Richard Lee, 
and all living at the date of this publication (Febru- 
ary, 1886). 



-^% 



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■ .fj^r^ri/^ . 




feavid Dunbar Dunkle, Commander G. A. 
%^ R. Post, No. 330, and at the head of the 
,\^r firm of Dunkle & Bristol, grocers at Mon- 
©•« mouth, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 11, 
Wt 1840. His parents, David and Margaret A. 
1 (Henry) Dunkle, were also Pennsylvanians. 

They were the parents of an only daughter, who 
grew to womanhood, married a Mr. Stewart, and died 
soon afterward in Pennsylvania. David was born a 
few weeks after his father's death, but his mother 
supplied him with a step-father in the course of time, 
who taught David how to farm, and the neighborhood 
pedagogue took advantage of such odd times as the 
farm could not monopolize, and taught him the rudi- 
ments of an English education. When about 20 
years of age he went to Bedford Co., Pa., and learned 
the moulder's trade, and on the 27th of August, 
i86r, enlisted as a private in Co. F, looth Pa. Reg., 
known as the "Round Heads," and served three 
years. He was with his regiment in the secret expe- 
dition against Hilton Head, in November, 186 1; 
jjarticipated in the engagements at Bufort, S. C. ; 
James Island, near Charleston ; joined the Eastern 
army in July, 1862, and fought the enemy at Bull 
Run, Chantilla, South Mountain, Antietam, and 
through Gen. Burnside's winter campaign. The 
spring of 1863 found the regiment in the army of the 
Mississippi. After occupying Vicksburg, young Da- 
vid was taken sick, returned to Kentucky and left at 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



Camp Nelson hospital. After liis recovery he re- 
tiinied to the army of the Potomac, and particii)ated 
in the early part of the Grant campaign, in the battle 
of the Wilderness, and on to Spottsylvania. During 
the whole service he was absent from duty only about 
four months. 

After tlie war D. D. Dunkle made a flying trip to 
Colorado via Monmouth, wliere, after returning East, 
he settled down in the spring of 1866, since which 
time, up to engaging in his ])resent business, he has 
alternated between farming and working at his trade. 
From 1880 to 1885 he was employed as foreman for 
the Pattee Plow Company, and in June, 1885, he 
embarked in the grocery trade. 

In 1883. he was elected Senior Vice-Commander 
of the G. k. R. Post, and, in 1885, promoted to Post 
Commander. He has been appointed Aid-de-Camp 
on tlie staff of the present Commander-in-Chief of 
the G. A. R. He is a Past Master in Masonry, 
High Priest in the Chapter (No. 30), and member of 
the Oriental Consistory of Chicago. He is also a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and in all the" Orders to 
which he belongs is counted among the brightest 
and most active members. For the last three years 
he has also been special correspondent of this county 
for the Chicago Herald. 

May 22, 1867, he was married at Viola, 111., to Miss 
Jennie N. Ayles, who died Aug. 31, 1879, leaving 
three children — Harry, Maggie and Willie. On the 
20th of December, 1882, at Monmouth, he married 
his present wife, Mrs. Amanda Vine, nee Rodgers. 

Mr. Dunkle is a Democrat in political affiliations, 
and Iws twice been elected to represent his Ward in 
the City Council. 

f-K-^^-^^^^-J 

jfjfSiM:^, harles E. Blackburn, of the firm of 
ifl^^^^ HLickburn & Turnbull, undertakers and 
'Ife/''' dealers in undertaking and embalmmg 
Sfe goods, also proprietors of extensive livery, 
W sale and feed stables at Monmouth, was born 
I in LaPorte County, Ind., .Sept. rg, 1847. His 
parents, Alexander and Delilah (Polk) Blackburn, na- 
tives of the States of Virginia and Kentucky respec- 
tively, came to Illinois in 1853, and lived there 
several years, in McDonough Count}, where, and in 



Monmouth College, where he applied himself to study 

for two years, he received his education. 

In 1872, became to Monmouth, clerked awhile in 
a hardware store, embarked in the saddle and har- 
ness business, and drifted into the livery business, in 
1880. (See sketch of David Turnbull, in this 
volume.) 

Mr. Blackburn was married at Monmouth, Nov. 2, 
1871, to Miss Olive Jewell, daughter of Jacob Jew- 
ell, and of this union three children were born — 
Bessie, Anna, and an infant son who is dead. 




j> rof. Thomas H. Rogers, Professor of 
Mathematics of Monmouth College, was 



Ohio and New York, were married at Craw- 
fordsville, Indiana, and the children born of their 
union were one son and two daughters. 

The Rev. Mr. Rogers, distinguished ministerof the 
Presbyterian Church, was a graduateof Miami (Ohio) 
University, and in 1836, sent as a missionary to In- 
dia, where he remained tight years. Returning to 
this country in 1844, he settled down at Oxford, Ohio, 
and spent the rest of his life. 

Thomas H. Rogers, of whom we write, also a 
graduate of Miami (Ohio) University, from which 
institution he took first honors in Philoso|)hy, class of 
1856, has spent his life as student and teacher. Im- 
mediately upon leaving College he accepted a Pro- 
fessorship at Logansport (Ind.) Academy; going 
thence at the end of a year to Monroe (Ohio) Acad- 
emy, where he taught the three succeeding years. 
From Monroe he took charge of Paris (III.) Acade- 
my, coming to Monmouth in 1864. Here he had 
charge of the Academy for some years before ac- 
cepting the chair of Mathematics in the College. 
(See history of Monmouth College ) 

From 1868 he has been officially connected as Sec- 
retary and Superintendei.t, with the Public Library; 
first in connection with the Monmouth Free Reading 
Room, and since with the permanent organization of 
the Library, founded by the large and wise liberality 
of William P. Pressley. Much credit is due to Prof, 



LAn 



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. ■)(. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



Rogers, as to every one of the Directors of this, Mon- 
mouth's greatest public institution, for its unusual 
success, and its almost unparalleled and highly de- 
served popularity. 

Speaking thus of a Library at so small a city as 
Monmouth, may sound extravagant; but the unbi- 
ased stranger who visits such places from time to 
time in all parts of the Union and jiatronizes them, 
though only for selfish purposes, will never spend a 
week at this city and one hour each day thereof in 
its reading rooms, without comprehending fully the 
force of the language here used, and what is of more 
importance, appreciating its truthfulness. (See his- 
tory of Warren County Library.) 

Prof. Rogers was married at Lincoln, 111., Oct. 24, 
1862, to Miss Lucinda R. Brainard, a native of Ohio, 
and daughter of Rev. E. Brainard, of the Presbyte- 
rian Church. Mrs. Rogers died Oct. 29, 1878, leav- 
ing two daughters — Amy and Ella, the first a gradu- 
ate of, and the second a student at Monmouth Col- 
lege. 




597 1 



T" 



iUiam D. Johnson, whose entrance into 
life was coeval with that of the 19th Cen- 
-^ tury, and whose silvered hair is strongly 
(' indicative of a life that has been replete 
with usefulness and honorable actions, was 
born in Sussex Co., N. J., Dec. 19, 1800. He 
is to-day venerated by all who know him as one of 
the worthiest citizens of Kirkvvood, where he has 
been a resident for nearly 15 years. 

The parents of Mr. Johnson, Samuel and Mary 
(Hall) Johnson, were natives of New Jersey and 
there resided until their deaths. William D. re- 
mained an inmate of his father's household until he 
was 20 yeais of age, having in the meantime received 
a good common-school education in the district 
schools. At the age named he settled on a portion 
of his father's farm, which he cultivated until 1834. 
On the i2tli day of May, 1834, Mr. Johnson started 
for the undeveloped West with two teams, contain- 
ing his family (which at that time consisted of his 
wife and six children) and such household effects 
as were portable under the circumstances. They 
came by way of Pittsburgh, through Pennsylvania 



and through the Ohio Valley to Indiana|)olis, Lid. 
From the latter city they came to this State, crossing 
the Illinois River at Havana, and going thence to 
Canton, Fulton County. Arriving at the latter place 
Mr. Johnson concluded it was a good agricultural 
country and determined to make it his abiding place. 
He consequently purchased 80 acres of Government 
land and cultivated the saine until 1836, when he 
sold it and purchased a 240-acre tract, moved his 
family, and at once engaged actively and energetic- 
ally upon its cultivation and improvement, with the 
determination at that time of making it a permanent 
home. He lived on that farm for some 21 years, 
erecting thereon a fine residence and a substantial 
barn and other necessary outbuildings, set out fruit 
and ornamental trees and otherwise improved the 
land, and by a subsequent purchase increased his 
landed interests in that county to 400 acres. In 1857 
he purchased 320 acres in Henderson County, and 
during that year came to Kirkwood, purchased 
ground and erected the fine residence upon it which 
has been his home ever since. 

The marriage of Mr. Johnson took place in 1821, 
at which time Miss Martha Shackleton, a native of 
New Jersey, became his wife. They have seven 
children living, namely. Pamelia, born Jan. ir, 
1822; Samuel J., Aug. 27, 1823; Richard S., April 
20,1825; Theodore F., March 26, 1827; Oakley, 
Feb. 4, 1830; Mary J., Dec. 21, 1832; John H., 
Nov. 9, 1834: Andrew R., July 2, 1838; he was 
killed in the late Civil War. Pamelia married Sam- 
uel Brimhall and resides at Kirkwood ; Samuel mar- 
ried Hester A. Rapalee ; six children are now living, 
the result of his marriage — William L., Elsena, 
Clayton, Perry J., Andrew and Marilda. Of his 
second marriage one child has been born ; he now 
lives in Kansas. Richard was married to Lucretia 
Bruce, and Kansas is now his home; Theodore mar- 
ried Elizabeth Martin; John W. and Luella are the 
names of their children ; Oakley is married and liv- 
ing in Clay Co., Neb. ; Frank and Waldo, besides 
two deceased, are the children born to him ; Mary 
became the wife of James Johnson ; one child was 
born to them— Mattie L. ; Mr. J. died Sept. 4, 1866; 
John H. married Kate Zook, and resides at Bush- 
nell. 

Mrs. Johnson died April 14, 1871, mourned by 
her family and a host of relatives and friends as a 
faithful, loving wife, a gentle and devoted mother 



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4 



598 



WARREN COUNTY. 



and a generous, warm-hearted neighbor. In politics, 
Mr. J. is an earnest supporter of the principles ad- 
vocated by the Republican party. In his religious 
views, he coincides with the tenets of the Baptist 
Church, to which denoniinaiion he belongs. He has 
held many offices of trust within the gift of the peo- 
ple of his township, and now, as he lingers in the 
shadows of life, he can look back over the history of 
tlie past with satisfaction, and live in the enjoyment 
of that peace and plenty whicli a life of active indus- 
try has brought him. 




illiam Wood, in mercantile business at 
%Wm> Kirkwood, on Main Street, was born in 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 7, 1833, his 
i> parents being Martin H. and Sally (Nettle- 
ton) Wood. Martni H. Wood, father of the 
gentleman whose biography we write, came to 
Illinois from Ohio in 1837. His terminus in this 
State was Warren County, and on arrival here he 
purchased a farm on which he located with his fam- 
ily, and engaged in that pursuit which he has fol- 
lowed all his life, agriculture. He was one of the 
early settlers in this county, and has witnessed its 
- development to the magnificent agricultural condi- 
tion it occupies to-day, and is yet living, at the ad- 
vanced age of 87 years, in Henderson County. 

William Wood, subject of this notice, remained 
with his parents until he was ten years old, when he 
engaged as clerk in a store at Oquawka, where he 
lemained a year. He then changed his position to 
another store, and followed the same occupation for 
four years lon};er, and then worked on the river dur- 
ing the summers, and clerked in the winter, for six 
years more. In 1856 he purchased 40 acres of land, 
which he subsequently added to by the purchase of 
40 acres in Henderson County, and on which lie re- 
sided, occupied in its cultivation and improvement 
for three years. At the expiration of this time he 
once more engaged in the mercantile pursuits as clerk 
at Oquawka, and followed the same for four years, 
until 1868, when he came to Kirkwood, this county, 
and engaged in the grocery and provision trade. In 
company with a Mr. Thompson he bought out a 
Mr. Morris at that place, and after carrying on their 



business jointly four days, they were burned out. 
The partners were not disheartened and immediately 
purchased another building and under the firm name 
of Wood & Thompson again engaged in business, 
which co-partnership lasted for one and a half years, 
when Mr. Wood bought out the interest of his part- 
ner, and continued the business two years longer. He 
also during that time was "mine host" of the Tre- 
mont House at Kirkwood for 18 months, and for a 
time followed the nursery business, which he merged 
into the green-house business, and was thus occupied 
for eight years. Disposing of the latter business, he 
engaged in a variety store at Kirkwood Village in 
1880, and has since continued the same. He keeps 
a general stock of almost everything that is neces- 
sary to supply the wants of his customers, and is 
meeting with success. 

In politics he votes with the Republican party, 
and in religion, together with his wife, belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. , 

In addition to his business at Kirkwood, Mr. . ' 
Wood has a farm of 160 acres, in Boone County, 
Nebraska. 

He was married Oct. g, 1856, to Martha E. Tyr- \ 
ell, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. 

The business qualities of Mr. Wood are such as 
to entitle him to be classified as one of the leading j 
business men of Kirkwood, and his dealings are such . 
as to entitle him to the respect of the citizens of the 
community in which he resides. 

— £— ^^^^^^~-: — i 

ames Watson, the only genilcraan engaged 
in business at Ellison, where he is con- 
ducting a dry goods, grocery and general 
mercantile store, and is also Postmaster and 
School Trustee, was born in this county, Nov. 
10, 1855. The father of Mr. Watson of this 
sketch, Lucius Watson, was born in Schoharie Co., 
N. Y., and came with his parents when eight years 
of age to this county. They settled near Roseville, 
and live in Point Pleasant Township. Lucius was a 
farmer by occupation and married Georgia A. Forte, 
a native of Kentucky. After marriage he settled in 
Point Pleasant Township, where he has continued 
to follow his chosen profession until the present time. 
He is the proprietor of 280 acres of good farm land 




^ 



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tVAJRREN COUNTY. 



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60 1 



where he resides. The parental family comprised 
seven children, and James is the third in order of 
birth. 

James Watson, whose name stands at the head of 
this notice, was educated in the township of his na- 
tivity and there resided until he attained the age ot 
17 years, when he went to .\bingdon and remained 
for three years. He afterward taught school four 
terms in the common schools of the county. ~ 

He was married to Miss Augusta, the accom- 
plished daughter of David and Jane (Brown) Brent, 
Oct. 30, 1877. Her parents reside in the county 
and her father is following the vocation of a farmer 
in Ellison Township. Mrs. Watson was born on 
the parental homestead in Ellison Township, Feb. 
22, 1856, and was reared and educated in the town- 
ship of her nativity, having also attended college at 
Abingdon two years prior to her marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Watson have become the parents of one child 
Amy, born Jan. 27, 1885. 

After marriage, Mr. Watson located on a farm in 
Ellison Township, and continued to reside thereon 
until December, 1881, when he moved to the village 
of Ellison. He purchased the stock of goods owned 
by Amos Pierce at that place, and since that time 
has continued to carry on the mercantile business. 
By fair and honest dealing with his patrons, he has 
established a good and paying business and is meet- 
ing with financial success. Soon after engaging in 
business at that place, Mr. Watson was appointed 
Postmaster, whicli office he continues to hold until 
the present time. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ellison, of which 
denomination Mr. Watson is Steward and Trustee. 
He has held tlie office of School Trustee for two 
years, and, in his political opinions, he affiliates 
with the Republican party, taking an active interest 
in local politics. 



fe.ugh Marshall, M. D., a prominent phy- 
sician and surgeon of Monmouth, III., was 
born In Fairfield District, South Carolina, 
Dec. 75, 1830. His grandparents were born 
i in Ireland, and his parents, Alexander and 
I Mary (McMillan) Marshall were natives of 
South Carolina. They reared six sons and one 




daughter, Hugh being the sixth child in order of 
birth. Alexander Marshall was a farmer by occu- 
pation, came into Henderson Co., 111., in 1838, or 
1839, and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 
1869 or 1870 at the age of about 70 years. 

Hugh Marshall received his primary and literary 
training at the common schools of Illinois and 
taught there from the age of 20 to 22 or 23. In 
1848-9 he began reading medicine with Dr. McMil- 
lan Of Henderson ; entered Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, in 1849, and graduated in 1851. He be- 
gan practice at once after leaving college at Cold- 
brook, and lihere remained until 1872 at which time 
he removed into Monmouth. Here he has devoted 
his time to his profession, and with such success as 
he may well be proud. He is prominently identified 
with the State Medical Society, American Medical 
Association, Military Tract Society and Monmouth 
Medical Club. He is no politician, and the only of- 
fices he has ever held in the county has been a term 
or two as Collector of Coldbrook Township, and one 
term as Coroner. 

He was married at Monmouth some time in 1873 
to Miss Matilda C. Brewer, native of Pennsylvania ^ 
and daughter of the late John T. Brewer, of Mon. 
mouth. The Doctor is a member of no Church 
He ranks high as a Mason, and votes the Demo 
cratic ticket with Christian regularity. 



^000€ 






■-^^'- ular school 



William Randall, a member of the reg- 
ular school of medicine, practicing at 
^ItSV-'^ Greenbush, graduated at the Jefferson 
t)i» Medical College, Philadelphia, at the head 
^ of his class, March 9, 1858. He soon after- 
I ward located in Greenbush, this county, 

where he has built up a good practice and has been 
very successful. The Doctor is also a graduate of 
surgery, and his library is complete. 

Dr. Randall was born in Dearbon Co., Ind., 25 
miles from Cincinnati, in the town of Aurora, May 
27, 1834, and is a son of George Randall, born in 
Kent Co., England, in 1796. His father emigrated 
to the United States in 182 1, and located near New 
Haven, Ind. He was a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and followed his. sacred calling 
in this county some ten years, and died in 1866. He 
had located in Indiana, where his marriage lo Miss 



•JKl 



-P- 



4 



6o2 



Warren counTV. 



f* 



Rhoda Eubank, which took place in 1826, was 
blessed by the birth of eight children, namely : John 
E., George F., William, Mary, Thomas E. and Ricli- 
ard R., twins, Rebecca J. and Elizabeth V. Two 
are deceased, — Mary and Richard. The wife and 
mother was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1806, and 
died in Indiana in 1859. 

Dr. Randall, of this sketch, was first married to 
Miss Caroline, daughter of F. and Adeline siiapp, 
who bore him two children— George S. born Dec. 27, 
1863, and Clyde W. Oct. 6, 1872. The Doctor mar- 
ried Miss Edwina C. Bond, Feb. 28, 1879, and by 
this union there is one child, William B., born 
April 3, t882. 

In politics, the Doctor is a believer in the princi- 
ples advocated by the Democratic party. His suc- 
cess as a practitioner is due to his careful diagnos- 
ing of the diseases of his patients, and his constant 
attention to his cases. 

Dr. Randall is a gentleman who not only reflects 
honor upon his profession, but is a credit to the com- 
munity in which he lives. His large and extended 
experience, his deep and aljiding interest in his pro- 
^ fession and the general welfare of the community, 
make him both a valuable physician and citizen. He 
is as widely known and as highly esteemed as any 
practitioner in the county, and numbers among his 
patrons and friends many of the best people in War- 
ren county. As both a representative of his chosen 
profession and a citizen of the county, the publishers 
take pleasure in placing Dr. Randall's jiortrait in this 
Album in connection with this sketcli. 



-i-~*'^/«-^^^-^^S-v>^^— S-. 




jifames L. Glasgow, whose accumulations 
during the years of the past have enabled 
him to retire from the active labors of life, 
is residing ujxjn Section 28, Monmouth Town- 
ship. He was born in Londonderry, Guernsey 
Co., Ohio, Jan. 24, 1843. 
The father of Mr. Glasgow, Arthur Glasi/ow, was 
a native of County Antrim, the son of a farmer, of 
Irish birth. When 18 years old, Arthur's jjiirents 
emigrated to the United States, and soon after land 
ing at an Eastern seaport, located in Guernsey Co , 



Ohio. There the father and mother both died, and 
there Arthur, father of the gentleman whose name 
stands at the head of this notice, is at present resid- 
ing, with his wife, he having purchased the old 
homestead on which his father first located after 
coming to the State. Arthur, before the death of 
his father, was married to Jane Neal, a native of 
County Antrim, Ireland, and they became the par- 
ents of ten children. Jane (Neal) Glasgow, the 
mother, came to the United States, with her parents, 
when she was young, locating with them at Wheel- 
ing, W. Va., and remaining there until her marriage. 

J. L. Glasgow, whose name stands at the head of 
this notice, remained with his parents on the par- 
ental homestead in Guernsey County until October 
16, 1 86 1, when the call for brave hearts and strong 
arms to battle for the perpetuity of tiie Union 
aroused in him a sense of duty, and he enlisted in 
Co. H. 65th Ohio Vol., Inf., his regiment being as- 
signed to the Army of the Cumberland and under 
the command of Gens. Buell and Rosekranz. It 
participated in the second days' battle of Shiloh and 
the seven days' battle at Stone river, also the battle 
of Murfreesboro, and Chicamauga. On the second 
days' fight at the latter place, James L. was taken 
prisoner, and after passing 13 days as captive of tiie 
Confederates, was exchanged and on account of dis- 
ability never more joined his regiment, but was hon- 
orably discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio, Oct. 26, 
1864. 

After his term of enlistment had expired, he re- 
turned home, dofTed his uniform, cast aside the ac- 
coutrements of war and intended to enter again 
upon the peaceful pursuits of life, but his indisposi- 
tion was such that it required medical attention, and 
he went to Madison, Ind., where for six months he 
was under medical 'reatment. From Madison, he 
went home, and from there to Nebraska where, after 
remaining for a time, he went to Eastern Iowa, and 
16 months later took a trip over Kansas and Mis- 
souri looking for land. In the spring of 1868 he 
starietl across the plains for the Rocky Mountains, 
working his way on the Union Pacific railroad to 
Humboldt. From there he accompanied another 
paiiy to the White Pines of Nevada Territory. He 
passed seven years in that Territory, during which 
time he was engaged in mining, meeting with fair 
success. He afterward sj^ent one year in the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains, Cal., and in 1877 returned to 



i 



i^ 



¥ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^^^ 



603 



this county, where he formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Miss Maggie McAdam, at the residence of the 
bride's parents near Monmouth, Jan. i, 1877. Mrs. 
Glasgow was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, and was 
educated in her native State. Her mother died 
there when Maggie was an infant, and her father 
afterward moved to Iowa, where he died at West 
Point. Mrs. Glasgow came to this county in 1867 
with her relatives, and graduated from Monmouth 
College in June, 1870. She has borne her husband 
two children — Robert A., born Sept. i, 1879, and 
Margaret J., born Jan. 23, 1884. 

After the marriage Mr. G. returned to Nevada 
Territory for about ten months, where he was en- 
gaged in settling up his affairs. In 1878 he purchased 
80 acres of land on Section i. Hale Town- 
ship. On that place, he with his young bride, lo- 
cated, and there resided for four years, when they 
moved to Monmouth Township and purchased 13 
acres approximate to the city of Monmouth, on 
I" which they moved and are at present residing. They 
I have a good residence on their Monmouth Township 
. property, and their farm of 80 acres in Hale Town- 
ship is under an advanced state of cultivation, and 
has good improvements upon it. They are both 
members of the United Presbyterian Church at 
Monmouth, of which denomination Mr. G. is one of 
the Trustees. In politics he is a supporter of the 
Prohibition party, and a strong advocate of the cause 
of temperance. Mr. Glasgow is next to the eldest 
in order of birth of a family of ten children, and 
what is remarkable is, that not a death has occurred, 
and to them 20 grand-children have been born. 



-^^r=T 



1*1 A c~.i_ 




*r 



avid TurnbuU, of the firm of Blackburn 

& Turnbull, livery, sale and feed stables, 

Sir^Sr^ undertakers and dealers in undertaking 

j»J»« and embalming goods, at Monmouth, was 

born in Greene County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1857. 

His parents, John and Margaret J. (Allen) 

Tur,il)ull, spent their lives in Greene County, the 

old gentleman dying in 1880, aged 80 years, and the 

old lady in i88r, aged ()t, years. They reared tliree 



sons and four daughters, and David was second in 
order of birth. 

He was brought up to farming and taught in the 
public schools. Abandoning farming in 1883, he 
went into the undertaking business at Cedarville, 
Ohio, and came to Monmouth a year later, and soon 
afterwards formed his present business relations. 

•Nov. 26, 1884, he was married, near Xenia, Ohio, 
to Miss Ada Stevenson, the accomplished daughter 
of Col. Robert Stevenson, Esq., of Greene County, 
and both he and his wife are consistent members of 
the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Turnbull also 
belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and is 
an active member of Capt. Rankin's Military Com- 
pany. 



ffev. 



i 



m 



W. T. McConnell, residing at Kirk- 
L^^!; wood, was born in Washington Co., Pa., 
^'" April 13, 1847. The parents of Rev. Mc- 
-,^ Connel were Lemuel and Jane (Lawrence) 
McConnell, natives of Washington Co., Pa. 
His father was a farmer in that State and 
there continued to follow his occupation until his 
death, in July, 1879. His mother still survives and 
resides with her son, D. S. McConnell,- who is en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. 

Rev. W. T. McConnell, the gentleman whose 
name heads this biographical notice, remained in the 
parental household for five years after attaining his 
majority. He obtained a rudimentary education in 
the common schools of his native county, and at the 
age of 16 years supplemented the same by a thor- 
ough course of study at the Normal School at Mills- 
borough, Pa., and followed the curriculum of that 
institution for one year. He then taught school for 
two years, and in 1865 still further supplemented 
his education by matriculating at the Washington 
and Jefferson College and followed tlie curriculum of 
that institution for four years, after which he at- 
tended the New Wilmington College one year and 
graduated from the same with honors in 187 1. After 
graduating from the latter institution, the Rev. Mc- 
Connell attended the Theological Seminary at Alle- 
gheny, and graduated from the same in 1874. He 
was Hcensed to preach, April 15, 1873, by the United 



'SLJ~_ 



Hh 



^ 



604 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Presbyterian Church at Chartiers, Pa., and was or- 
dained by the United Presbyterian Church, at 
Beaver Valley, Nov. iS, 1873. He tlien Ijecamc 
Pastor of the Churches at Mahoning and Poland, the 
former being located in Pennsylvania and the latter 
in Ohio, and served them in that capacity for nine 
years, after which he was Pastor of tlie Mahoning 
Church for one year. 

Since March i, 1884, Rev. McConnell has resided 
in this county, living at Kirkwood. He was united 
in marriage April 24, 1873, to Miss AUie Miller, a 
resident of Cannonsburg, Pa., and daughter of 
Thomas and Annie (Reed) Miller, natives of Wash- 
ington Co., Pa. Of their union four cliildren have 
been born — Lilliana A., Agnes G., Thomas W. A. 
and Ralph B. In politics he is a believer in and a 
strong advocate of the principles of the Prohibition 
party. 




—5- 



^-^ 



"T" 



Kaeob W. Brewer, M. D.. distinguished 331! 
degree Mason, Past Commander-in-Chief 
of the Oriental Consistory of Chicago, and 
, prominent jjhysician and surgeon at Mon- 

If mouth, was born March 2, 1823, in Franklin 
(Jo., P.i. His parents, Adam and Maria (John- 
son) Brewer, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland 
respectively and of German and Irish extraction, 
were married in Franklin County, and there resided 
until 1836, when they came to Fulton County, this 
State. In 185 1 they removed to Knox County and 
spent the rest of tlieir lives at Knoxville, the elder 
Brewer dying in i88o, aged 78 years; and his widow 
two years later aged 82 years. 

The subject of this biographical notice was reared 
to manhood on his father'sfarm and educated primar- 
ily at the common schools, and at Marshall College, 
Mercersburg, Pa. When 24 years of age, he began 
reading medicine at Canton, 111., under J. R. Walter, 
M. D., and after devoting himself assiduously to the 
text book for three years, entered Ohio Medical Col- 
lege, Cincinnati, and in 1850 graduated from the 
same. Knoxville was the scene of his earliest strug- 
gles as an M. D., and here he made reputation and 
money long before the ten years that he staid there 



had passed. While at Knoxville he was Coroner of 
Knox County, and eight years Postmaster. 

Dr. Brewer came to Monmouth in 1862, and has 
since practiced medicine and sold drugs. He has 
been in the City Council as a member; has served 
often on the Board of Health, and, altogether, has 
been a useful member of society and a citizen that 
would reflect credit even upon a better town than 
Monmouth. His Masonic career began when he 
was about 25 years of age. At Canton, 111., March 
20, 1847, he received his first degree, in Morning 
Star Lodge, No. 30, and May 20 following, the third 
degree. In December of the same year he was 
elected Senior Warden of that lodge, and in 1853-54 
held the office of Deputy Grand Secretary of the 
Grand Lodge of Illinois. On Dec. 28, 1856, he re- 
ceived the 32d degree A. A. S. Rite, and June 22, 187 i, 
was created Sovereign Grand Inspector General in 
33d degree. He was elected Illustrious Commander- 
in-Chief of Monmouth Consistory, No. 3, in 1S69, 
appointed Second Lieutenant Commander, Council 
of Deliberation for Illinois, June 22, 187 1; elected 
High Priest, Warren Chapter, No. 30, Dec. 12, 1879; 
and his present rank is the highest known in Ma- =^ 
sonry. 

Dr. Brewer was married at Knoxville, 111., Nov. 
10, 1852, to Miss Roxalana Hansford, daughter of the 
late Dr. Charles Hansford, and she bore him one 
child, Florence, who died in 1882, at the age of 32 
years, being at the time of her demise the wife of 
Cooper Shoemaker, of Monmouth. Mrs. Dr. Brewer 
died in 18S4, aged about 52 years. She was born in 
Knox County. 



iei 




ev. J. B. McMiehael, A. M. D. D., Presi- 
dent of Monmouth College, was born 
in Trumbull Co., Ohio, July 22, 1833. His 
parents John and Margaret (Burgess) Mc- 
Miehael, were natives of Ireland, and the first 
named came to America when but 15 years 
of age, and lived in Ohio up to 1848. He then re- 
moved to Pennsylvania, where he si)ent the rest of 
his life, dying in Greenville, Mercer County, in 1881. 
He was a farmer and his five sons were brought up 



!^H- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



60s 



*i^ 



in that vocation. His mother was brought to this 
country in infancy. The family came from County 
Antrim, Ireland, the father being of Scotch-Irish de- 
scent. The mother died in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 
1844. John McMichael, the father of our subject, 
was thrice married. Eight children (five sons and 
three daughters) were born of the first union. These 
were .\ndrevv, Charles, Jackson B., William, John D., 
Mary, Eliza, Jane and Maria. Charles and William 
are deceased. Andrew is a carriage manufacturer 
at Meadville, Pa. He is married and has two 
daughters living. John is living at Topeka, Kan., 
where he is engaged in the lumber business. He is 
also married and has one son. Mary became the 
wife of Capt. Samuel Isett, of Altoona. He is now 
deceased. She is the mother of two sons and one 
daughter and resides at that place. Eliza J. married 
William Buchanan, who is a farmer in Kansas. One 
child is the result of this marriage. Maria is the 
wife of Mr. DuMars, of Greenville, Pa John Mc- 
Michael's wife, the mother of the above named .cliil- 
dren, died in 1844, and he was again married in 
1846, Miss Jannette Calvin, from Mercer Co., Pa., 
^ becoming his wife. She became the mother of two 
children — Robert C. and Elizabeth. The former 
married a Miss Nelson, of Greenville, Pa., who has 
^ borne him four children. He is now engaged in farm- 
ing. Elizabeth married Dennis Cole, of Kansas, and 
they have four children. After the death of his sec- 
ond wife, which occurred in 1850, Mr. McMichael 
married Miss Sarah Straight, of Georgetown, Pa. 
This union occurred about 1850, and the widow lives 
at the old homestead. 

The subject of this sketch attended the common 
schools while a lad, and at the age of 17 years went 
to Crawford Co., Pa., and spent the two succeeding 
years at learning a trade with his brother. From the 
age of 20 to 22 he was at Greenville (Pa.) Academy, 
and from there went to Westminister College, in 
Lawrence County, that State, and after following the 
entire curriculum of that institution, graduated there- 
from as A. B. in 1859. In 1862 he graduated from 
Xenia (Ohio) Theological Seminary, and was soon 
afterward ordained and settled in Sugar Creek, near 
Xenia, where he was in charge of a congregation for 
about 16 years. During the last five years he also 
held a professorship in the Xenia- Theological Semin- 
ary. In June, 1878, he was elected to the Piesi- 
dency of Monmouth College, and on the sth of the 



following September he entered upon the duties of 
his office, which position he holds at the present 
time. 

Rev. McMichael was married at Washington, Pa., 
Oct. 16, 1862, to Miss Mary N. Hanna, daughter of 
Rev. Thomas Hanna, D. D., of that city. Of their 
union, si.\ children were born, named as follows: 
Thomas Hanna, John Charles, William Jackson, 
Grade, James Starr Eckels, and George Harold, who 
died in 1872, age 14 ijionths. Thomas and Charles 
are members of the class of 1886, and will graduate 
on the 17th of June. William belongs to the class of 
1878; Gracie attends the public schools and James 
is the baby. 

The Doctor is not only a thorough scholar, but a 
man of rare executive ability. The growth of Mon- 
mouth College, under his administration, attests his 
fitness for the position he occupies. (See history of 
Monmouth College, this volume.) 




\ illiam S. Weir, President of the Weir Plow 
Company, Monmouth, and son of William 
, S. and Frances (Brown) Weir, natives re- 

3> spectively of the States of Pennsylvania and 
4>3n Kentucky, and of Scotch descent, was born 
at Yellow Springs, Greene Co., Ohio, July 2, 
1835. His father, William S. Weir, Sr., was born in 
the city of Philadelphia in 1804, and his father, Wil- 
liam Weir, was a native of Scotland, who left home 
for America when a young man. He landed at Phil- 
adelphia, where he married and died about the time 
his son, William S., was ten years of age. There 
were four children, two sons and two daughters, in 
the family. \Villiam S., Sr., became an apprentice 
when a boy to learn thi trade of wool-carding and 
cloth dressing. After 20 years of age he turned his 
attention to farming. He married Frances Brown, 
and they had a family of five children, four of whom 
were sons. Of this number, William S., the subject 
of this sketch, is the eldest. The next are James B., 
Francis M., John B. and Pauline, all of whom are 
residents of Monmouth. 

The family come to Monmouth in 1838. and the 
J ear following the senior Mr. Weir stiirted a small 



V 



-^ 



t^ 



606 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



factory near Little York for making woolen goods, 
and carried it on for about 20 years. 

The subject of this biographical notice received a 
limited education at the country schools of Sumner 
Township, but being compelled to shift for himself, 
from the time he was 1 1 years of age, he naturally 
had but small time to devote to books. He followed 
farming up to 1863. In 1862 he i)a'.ented the" Weir 
•Two-Horse Cultivator," an implement covering all 
the importan'. principles employed in every walking 
cultivator manufactured in this country at the pres- 
ent time, and yet not all protected by his patent. It 
will be remembered that Mr. Weir was an unedu- 
cated farmer, necessarily knowing little of tiie patent 
laws, and less of their scope in application ; he there- 
fore had to rely upon his attorneys in obtaining let- 
ters pate.t that would secure him his rights. Then, 
as now, the business of the patent attorney was in 
securing patents, and if one vnluable invention em- 
bodied a dozen indispensable principles and the at- 
torney could satisfy the applicant or hoodwink him 
into accepting letters protecting but one, of course 
eleven remaining features would be left open for so 
many different applications, thereby increasing largely 
the business or chances of business for the attorney. 
This may not state just the experience of Mr. Weir, 
but it fully illustrates the practice that let in other 
manufacturers, who employed im))ortant features of 
his invention that should have been protected by his 
patent of 1862. But, " men live and learn," and the 
proverb is eminently verified in William S. Weir. It 
has been many years since the duplicity of any pat- 
ent attorney has operated to close his eyes against 
the salient [joints of his inventions. With $200 cap- 
ital, he came to Monmouth in 1863 and had made 
for him, under contract, 120 cultivators ; in the fol- 
lowing year 560 were made, and in 1865 he elected 
a small shop, from which he turned out 800. The 
following jear, with increased capacity, he put upon 
the market 1,200 cultivators, and in the winter of 
1866-67 had his entire establishment destroyed by 
fire. 

Rebuilding his shop> :it once, Mr. Weir jjut out 
2,000 implements and i.i the fall of 1867 organized 
the Wier Plow Comi)aiiy, with himself as President. 
(A history of which company see in another part of 
of this volume.) It is useless for the biographer to 
attempt any enlargement upon the history of Mr. 
Weir. That he began life a very ix)or boy and un- 



der the greatest disadvantages, is readily observed 
from the facts already disclosed; that he has made 
his life a success, and in doing so accomplished 
more for the established welfare of Monmouth than 
any other man in Warren County, is attested by his 
personal history and by the hundreds of families who 
are daily benefitted, not to say supported, from the 
gigantic establishment over which he presides and 
which s'.iould be made perpetual as a monument to 
his memory. Indeed, the history of Monmouth it- 
self must ever be pregnant with the works of William 
S. Weir. Compare the man who does great work; 
erects immense shops ; employs hundreds of his fel- 
low men as laborers in the manufacture of useful ar- 
ticles, which he sends broadcast throughout the 
world, returning their products to him to go ajzain 
.and again into the wages of the poor; compare such 
an one we say, with the miserable miser, who hoards 
up his iiundreds of thousands, dispensing onlv \x\ on 
the guarantee of usury, and note the difference. 

Mr. Weir was married in Hale Township, October, 
1859, to Fidelia J. Boyd, daughter of Thomas and 
Ann Boyd, the former a native of Ireland and the 
latter of New York. Mrs. Weir died Feb. i. 1884, 
leaving four children, having buried five in infamy. 
The living are Ella, Jessie, William B. and Amy. 



J 




eorge Sickmon, one of Warren County's 
successful farmers and stock raisers, re- 
"^ siding on section t,t,., Monmouth Townsliip, 
is a native of New York, having been born in 
lirie County, that State, Jan. 18, 1819. He is 
at present living in retirement, passing the 
sunset of his life in the enjoyment of a competency, 
which has been procured through his own indomi- 
table energy, |)ersevernncc and good judgment. 

The father of Mr. Sickmon, Henry Sickmon, was 
a native of Germany. He and a brother Thomas 
were the progenitors of the Sickmon family in this 
country, coming here and locating in Erie County, 
N. Y. The father was married there to Susan Fran- 
cis, a native of Cayauga County. After a residence 
there of some years, Henry Sickmon died and his 
wife afterNvard came to this State, and resided with 



7e 



-i^ 



^' i _L 



WARREN COtlNTY. 



607 



f 




her son George, for 14 years, when in Nov. 1864, she 
passed to the land of the hereafter, aged 73 years. 

George Sickmon, whose biography we write, was 
the fourth in order of birth of a family of twelve 
children, eight sons and four daughters ; seven of the 
former, and one of the latter still survives, and all 
are married. George lived at home attending the 
common schools until he attained the age of 11 
yiears, when he set out to do for himself in life. He 
first lived with a farmer in Erie County for eighteen 
months, then with another farmer for six months and 
then went to live with Daniel A. Albert, with whom 
he continued to reside until he attained his majority. 
On becoming his own man, Mr. Sickmon engaged to 
work by the month on a farm, which occupation he 
followed for one year, and was then employed by a 
gentleman who was dealing in oil, and remained 
with him one year, in the city of Buffalo. He after- 
ward went back to Erie County, the place of his na- 
tivity, where Sept. i, 1842, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Sarah, the accomplished daughter of 
Abel and Sallie (Green) Green, natives of York 
State, where they both died when Mrs. Sickmon was 
quite yoimg, and she is the only member of the fam- 
ily, who lived to attain the age of majority. She was 
l)orn in Herkimer Co., N. Y., July 20, 1824. After 
tlie death of her parents, she lived with her aunt 
until her marriase. Of her union with Mr. S. six 
children have been born, all of whom are living — 
Sallie M., married Felix Regnier, a farmer residing 
in Monmouth Township; Susan became the wife of 
William P. Norcross, a large land owner, banker, 
stock raiser and shipper, residing in Nebraska; Win- 
field S., is engaged in practicing law at Des Moines, 
Iowa, his wife's maiden name Ifeing Alvareta Main ; 
Ann E. is the wife of Isaac J. Frantz, a farmer in 
Nebraska; and Eliza became the wife of John Ket- 
tering, who is engaged in farming in Nebraska ; 
Charles is also a farmer, residing in this township, 
and his wife's maiden name was Katie Frantz. 

Two years after marriage Mr. S. with his bride 
came West, and pitched his tent on a new and un- 
cultivated 80 acre tract of land, which is now the 
well improved farm and pleasant homestead on 
which he resides. He has subsequently, by his in- 
dustry and perseverance, increased his landed inter- 
ests, until he at present has 400 acres of good farm 
land in this county, and in addition to the cultiva- 
tion of the same, he is devoting a goodly portion of 



his time to dealing in stock, having sold as high as 
$12,000 worth annually. His residence and farm 
buildings are large and commodious and the appear- 
ance of his farm is indicative of that spirit of push 
and perseverance which Mr. S. possesses He and 
his wife are members of the Christian Church. Po- 
litically he is a staunch supporter of the principles 
of the Republican party. He has held the position 
of Supervisor for three years and also other minor 
offices. For three and a half years, Mr. S. resided 
in the city of Monmouth, Yi^here his ability was 
recognized, and he was elected Street Commissioner 
and Alderman. 




- amuel Gibson, retired farmer and one of 
f^^ the pioneers of Warren County, now {1885) 



'r\ living in the suburbs west of Monmouth, was 
born in Blount Co., Tenn., Sept. 3, 1804, and 
was the fifth in a family of eight sons and five 
daughters, born and reared to men and women, ' 
by Thomas and Martha (Hogue) Gibson, natives re- 
spectively of the states of Pennsylvania and Vir- 
ginia. The family, except the subject of this sketch, 
who had preceded" them about one year, came to Il- 
linois from Xenia, Ohio, where they had resided 
about 25 years, in 1831, and here the two old people 
spent the rest of their lives. 

Samuel Gibson vi'as fairly educated at the common 
schools of Ohio, and there learned something of the 
mechanic's trade under his father. He lived in Mon- 
mouth until 1835, when he moved to hi-i farm adja- 
cent to the south line of the town. Here he has lived 
a full half century, and at this writing is in the en- 
joyment of good health, walks as litlie and erect as" 
an Indian, and bids fair to join his numerous friends 
at the celebration of many another anniversary. He 
joined the United Presbyterian Church when he was 
27 years of age, and his life therein has remained 
unbroken and consistent. 

August 3, 1826 Mr. Gibson was married in Greene 
Co., Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Pierce, a native of Bour- 
bon Co., Ky. She died in February, 1858, and their 
seven children are mentioned here, as follows : Wil- 
liam, who left home in 1853, and was last heard from 



rjir: 



^ 



^ 



608 



WARREN COUNTY. 



%^ 



^- 



j^ames T. Hartman, Supervisor of Cold 
Jl^ilg' Brook ■I'ownshii), a gontlenian of piore than 
fc.Ji''' ordinary Ixisiness ability and a good and 
successful farmer and stock-raiser, residing on 
Section 12, Cold Hrook Township, is a native 
y of Marion Co., Indiana, where he was horn 
April 21, 1835. 

John Hartman, the father of James '1'., was born 
in North Carolina, and was of German ancestry. 
He was married in his native state to Nancy Markliii, 



ill California, in 1878; Martha H., the wife of Mr. 
Samuel Little; Sarah E., who with antiring filial de- 
votion, ministers daily to the wants and comlorts of 
her aged father; Isabel, wife of J. B. L. Smith, of 
Indiana; .\lbert G., died in October, 1S82; Mary 
Jane (Mrs. Martin) died in 1881, and Thomas A. 
died in 1862, a few days after arriving home from the 
Union army. 

Thus briefly we scan the events of a life coexist- 
ent almost with the history of our Nation, and as we 
read we realize at once what constitutes the memo- 
rable matter in a man's life. The date of his birth 
is treasured; tlie ruddy cheeks and rollicking laugh- 
ter of his brothers and sisters, as in tlieir cheerful 
childhood they gathered about the great log fire in 
the old chimney place of the long, long ago, are cher- 
ished and not forgotten ; the fatlier and mother are 
remembered, and the kind old faces of his grandfa- 
ther and grandmother pass vividly in view; the old 
log school house of three-quarters of a century ago; 
the dapper little teacher, and his spelhng schools, 
later on; the ruby-lipped and bright-eyed girl who 
developed first into a sweetheart and next into a wife ; 
J>= the little ones that came and entwined themselves 
about his heart to be torn rutlilessly away, crushing 
for a time his every ambition in life, and the names of 
the living and the dead are repeated. These events, 
representing the happiest and the saddest in life are 
ever remembered by the aged, and to the e.\cliision 
of the thousands of hardships incident to pioneer 
times, are told lo the biographer in response to his 
inquiry for the most important data from which to 
write a sketch. 



a native of that state. Of their union nine children 
were born- in North Carolina, and the family then 
journeyed to Indiana and located on a tract of land 
which was in its natural condition. 

James T. Hartman was the first child born to his 
parents after their emigration to the wilds of the 
Hoosier State. There was also another child 
born to the parents, in Indiana, making their 
children it in number, six sons and five daughters, 
of which four of the former and two of the latter sur- 
vive. Mr. Hartman was only eight years old when 
his father died, and he lived with his mother until he 
had nearly attained his majority. He received the 
advantages of the district schools of that early pe- 
riod, and at the age of 17 years served an ap- 
prenticeship at Mt. Jackson, near Indianapolis, 
Ind., under a Mr. Forshee, to learn the trade of a 
blacksmith. After serving a term of four years, he 
came to Illinois in December, 1855, settling in Buf- 
falo Prairie Township, Rock Island County. At the 
latter place he remained, working' at his trade until ^ 
1859, when he emigrated further West to the State 
of California, and from there to Idaho Territory. In 
the latter territory he began mining in the Bitter Root 
Mountains, and continued there for some time, from 
whence he passed on to the Rocky Mountains where 
he resumed mining, and continued for three years 
longer. He then retraced his steps to Warren County, 
purchased 80 acres of land on his present site, and 
began its improvement and cultivation. 

The marriage of James T. Hartman and Miss Hen- 
rietta Freeman was celebrated in Knox County, Nov. 
27, 1862. The lady of his choice was a daughter of 
F. Leroy and Margaret (Brown) Freeman, natives of 
Virginia and Kentucky respectively, both from old 
families of those states. They were married in Illi- 
nois, where they both came in early life, settling with 
their parents in Knox County early in its history, and 
were there during the Black Hawk War. The pa- 
rents were farmers and died in Henderson Township, 
where they h;id lived since marriage. Mrs. Hart- 
man, of this notice, was born in Henderson Town- 
ship, Knox C^ounty, Oct. 27, 1841. Her education 
was commenced in the public schools but finished at 
college. She remained at home until her marriage, 
and of her union with Mr. Hartman has been born 
three children, one of whom is deceased. Minnie is 
the wife of Clark Robinson, and they reside in Co- 
manche Co., Kan., her husband being engaged in 



*i 



*T" 






-/yTy^^^L-^^^^^ 



i T » 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^^-H^ 



613 



farming; Ettie I. died in infancy, and LiUie G. is at- 
tending college at Galesburg. 

Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have 
resided on their present homestead, and have made 
remarkable changes and improvements, until now 
their farm is considered an excellent one in every 
respect. 

Mr. Hartman has served his township as Collector 
for four years ; Supervisor for the past 12 years, and 
in politics is a first-class Democrat. 




4 



— ^ m^-^ 

'(fySlHlliam Hanna, one of the most widely 
W.W known and enterprising business men of 
Illinois, and whose portrait we present on 
'> the opposite page, is a resident of Monmouth. 
A view of his elegant home, which is one of 
the finest in the county, is also presented in 
this volume. He was born in Fayette Co., Ind., 
June 19, 1827, and comes of Scotc^i-Irish stock on 
the paternal side. His father, John Hanna, was a 
native of North Carolina and married Miss Sarah 
Crawford, a Virginia lady. In 1835 Mr. John Hanna 
came to Illinois and settled 12 miles northwest of 
Monmouth, in Warren County. 

Here on the farm young Hanna wa s reared and re- 
ceived such education as the subscription schools of 
the neighborhood afforded. In 1849, upon the break- 
ing out of the California gold fever, in company with 
others, he drove an ox team acrobs the plains to the 
land of gold. He was successful there to the extent 
of gathering a few thousand dollars. He returned 
home in 1851, bought a farm in Henderson County 
and engaged in agriculture until 1867. That year he 
came to Monmouth, and, in company with Messrs. 
W. S. Weir and Dr. W. B. Boyd, formed a joint 
stock company for the purpose of manufacturing 
farm implements." The capital stock of the company 
was ^25,000. Under the skillful and efficient man- 
agement of Mr. Hanna the business of the company 
increased very rapidly. In fact, at the end of 14 
years the capital stock had increased to the enor- 
mous amount of $1,000,000, after paying $i63,oooof 
dividends. 

Immediately after the company was organized and 



its factory in operation, Mr. Hanna " took the road " 
and the following seven years traveled in the inter- 
ests of the company, introducing its implements and 
establishing agencies. It was through his persistent 
and indefatigable efforts that the foundation and 
subsequent success of the Weir Plow Company was 
securely laid. In short, his energy and business 
ability built up and made a great institution of this 
now world-wide known company. 

Mr. Hanna, in addition to his vast interests as 
above stated, has found time to engage in various 
enterprises, which in the main have for their object 
the increase of the material wealth and prosperity of 
Monmouth and vicinity. He is President of the 
Monmouth Mining and Manufacturing Company, 
wiiich makes sewer pipe, drain tile, fire brick, etc. 
The company employs a large number of men and 
manufactures over 100 carloads of its products a 
month, and arrangements are being perfected to in- 
crease its capacity to 150 car-loads per month. 

Mr. Hanna was one of the originators of the 
Monmouth National Bank, which was established 
in 187 1, and for ten years (1874 to 1884) served 
it in the capacity of President. He was one of the "< 
original incorporators of the Keithsburgh Bridge 
Company, and still continues as one of its directors. 
He was President and Treasurer of the Burlington, 
Monmouth & Illinois River and the Peoria & Farm- 
ington Railway Companies during the construction 
of these roads and until their consolidation with the 
Central Iowa. Without his wealth, energy, judgment 
and perseverance that railway would never have 
been constructed. He is a Director of the Iowa 
Central Railway Company at present. He is aTrustee 
of the Warren County Library and also of the Lom- 
bard University, located at Galesburg, and is deeply 
interested in any and every public enterprise calcu- 
lated to benefit the people. 

In 1851 Mr. Hanna was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah, daughter of James Fiiidley, who settled in 
Warren County as early as 1832. Three children 
have been born to them, two of whom are living, J. 
Ross, a sketch of whom may be found on another 
page of this volume, and Mary J. E. 

Politically, Mr. Hanna has steadily voted the 
Democratic ticket and is a firm believer in the sav- 
ing grace of that political organization. He has 
twice been honored with an election as the Mayor ot 



V 



6i4 



1 

4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^^-4^ 



the city of Monmouth, and during his terms of office 
brought to bear in the municipal affairs of the city 
his characteristic energy and excellent judgment. 

Thus we have a brief outline of the life of one of 
the most valuable and highly esteemed citizens of 
Warren County. He started in life poor and un- 
aided, but by the sheer force of his own indomitable 
energy and the exercise of good, common, business 
sense, he has succeeded in carving out for himself a 
comfortable competency, and at the same time has 
maintained his reputation as an honorable, consci- 
entious gentleman 



— -se;- 



-ist.-- 




Ill ev. Anson Tucker, was born in New York 
State, June 8, i8ii. He graduated from 
f%^" Haddington College, and was ordained, 
^Vw^ in 1835, a minister in the Baptist Church. He 
was pastor at Sardinia and Lockport, N. Y., 
Norwalk, O., Adrian, Mich., Lafayette, Ind., 
Dixon and Monmouth, 111. He died at the latter place, 
Apr. 23, rS58,aged47. Though conipartively a young 
man, he had attained considerable prominence in his 
denomination. He had an unusually refined and 
sensitive nature, and was strict in his ideas of right 
and wrong. Beloved by his people wherever he 
preached, his life was one of great usefulness. He 
was of a family of ministers, his father and four 
brothers all being Baptist clergymen, and what is 
very unusual, all preaching at the same time. He 
had one other brother.a gifted lawyer,who was study- 
ing for tiie ministry, when he suddenly died. 

Mr. Tucker was a man of cultivated literary 
tastes, and an earnest and eloquent speaker. His 
friendships were deep and strong, and as a husband 
and father his affections were tender and devoted. 
His ancestors came from England and settled in 
Virginia in the Colonial times, where many still re- 
main. Judge Tucker, of Richmond, and John Ran- 
dolph Tucker being of the family. Part of the fam- 
ily had gone North, apd of that branch was Rev. 
Anson Tucker. 

He was married to Caroline Rogers in 1836. They 
had seven children, six girls and one boy, who died 



in infancy: Eliza, the eldest daughter, married A. 
S. Humphries, of Columbus, Miss. ; Erenah married 
T. W. Raymond, of London, England; Caroline 
married Guy Stapp, of Monmouth; Jeannette married 
D. P. Phelps, of Monmouth ; Emma resides in Mon- 
mouth, and Frances is a resident of Columbus, 
Miss. 

Caroline Rogers was born in New York State. She 
was daughter of Rev. James and Marcy(Champlain) 
Rogers. Rev. James Rogers was the son of Hon. 
Thomas Rogers, one of the three contemporary 
Judges of the State of New York. Marcy Cham- 
plain was the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth 
(Perry) Champlain The Perrys came from England. 
Elizabeth Perry was the daughter of Freeman Perry, 
who was Supreme Judge of Rhode Island 44 years. 
His wife was Mary Hazard. Their children were 
Joshua, Oliver Hazard, Raymond, Elizabeth, Mary 
and Susan. Joshua was a physician; Raymond was 
a sea Captain and Commodore in the Navy, and one 
of the founders of the United States Navy, and for 
several months he was a prisoner on board the dread- 
ful Jersey prison sjiips. After his discharge he was one 
of the Lieutenants of the Trumbull during her action 
with the Watt, one of the hardest fought battles in 
our War of Independence. He had five sons; the 
eldest, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, gained the 
battle on Lake Erie, and along with him in that en- 
gagement was his little brother, Alexander, a boy of 
10 years, serving as midshipman and aide. The lit- 
tle fellow received a ball through the cap, and was 
subsequently voted the thanks of Congress and a 
sword of honor, being probably the youngest recip- 
ient ever known of such national acknowledgment. 
Another of the five brothers was Commodore M. C. 
Perry, who crowned a long life of glory by opening 
the ports of Japan to American commerce, while 
two more brothers were commanders under Commo- 
dore McUonough in the battle on Lake Champlain. 
Another ancestor. Commodore Stephen Champlain, 
was born Nov. 17, 1789, at South Kingston, R. I. 
At the age of 23 he was in command of the brig 
"Dore." He became one of the most active and 
useful officers in the United States Navy. It is a 
well authenticated fact that he fired the first and last 
gun in the battle of Lake Erie. He was then in 
command of the "Scorpion," and with that vessel 
overhauled the british ship "Little Belt," and cap- 
tured her as slie was endeavoring to run away from 



V 



WARREN COUNTY. 



6.5 1 



the fight. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1870. 
Rev. Anson Tucker was married a second time in 
1854, to Miss Luana Macomber, of New York State. 
They had two sons, Howard, who was thr3e years 
old, and Qeorge 15 months, when they both died, 
within two weeks of each other, and only a few weeks 
before their father, in the spring of 1858, at Mon- 
mouth, 111. 



~vw.«\tc£a;©^@ 



M/gf.S'^WJ'^^'vw^ 




"T" 



eyton Roberts, General Insurance and 
Land Agent, at Monmouth, 111., was born 
at Fountain Green, Hancock Co., 111., Jan. 
2ist, 1839. His great grandfather, James 
Roberts, was from Switzerland, and settled in 
Wythe Co., Va., in 1775, where his grandfather, 
John Roberts, was born, in 1781. His father, James 
E. Roberts, was born in Campbell Co., Tenn., Aug. 
28th, 1807. His mother, Sally M., (Cox) Roberts, 
was also descended from the Swiss. Her great 
grandfather, Friend Cox, settled in Pennsylvania in 
1712. Her grandfather, John Cox, and her father, 
Benjamin Cox, lived at McKeesport, Pa., where she 
was born Dec. 2 2d, 1807. 

The parents of Peyton were married at Hudson- 
ville, Breckenridge Co., Ky., Aug. 30th, 1S30. They 
moved to Fountain Green, Hancock Co., 111. in June, 
1837, where the father now (1885) lives, at the age 
of 78. The mother died at this place June 24th, 
1846. 

Peyton Roberts was educated at Hedding College, 
Abingdon, 111. He entered the Insurance business 
at the same place in 1863, and on January 4th, 1864, 
transferred his headquarters to Monmouth, where 
he has since stood at the very head of the Fire In- 
surance Underwriters of the County, representing 
at all times the best companies in the world, and ju- 
diciously writing his policies in such a manner as to 
preclude the possibility of misconception ; avoiding 
all ambiguities, and thereby placing the policy pur- 
chaser solidly upon the ground of the assured. If this 
information, thrown into this sketch without the 
knowledge or consent of Mr. Roberts, but none the 
less based upon facts, should prove incomprehens- 
ible to some, the writer knows to all such as may 



be unfortunate enough as to sustain loss by fire and 
find an improperly written policy in their possession, 
there will be no longer any mystery. 

Mr. Roberts is a Director in the Monmouth Min- 
ing and Manufacturing Co.; a Director in the First 
National Bank of Biggsville, 111.; is connected with" 
the Second National Bank of Monmouth, 111.; is Sec- 
retary of Trinity Lodge, No. 56r, A. F. & A. M., and 
Member of the Republican State Central Committee. 

Mr. Roberts was united in marriage at Bushnell, 
111., May 8th, 1866, with Miss Lizzie K. Cox, of Hud- 
sonville, Ky. They have two children living, Emma 
and Corinne; one, Lizzie Lena, having died when 
three months old. Mrs. Roberts is a descendant of 
the Lendrum family, of Virginia, and the daughter 
of Ralph and Emily A. Cox, of Vine Grove, Ky. 



^^ 




ohn W. Lusk, of the firm of Lusk Bros., 
leading grocers of Monmouth, is justly re- 
^^"^ garded as one of the enterprising business = 
men of that city. His father, Wilson Lusk, 
was an early resident of Monmouth, locating 
here as early as 1848. On the 21st of Jantiary • 
of the following year, John W. was born. He was 
one of a family of seven children, five sons and two 
daughters, born to his parents, Wilson and Mary 
Jane (McCoy) Lusk. He was reared and educated 
at Monmouth, and early in life began to learn the 
printer's trade, at which he became very profi- 
cient. 

In the spring of 1864, when yet a mere lad, he 
enrolled in the service of his country as a drummer, 
in Co. A, r38th 111. Inf. He served until the follow- 
ing fall, when the term of his enlistment expired. Im- 
mediately upon being mustered out of the 138th, he 
entered Co. H, 47th 111. Inf., as a private, and serv- 
ed up to the winter of 1865-6, when he was mus- 
tered out at Salem, Ala. He did valiant and faithful 
service, and from the commencement to the close of 
his enlistment he never missed a day from his regi- 
ment, and the 47th, being a part of the i6th Army 
Corps, it is reasonable to suppose that it was in ac- 
tive duty continually. 

Upon the expiration of his term of enlistment in 



'JKl 



V 



6i6 



— - . ..irz . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



the army, Mr. Lusk returned to his home in Mon- 
mouth, and for a while worked in the Review office. 
Subsequently he went lo Macomb, this State, where 
he was engaged on the newspajjers of that city for 
a time. In 1869, we find him at Beardstown, in the 
capacity of foreman of the lllinoisan, a position he 
acceptably filled for about two years. He then form- 
ed a partnership with H. A. Wilkinson, and started 
the Beaidstown Herald., a Democratic weekly paper. 
At the expiration of about a year, Mr. Lusk sold out 
his interest in the Herald, and returned to Macomb 
and after spending a few years as a book-keeper in a 
grocery house, in 1879 he bought his employer out. 
In i8Si he sold out his business at Macomb and 
came to Monmouth, and at once embarked in his pres- 
ent enterprise, since which time, in connection with 
his partners, the firm of Lusk Bros, have taken front 
rank among the leading business houses of Mon- 
mouth. 

Upon the 30th of January, 1871, at Macomb, 111., 

'Mr. Lusk was united in marriage with Miss Kate 

Shumate, daughter of a well known citizen of that city. 

She is a native of Garrard Co., Ky., and has become 

I>-the mother of two children, Birdie and Claude. 

Politically, Mr. Lusk is a Democrat, and socially 
a member of the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F. and .\. O. 
U. W. 




esse Walton Bond, an energetic and suc- 
cessful farmer of Lenox Township, residing 
upon section 19, is a son of John C. and 
Polly (Grinisley) Bond. A biography of the 
former is given elsewhere in this volume. The 
Bonds came from Ireland with Lord Baltimore 
and settled in Maryland, in 1632, and from there 
were scattered throughout the .South. Jesse W.Bond, 
the grandfather of the subject of this notice, was 
born in South Carolina, in 1777. When a small boy, 
his father's family removed to Kentucky, in which 
State his father was killed by Indians, leaving three 
children — Jesse W., Lucy and Nathan. 

In 1798, Jesse W. Bond, the eldest of the children, 
was married in Overton Co., Tenn., to Miss Susan- 
nah Crane. She was born in Georgia, in 1777, and 



of their union seven children were born — John Crane 
Bond, the father of the sul)ject of this notice; Ben- 
jamin, Joel, Ruljy, William B., Jesse W. and Nathan, 
only two of whom are living, Natlian Bond, of Al- 
bany, Oregon, and Mrs. Ruby Looney, of Salem, 
Oregon. 

Jesse W. Bond, the grandfather, removed to Jack- 
son Co., Ala., in 18 19. From there he went to Mor- 
gan ('o.. 111., and in 1830, came to this county, and 
here resided until his death, in 1842, the demise of 
his wife occurring in 1858. The grandparents are 
both buried on the old homestead, in the family 
burial ground, Greenbush Township, where six gen- 
erations of Bonds are resting. The homestead at his 
death jjassed into the hands of Maj. John Crane 
Bond, father of the subject of this notice, whose 
biography we give, and when he died he left it to his 
grandson, John Crane Bond, Jr., eldest son of the 
subject of this sketch. 

Jesse Walton Bond was born in Jackson Co., 
Ala., Sept. 7, 1825. When he was a year old, his 
parents moved to Morgan Co., 111., and he was nine 
years of age when he came with his parents to 
this county. His education was received in the 
common schools, and he continued to reside with his 
parents until his marriage. He lived in Greenbush 
Township until 1850, when he crossed tlie plains to 
California in search of gold, where he remained two 
years, meeting with partial success, when he returned 
for his family and soon afterward went back to 
California. The following year, 1853, his wife died, 
and Jesse W. once more returned to this county, but 
only remained a short time, when he went back to 
California, the third time crossing the plains. He re- 
mained in the latter State until [862, when he re- 
turned to this county and two years later removed to 
Iowa, and was there engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits until 1869. During that year, he again came 
back to this county, and took charge of the Warren 
County Poor Farm, on which he lived until March, 
1885. Not desiring a reappointment, he removed to 
his farm in Lenox Township, where he at present re- 
sides. He is the owner of 320 acres of land 
in Lenox Township, all of which is under an ad- 
vanced state of cultivation. 

Mr. Bond, of tliis sketch, was first married in Swan 
Creek Township, this county, Feb. 12, 1848, to Sarah 
E. Terry, who was born in Madison Co., 111. She 



1 



*% 



V 



i T _L 



4-4- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



6,7 



was a daughter of Georf;e and Nancy G. (Slice) 
Terry, and bore him three children — Edwina, Ellen 
S. and Jolin C. Edwina is the wife of Dr. Randall, 
of Greenbush Township. Ellen S. married Benja- 
min F. Reed, who resides in Swan Township. John 
C. is engaged in farming in Greenbush Township. 
Mrs. Bond died in Sacramento Co., Cal., Jan. 28, 
1854, and Mr. Bond was again married in Green- 
bush Township, Oct. 25, 1863, to Anna C. Harrah, 
daughter of John N. and Helen (Wharton) Harrah. 
Her parents came to Warren County about i860, 
and settled in Greenbush Township, where they 
lived until about 1878, when they moved to Sedalia, 
Mo. Mrs. Bond was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, 
Feb. 25, 1835, and has borne her husband three chil- 
dren — ^Sara Helen, Jesse Walton, Jr., and Anna J., 
who resides at home. Mr. Bond is a member of the 
Masonic Order, and in politics, is a supporter of the 
principles advocated by the Democratic party. His 
father and grandfather were likewise members of the 
Democratic party. 

The Bonds are related directly to Gov. Walton, of 
'Georgia, who was one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and also to Shadrach Bond, 
the first Governor of Illinois. 



|,apt. John M. Turnbull, Postmaster at 
II^^J^^ Monmouth, this State, is a son of David 
J^" and Nancy (Mitchell) Turnbull, natives of 
Green Co., Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pa., respec- 
tively, and bearing through their veins the 
blood of various Celtic races, with an odd 
mixture of the Scandinavian, was born in Ohio, 
July 23, 1833. His parents were married in Xenia, 
Ohio, in i8^r ; came to Illinois in 1833, and settled 
upon a tract of land purchased the year before by 
Mr. TurnbuU's father, the land being now occupied 
by A. W. Spicer, and lying about one mile northwest 
from Monmouth. At the end of the following year 
they removed into Hale Township, six miles north- 
west from Monmouth, at a place afterwards known 
as "TurnbuU's Point." Here for many years his 
house formed a kind of relay for emigrants and pi- 
oneers, passing and repassing between the great river 



*t 



and interior points. In 1850, he removed to the 
vicuiity of Sugar Tree Grove, and there spent the 
rest of his life, dying, however, at the home of his son, 
in Monmouth, in 1871, aged about 63 years. His wife 
had died a few years before, it is believed in 1866, 
aged about 62 years. They were the parents of 12 
children, only eight of whom — John M., Ann E., 
Sarah I., Mary A., William W., David A., Thomas 
B. and Nannie J., grew to the estate of men and 
women. Three of his sons, John M., William W. 
and David A. were in the Union army during the 
late war, and he for two years, 1863-4, held the po- 
sition of Deputy United States Marshal. Mr. Turn- 
bull was all his life an active citizen, a zealous work- 
er, both in Church and State, and while no office 
seeker, held almost continuously some useful, al- 
though unprofitable office. He served two terms as 
Sheriff of Warren County; was several years Chair- 
man of the Board of Supervisors, and altogether was 
one of the most useful men in the community. 

Capt. John M. Turnbull, whose name heads this 
biographical sketch, was brought up to farming, and 
was about 28 years of age when he abandoned it. 
His education was the best to be had at the common 
schools. When the war broke out he was farming. 
In August, r86i, he enrolled at Kirkwood, this 
county, in Co. C, 36th 111. Vol. Inf. as Second Lieu- 
tenant; was promoted the following spring at Mur- 
freesboro to the rank of First Lieutenant, and served 
until May 24, 1864.. In February or March of 
1863, he was detailed for staff duty, and was 
in that position as long as he was in the service. He 
participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perry ville. 
Stone River, Chicaniauga, Missionary Ridge, in 
Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, and near Dallas on the 
night of May 24, 1864, while acting as Brigade In- 
spector, and in preparing to relieve Gen. Hooker's 
command, received a gun shot wound in the left 
knee which cost him the loss of that limb. 

His regiment formed a part of the First Brigade 
Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, commanded by 
Gen. Sheridan, serving on the staff of Gen. T. F. 
Sherman and W. H. Lytle, and last on Gen. Nathan 
Kimball's staff, and was staff officer at the time he 
was wounded. 

He returned to Warren County, and in January, 
1865, removed into Monmouth; his name was pre- 
sented by Mr. Lincoln for Postmaster at this place, 

A • . 



¥ 



jU 



618 



IVARRHIS/ COUNTY. 



but the President's death occurring in the meantime, 
his commission was signed by Andrew Johnson, and 
he took charge of the office in May, 1865. In the 
fall of 1866 Johnson removed him and appointed 
Ur. Griffith as his successor, but the Senate refused 
confirmation of the action, and Capt. Turnbull was, 
at the end of six months, reinstated. His last com- 
mission will end January 16, 1887. 

He was married at Washington, Iowa, Nov. 7, 
1854, to Anna P. Orr, native of Baltimore, Md., and 
their six children are mentioned as follows : Ralph, 
who died in infancy; Mary, Emma, Clara O., 
Nannie A., Jennie R., and an infant deceased. 
The four daughters were all educated at Monmouth 
College. 

The family are members of the U. P. Church. 



-f3=H= 




4=4^ 



oseph W. Adcock, an agriculturist of 
Kelly Township, is of ancestry and ante- 
cedents of Southern origin. Edmund Ad- 
cock, his father, was a pioneer of Warren 
County of 1833. The latter was born Nov. 
23, 1800, in Buckingham Co., Va., and was the 
son of Joseph and Susan (Cason) Adcock. His par- 
ents were both members of families of Virginia origin 
and he was reared to the age of manliood in his 
native county and in Kanawha County, whither his 
parents removed when he was in his youth. In the 
county last named he was married to Cynthia Chris- 
tian. She was a native of Kanawha County, and 
her father, Robert ('hristian, had a record as a brave 
soldier in the war of tlie Revolution. The marriage 
referred to took place March 13, 1823. The newly 
married people settled in the same county and were 
there resident until 1828. In that year they removed 
to Indiana and located in Crawford County, where 
they remained two years. In the fall of 1830 they 
set out for Illinois. The family then included the 
father, mother and three children. A neighbor of 
theirs in Indiana had made a prospecting tour to 
Knox County, and on his return the Adcock family 
resolved to come to Illinois with him. He had a 



team and they made the trip together. It was fall 
when they arrived, and Mr. Adcock secured a claim 
on section 3 in what is now Henderson Township, 
Knox County. He obtained an entire quarter-sec- 
tion and built a house for the temporary accommo- 
dation of his family. It was the most primitive kind 
of a structure and covered with clapboards obtained 
from trees by a process called " riving,'' a term which 
has the same significance at present though the ap- 
plication in this locality is considerably diflereot. 
The floor was made of puncheon. In this the house- 
hold lived through the Black Hawk War. It was 
located within a mile of the fort. There were then 
only a few families in the neighborhood, and the 
people would frequently become alarmed at the 
sight of a stray Indian, or rumors of their depreda- 
tions would put them in such a state of fright tliat, 
in the early times preceding the contest referred to, 
they would repair to the fort for protection. On one 
occasion, Wm. McMurtry and Edmund Adcock, who 
were in the block-house with their families, went out to 
attend to their stock and agreed not to remain longer 
than to perform the service which took them out. 
They also promised not to discharge their fire-.Trms 
unless they saw Indians, but the sight of a quantity 
of squirrels put the last stipulation out of their re- 
membrances, and they fired at the little animals. 
The shooting was rapid and alarmed their friends at 
the fort. The men remaining there hastily gathered 
their arms and ammunition and started out one by 
one, without order or system, to the rescue, leaving 
not a gun in the fort for the defense of the women 
and children. Happily their fears proved ground- 
less. 

In the spring of 1833, Mr. Adcock sold his prop- 
erty and came to Warren County. He located 
on the northwest quarter of section 27 in town- 
ship 12, range i. His brother Henry had previously 
purchased the land and the tenant lived on the 
place two years. He then made a claim on the 
southeast quarter of the same section and removed 
to a s nail log cabin which had already been erected 
on the place. A few years later it was abandoned 
for a new dwelling of rather aristocratic pretentions 
for that period. Tlie latter was a double hewed-log 
house and was their residence for some years, or 
until improved circumstances enabled them to build 
a frame house. This was the home as long as the 
father lived. His death occurred May 7, 1859. At 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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the time he was the owner of the south half of sec- 
tion 27, about 50 acres of which were in tillage. The 
wife died Oct. 26, 1865. They had only the three 
children, with whom they removed to Illinois. The 
oldest was a daughter, named Cynthia Elizabeth. 
She married John McMullen, and survived her mar- 
riage only a few weeks. Joseph and Robert J. are 
twins. They were born Jan. 23, 1826, in Kanawha 
Co., Va. They were but four years old when they 
removed with their parents to Illinois. The brother 
of Mr. Adcock is a resident of Tompkins Township. 
The latter was 7 years old when his father and mother 
took up their residence in Warren County. Every- 
thing was in its primitive condition and there were 
no schools, consequently the parents gave their sons 
such education as they could within the home. Af- 
ter Mr. Adcock had grown to be quite a youth, there 
was a school established about three miles distant, 
which he attended, but it was not of the character of 
the free schools of to-day, as it was instituted by the 
pioneers to secure a little instruction for their chil- 
dren, and they willingly bore all the expense them- 
selves. 

Mr. .adcock was married Aug. 30, 1849, to Mary 
Elizabeth McMurtry. She was born in Crawford 
Co., Ind.. Sept. 26, 1827, and is the daughter of 
Hon. William and Ruth (Champion) McMurtry. 
Her father was a native of Kentucky and settled in 
Knox Co., 111., in 1829. He rose to distinction in 
State affairs, and was elected Lieutenant-Governor 
with .Augustus French, in the second term which 
was served by that gentleman, in November, 1848. 
He was a candidate at the time of the first election 
of Gov. French, when the successful nominee was 
Mr. Wells. Hon. William McMurtry died at his 
home in Knox County, in 1875. 

After the date of his marriage, Mr. .\dcock located 
on a part of the homestead of his father, a portion of 
which he liad given to him. During the first year, 
he lived with the family, and then removed to a log 
cabin and commenced the life of the true pioneer. 
This was the home of himself and his wife for sev- 
eral years, when they removed to the frame house 
which his family have since occupied. He is now 
the owner of 459 acres. Eight of the children born 
to himself and wife are still living. William resides 
on section 35 in Kelly Township; Edmund follows 
the legal profession in Chicago; Cynthia married E. 
E. Terpenning, who is a farmer on section 3 in Cold 



Brook Township; Robert J., an attorney-at-law, 
lives in Monmouth; Ruth F. married C. F. Barnett, 
a farmer on section 18, Sparta Township, Knox Co., 
111. Lucy and Mary live at home with their par- 
ents. 

In political faith and connection, Mr. Adcock is a 
Democrat. 

—5 '^^ ^ 




em M. Lusk, senior member of the mer- 
cantile firm of Lusk Bros., of Monmouth, 
was born at Newburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., 
Dec. 19, 1843. His parents, Wilson and Mary 
Jane (McCoy) Lusk, were natives of the States 
of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. 
The former was of German and the latter of Scotch 
ancestry. They reared four sons and two daughters, 
our subject being the eldest of the six. The family 
came West as early as 1846, and located in Iowa, 
and two years later came to Monmouth. Here Mr. 
Lusk was reared and received his education, and in 
the office of the Monmouth Review learned the 
printer's trade. 

Mr. Lusk had worked on the above named paper 
only about six years, when he determined to enlist 
in the services of his country to defend the flag that 
had been assaulted the previous year. Accordingly, 
on July 17, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 83d 111. Vol. 
Inf., and for three years did faithful and commenda- 
ble service. In the summer of 1863, while at 
Clarksville, Tenn., he was detailed as printer at Post 
Headquarters, which duty he performed during the 
remainder of his'term of service. He had, however, 
previous to that time seen some active service on the 
field. He was at Fort Donelson, and participated in 
about twenty skirmishes. He was never off duty 
either as a soldier of the ranks, or when assigned to 
the printing department, and it may be said to his 
credit as a brave and devoted patriot, that 
he did not seek the latter position as the safer one. 
He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., and dis- 
charged at Chicago, III. His parchment, bearing all 
the credits of an honorable soldier, is dated July 5, 
1865. 

He then returned home and resumed the quiet 
pursuits of life, and has become one of the highly 



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WARREN COUNTY. 




respected and influential citizens of Monmouth. The 
firm of Liisk Bros, does a large and lucrative busi- 
ness in the grocery line, having one of the largest 
stocks and best assortments carried by any house in 
the county. 

September 13, 1866, Mr. Lusk was married at 
Monmouth, to Miss Mary E. Riggs, who has borne to 
him six children — Minnie, Jessie H., Adda, Mamie, 
Fred W. and Jean E. 

Mr. Lusk is a member of the A. O. U. W., and 
Quartermaster of the G. A. R. Post; Treasurer 
or Engine Company No. i, and politically he is a 
Democrat. 

--^' : : o l' g ; : I " v^ 

R ames C. Hogue, a fanner of Tompkins 
M^ Township, owning 80 acres of land on sec- 
tion 26, is a native of Indiana, having 
been born in that State Feb. 23, 1840. His 
parents were P. F. and Elizabeth A. (Stormout) 
Hogue, natives of Indiana and Tennessee re- 
spectively. The parents of the subject of this notice 
emigrated to this State in 1841, and purchased land 
in Walnut Hill Township, Jefferson County. On 
this land the father moved his family and was there 
engaged in farming for six years, when he sold the 
same and came to Warren County, buying 160 acres 
on section 23, Tompkins Township, and on which 
he resided until 1868. During that year he sold his 
land and moved to Cutler, Perry County, in the 
neighborhood of which place he purchased 240 acres 
and where he is at present residing, following the 
vocation of an agriculturist. 

James C. Hogue was an inmate of the home circle 
until he attained the age of 27 years, during the 
meantime having received the advantages afforded 
by the common schools. After leaving home, he 
purchased the farm of 80 acres on wiiicli he is at 
present living, moved on the same with his family 
and has there been continuously occupied in its cul- 
tivation and improvement until the present time. 

In 1868, Miss Margery J. Stewart became the 
wife of the subject of this notice and has borne him 
six children — Amelia H., Robert E., Anna E., Mary 
B., Edna S., Norma A. In politics Mr. Hogue votes 
with the Republican party. His religious views, 



as likewise those of his wife, coincide with the tenets ! 
of the United Presbyterian Church. ' 

By economy and energetic effort, Mr. Hogue has 
succeeded in accumulating sufficient to enable him 
to add 40 acres to his original purchase and at pres- 
ent lie has a clear title to 120 acres of good farm 
land, and in the vocation which he has chosen for a 
life pursuit, he is meeting with that success which 
energy and perseverance are sure to bring. 

In the early history of the War for the Union, and 
at a time when strong arms and brave hearts were 
necessary to fight in defense of the flag, Mr. Hogue 
was one of the first to enlist in the cause, which he 
did by joining Co. K, 36th 111. Vol. Inf., as a private, 
and for four years stood the brunt of battle. He | 
participated in the engagements of Pea Ridge, Per- 
ryville, Murphysboro, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, 
the Atlanta campaign, Franklin and Nashville, and 
was twice wounded, which necessitated his confine- 
ment in the hospital for 13 months. He enlisted as j 
private, was promoted Sergeant in August, 1862. He. | 
re-enlisted with his regiment as a veteran volunteer, 1 
Jan. I, 1863, and was promoted to Captain of his I : 
Company in June, 1865, receiving an honorable dis- J 
charge Oct. 9, 1865, by reason of services no longer 
required. 

*— ^^- * 




oshua W. Coates, Jr. The writers of the 
fc- biographical sketches of this book, in their 
" travels throughout this county, very rarely 
met an active business man, one who had for 
jt sometime been engaged in his vocation, who was 
a native of the county. It will be remembered 
that the earliest pioneers, those who came between 
the '30's and '40'B, were few in number, and were 
only found here and there settled on some neck of 
timber, or had grubbed out a little farm on tlie i)ank 
of some small stream. But it was not until after 
1850, tiiat any one ventured out upon the broad and 
fertile [jiairics It was about this period that the old 
Oquawka Railroad was projected, and settlers began 
to pour in rapidly, and from 1850 to 1856 there were 
doubtless more settlers came in than all the years 
previous from the day Daniel McNeil made his lo- 
cation where the city of Monmouth now stands. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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623 



Prominent among the few of this class intervieved, 
is Joshua W. Coates, Jr., vvlio is one of the leading 
farmers of Roseville Township, where he has resided 
all his life, having been born here Sept. 17, 1859. 
He is a son of Joshua W. and Eletha (Ray) Coates, 
natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. The 
father, Joshua, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers of 
the county, having located on section 8, of Rose- 
ville Township, at a very early period. He pur- 
chased 240 acres of land there, which he made his 
home until his death, which occurred in 1862. His 
wife, who had journeyed with him through so many 
years of his life, died the same year. Their family 
consisted of two children, one of whom, William, 
having died when in the third year of his life. 

Joshua, Jr., as will be noticed, lost his parents 
when an infant. He was taken in charge by his 
mother's sister, now Mrs. Clarinda Talbert, with 
whom he remained until he began business for him- 
self. On becoming of age, he went to Iowa and at- 
tended Howe's Academy for two years, at the end of 
which time he returned to the farm left by his parents, 
and where he is now living. His other landed pos- 
> sessions are 1 20 acres on section 9, and about 1 60 
acres located on sections 8 and 9. He owned a 
farm in Henderson County, which he left in i88j, 
and went to Eureka Springs, Ark., for the benefit of 
his health. He then returned to his home in Warren 
Co., and.in the spring of 1885,10 the place where he 
is now residing. A view of his residence and accom- 
panying farm buildings are given on page 416. 

Mr. Coates is a member of the Union Baptist 
Churcli, and in political matters casts his influence 
and vote with the Democratic party. 




|.on. Robert HoUoway, formerly a promi- 
nent member of the Bar of Warren County, 
in i88r removed from Monmouth to his 
farm in Suez Township, Mercer County. He 
was a resident of Monmouth foi 30 years, and 
during that period was extensively identified 
with its varied interests and its development. He is 
a native of Kentucky and was born in Bourbon 
County, Sept. 26, 1829. His father, George Hollo- 



-suc 



way, was a native of Virginia, and there remained 
until he grew to manhood. While still a young man 
he emigrated to Kentucky and was a member of the 
pioneer element of that State. He located in Bour- 
bon County, and was there married to Mary McClan- 
ahan. She was a native of Kentucky, although her 
parents were from the State of Virginia. 

The father of Mr. Holloway having died when he 
was quite young, his mother devoted much pains- 
taking care to the education of her son, who was for 
some time a [.upil in St. Mary's College in Washing- 
County, Ky. He afterwards graduated from the 
Kentucky Military Institute, in 1849, of which he 
was one of the most proficient of its students, 
his grade in conduct and every class being 500, 
the maximum. A. M. Garland, now United States At- 
torney-General under President Cleveland, and his 
brother, Rufus Garland, were members of the same 
class with him at St. Mary's College. The elder 
Garland, Rufus, and Mr. H. being the Ijest students 
of the smaller d; rmitory, Mr. H. was awarded the first ■ 
and Mr. Garland the second prize of merit. During 
his course of study at the Kentucky Military Insti- 
tute, Mr. Holloway received the appointment of U. 
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and filled the 
Chair throughout the remainder of the time he passed 
at the Institute. He was also elected to the po- 
sition of Captain of the First Corps of Cadets, and 
after taking his degree he was elected to the Chair 
of Mathematics and accepted the honor. Soon after, 
a change became necessary in order to allow of his 
fulfillment of his determination to enter upon the 
study of law, and he resigned his position in the 
Institute. 

He proceeded to Lexington, in the State of his 
nativity, where he entered the law office of the Hon. 
George Robinson, then of the Supreme Bench of 
Kentucky, and read there under the preceptorship of 
that gentleman until 185 i. He also attended Tran- 
sylvania University at that place during the fall and 
winter of 1849-50 and 1850-51, and graduated from 
that institution during the latter term with honors. 
Judge George Robinson, Judge Thomas A. Mar- 
shall, both of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, and 
Madison C. Johnson, a distinguished lawyer of Lex- 
ington, were professors and law lecturers in the in- 
stitution. 

In April, 185 i, became to Monmouth. Soon after 



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624 



WARREN COUNTY. 



his arrival he was admitted to the privileges of the Bar 
of Illinois, and at once entered upon the duties of a 
law practitioner at that place. He also became 
interested in the purchase of real-estate and was 
soon the owner of large tracts of land in Warren and 
adjoining counties. At one time he owned more tlian 
7,000 acres of land, including some fine farms. He 
thus grew into an interest in the various avenues 
open to the agriculturist and was soon deeply in- 
volved in growing stock. He was the first importer 
of thorough-bred Short-horn cattle in Warren Coun- 
ty. In 1876 he held a sale at Dexter Park, Chicago, 
at which he disposed of 7 i head of blooded cattle, 
which brought an average price of $1,100 a head, a 
sale at that time without a parallel. 

In 1881, Mr. Holloway removed to the farm on 
which he has since resided. He is still carrying on 
his plans for the improvement of the stock in his own 
and adjacent counties, and is now more especially 
interested in the breeding of thorough-bred Clydes- 
dale horses. He has journeyed to .Scotland several 
times for the purpose of personally selecting his 
breeding-stock. His stables contain 150 horses of 
*" the best accredited type. 

He became interested in Clydesdale or draft 
horses, which he has become so largely identified 
with since, in the following way : While attending 
a sale of noted Shorthorns in Canada, in 1873, 
he saw a magnificent Clydesdale stallion, named 
Jonnie Coope, which he purchased. Two years later, 
desiring anotlier horse for breeding purposes, to take 
the place of the one mentioned above, lie purchased 
Donald Dinnie. He has also imported from Scot- 
land many of the finest Clydesdales that country has 
produced. Among these was Druid, the best Clydes- 
dale horse ever seen in Scotland ; also Pointsman, the 
largest draft horse living. Among other importa- 
tions were Prnice George Frederick, Cairn Hroggie 
Kier, King Edward, Simple Jamniie and Prince of 
Wales Yet. Mr. Holloway has on his farm near 
Alexis, the largest breeding stud of Clydesdale mares 
in the world. His purpose and ambition is to show 
that in Ameiica draft horses may be grown not in- 
ferior to those imported from Great Britan, and soon 
to supply the market with such without further im- 
portation. 

Mr. H. came to Illinois with Whig proclivities, but 
shortly afterward hearing Douglas speak, was con- 



vinced that his views were correct, and has since 
continued a Democrat in his political belief. When 
James Buchannan was elected President, Mr. Hol- 
loway was Presidential Elector for tiie Congressional 
District of which Warren County formed a part. 
From the time he began political speaking he has 
borne a conspicuous and distinguished part in advo- 
cating the principles of his party in this portion of 
the State; and the writer of this sketch was told by 
some of his friends that Douglas, in speaking of Mr. 
Holloway remarked, that " he was one of the best 
stump orators in Illinois." He was a delegate to the 
National Convention at Charleston in i86oand sup- 
ported Douglas for President. He has always been 
prominent in his devotion to the interest of his party, 
and has on two occasions refused the nomination for 
Congress in his district. In 1880 he consented to 
the use of his name and scored a home triumph by 
polling 1,300 more votes than the Presidential candi- 
date of liis party. 

Mr. Holloway was joined in marriage to Catherine 
E. 'rhom[)son, Oct. 24, 1853. Mrs. Holloway is the 
daughter of Judge James and Elizabeth (Ewing) 
Thompson, who were pioneers of Monmouth. She 
was born in Sidney, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway 
have four children. They are named Edmunds B., 
George, Elizabeth Ellen and Mary Belle. The eldest 
son married Belle Lafferty, of Mercer County. The 
eldest daughter is the wife of M. M. McClana- 
han, a practicing physician at Woodhull, Henry Co., 
111. The others reside at home. 

When Mr. H. was married his wife was a member 
of the Presbyterian Church. About the year 1858, 
he was converted under the preaching of Rev. R. 
C. Mathews, and united with the same Church. Some 
time afterward he was elected an Elder, and con- 
tinued to fill that position so long as he remained in 
Monmouth. After his removal to the couniry, he 
transferred his membership to the Church at Nor- 
wood and thence to Alexis and has since held 
the position of Elder in those congregations During 
almost all of the time Mr. Holloway has been con- 
nected with the Church he has been a teacher of the 
Bible class in the Sunday-school, a regular attendant 
uiJon the services of the Church, and an interested 
an active worker in all its labors at home and a will- 
ing contributor of his means to all its agencies for the 
spreading of the gospel abroad. He has a profound 
and unshaken conviction in the truth of God's Word 



*V 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



6as 



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and in its power to reclaim and bless man. Hisin- 
terest and labors in this work are beyond what he 
feels in and gives to any other cause. 

Being so long identified with the interests of Mon- 
mouth and so well known throughout the county, we 
are pleased to be able to present a portrait of Mr. 
Holloway in connection with this sketch. 




K ohn B. Mesinnis, a retired farmer residing 
f near the city of Monmouth, was born in 
Lancaster Co., Pa, Aug. 25, 1813. His 
father, James Meginnis, was a carpenter in 
early life and later a farmer, and his demise 
occurred Jan. 3, 1831, in the county where 
his son was born. He was a native of Dauphin 
County, same State, of Irish descent but American 
parentage, and the son of a Pennsylvania farmer. 
He remained in his native county until he reached 
maturity, when he came to Lancaster County and 
was there united in marriage with Frances Brandt, 
who was also a native of Lancaster County. Of this 
union were born nine children, of whom our subject 
was the eldest. Only three now survive — Fanny, 
the wife of David Detweiler, who resides on a farm 
in Dauphin Co., Pa. ; Elizabeth, wife of David 
Gingrich, also residing on a farm in the same county ; 
and our subject, John B. 

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Frances 
Meginnis was united again in marriage, with Samuel 
Bossier, but they had no family. She died in her 
native county. 

John B. Meginnis remained on the farm with his 
mother, alternating his labors there with attendance 
at the district schools, until he attained the age of 
majority, when he went to Cumberland Co., Pa., 
and superintended a farm there for his uncle two 
years. He then rented land there for some time 
and while in that county was married, at Harrisburg, 
to Miss Margaret Sprout, on the ist of November, 
1838. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(McHose) Sprout, the eldest of her parents' family, 
and was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., March 18, 
1820. Her parents were both natives of that county, 
where they were engaged chiefly in farming. They 



were of Scotch ancestry, and the death of the father 
occurred in 1S55, and that of the mother in 1831, 
both in tlieir native county. Their family comprised 
five children, all living, as follows: Mrs. Meginnis, 
wife of our subject; Mrs. Firoved, wife of Simon 
Firoved, a retired farmer residing in Monmouth; 
William married Catherine Hempt, and is engaged 
in farming at Phelps, this county; John is the hus- 
band of Miss Mary Wellman, and they reside in 
Hale Township, where he is engaged in farming; 
Hettie E., wife of James C. Nesbit, resides on a farm 
in Hale Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Meginnis, are the parents of four 
children : James married Priscilla Brooks, and re 
sides on the old homestead in tliis township; Eliza- 
beth is the wife of B. W. Hardin and resides on a 
farm in Union Co., Iowa; Fannie B. is at home; and 
John S., residing on a farm in Monmouth Township, 
has never been married. 

After Mr. Meginnis was married, he farmed in 
Cumberland County until the year 1852, and came 
thence to Illinois and here purchased land to the 
extent of 200 acres, partly improved, in Monmouth 
Tow.iship. On this he lived and farmed, being ««; 
very successful, until the year 1869, when he left 
the farm and purchased five acres where he now re- 
sides. This he has improved as a home. 

Mrs. Meginnis is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. M. is an old line Democrat. 



X 



■^f '. B. Nash, residing on section 16, Hale 
Township, is one of the successful, sturdy 
' "^ tillers of the soil, and owns r6o acres of 
good farm land. He was born in Greene 
Co., Ohio, Aug. 18, 1833. When about two 
years old, his parents came to Warren 
County, where he received his education, which, 
owing to the necessity which compelled him to as- 
sist in the labors of the farm, was somewhat limited. 
His father died when he was about seven years of 
age, and he chose for his vocation in life that of 
agriculture, which he has followed until the present 
time. He has erected on his farm a good residence, 
double corn crib, 32 x 24 feet, barn and outbuild- 



*r 



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^ 



^ 



726 



- . . .v.- 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^ 



ings, and his premises are indicative of that push 
and energy of which he is possessed. 

Mr. Nash was married in Hale Township, Feb. i, 
i860, to Adeline C. McKinney, who was born 
in Warren County, on the 12th day of January, 
1836. She bore him four children — James T. R., born 
Jan. 21, 1S61 ; John H., Feb. 16, 1862 ; Mary J., 
May 22, 1864; and Harry C, Aug. 22, 1867 ; John 
departed this life April i, 1882, aged 20 years. The 
wife and mother died June 26, 1870, and Mr. Nash 
was again married in tlie same township, Oct 7, 
1875, to Susan E. Hamilton, who was born in Clin- 
ton Co., Ind., Oct. 20, 1844. Her parents were 
John and Sarah (Baldridge) Hamilton, natives of 
South Carolina and Ohio respectively. They came 
to tliis county in 187 i, where the father died, in April, 
1876; the mother still survives. The parents of 
Mr. Nash's first wife were Abraham and Anna 
(Brownlee) McKinney. 

Mr. Nash has been School Director, and his wife 
is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Po- 
litically, he is a supporter of the principles of the 
Republican party. 

The parents of Mr. Nash were James and Marga- 
ret (Brown) Nash, natives of Pennsylvania and Ken- 
tucky. They came to this county in 1835, and set- 
tled in Hale Township, where they were among the 
early pioneers, and experienced all the trials and pri- 
vations incident to the settlement of a new country. 
They continued to reside in Hale Township until the 
death of the head of the family, which took place in 
that township, Jan. 21, 1841. The wife and mother 
survived her husband, and resides in Hale Town- 
ship, at the advanced age of 81 years. 



•>*—«— o««^IS»>^>o — ■ » {< - ^ 




K. Morris. The subject of the following 
I'' sketch is one of the substantial and well- 
to-do farmers of Ellison Tovvnship. He was 
born May 4, 1835, in Madison Co., Ohio, and 
is the son of Amos and Rhoda J. (Campbell) 
Morris, and the youngest of the family now 
living. He came with his'parents to Warren County 
in 1854. They settled on section 15, of Ellison 
Township, where the elder Morris purchased 80 
acres of land, to which subsequently other tracts were 
added. 

Young Morris received a good common-school ed- 



ucation in the district schools of his native State and 
remained an inmate of the parental home until 
shortly after the breaking out of the Civil War. In 
February, of 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 12th 111. 
Cav. The regiment rendezvous was at Chicago and 
from there went to Springfield, 111., where for three 
months it was on duty guarding prisoners. The reg- 
iment was then ordered to Martinsburg, Va., and 
soon after the entire command, under Gen. Miles, 
was captured at Harper's Ferry, except the 13th 
Cavalry, whicii succeeded in cutting its way through 
the Rebel lines and escaped. Private Morris was 
sick in the hospital at the time and was captured. 
He was paroled at Harper's Ferry and from there 
went to Chicago, via Baltimore and Annapolis. In 
February, 1863, he re-joined his regiment at Falmouth, 
Va., and was unfortunate enough to again fall into the 
hands of the enemy. He was captured in the fight 
at Farrel Station and sent to Libby Prison, at Rich- 
mond, from which he was paroled and soon after ex- 
changed. We soon after, however, find him again at 
the front at the famous battle of Gettysburg. He did 
honorable and faithful service for his country, and 
should be remembered for the valiant part he took -^ 
in its defense. 

»OOO C . *■ 

.on. John Porter, a prominent member of 
_ the Warren County Bar, resident at Mon- 
'" mouth, is a son of James and Sarah (Wray) 
Porter, natives respectively of County Donegal, 
Ireland, and Juniata Co., Pa., and was born in 
Huntington Co., Pa., April 27, 1824. His par- 
were married in Huntington County, where 
their eight sons and two daughters were born, and 
where they died, the old lady in 1856, aged about 60 
years, and the old gentleman two years later, aged 
66 years. 

Of the ten children born to them, below will be 
found the record : Nancy, William, Robert W., John, 
James D., Joseph, David T., Martha M., Franklin 
T. and Andrew J. Nancy married James Boggs and 
resides in Mercer County, and is the mother of seven 
children. William married Miss Isabel Lane, of 
Huntington Co., Pa. ; they have a family of ten chil- 
dren. Robert W. married Miss Doyle, of Hunting- 
ton Co., Pa., and they had five children; his wife 
died in 1854, and he was again married, to Nancy 




cuts 



ir 



¥ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



-H- 



626 



^ 



Robb, of the same county, and by the latter union 
has two children. James D. Porter married Miss 
Mary Irvine, of Philadelphia, and they have two 
children and at present are residing in Spring Grove 
Township. Joseph Porter married Mary J. Lytle, of 
Pennsylvania, who is now deceased ; they had a fam- 
ily of five children, and he is at present living near 
Lynchburg, Amherst Co., Va., and has been, and is 
at the present time, passing through the experience 
of Judge Tourgee's great character in the Fool's Er- 
rand. David T. Porter married Miss Emeline Wil- 
son, of Stone Creek, Pa., and they have a family of 
ten children and are residing in Chariton Co., Mo. 
He is one of the most prominent farmers and stock- 
raisers in that section of the country. Martha M. 
married John Henry, of Shavers Creek, Pa., and is 
now deceased. She left a family of six children to 
mourn her loss. Franklin T. is unmarried. Andrew 
J. married Miss Tillie Stuckey, of Bedford, Pa. ; they 
have two children living and reside in Filniore Co., 
Neb. The last three brothers named served in the 
Union army. David T. and Franklin T. enlisted in 
the i02d 111. Vol. Inf., under command of Col. Mc- 
Murlry, of Knox County, who was afterwards super- 
seded by Col. Smith. Andrew J. Porter enlisted in 
the 55th Pa. Vol. Inf., went out as Orderly Sergeant, 
was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and participated 
in all the battles in which his regiment engaged, 
without receiving a single scratch. All three broth- 
ers received honorable discharges. 

The first i8 years of John Porter's life were spent 
upon his father's farm, and afterwards he learned 
the trade of making and laying brick, working at 
the same every summer till he married, and teaching 
school in the winter. The summer of 1845 he 
worked at his trade in Pittsburgh, Pa., laying brick 
at $1.50 per day. In 1846 he followed his trade 
in his native county. His primary education was 
obtained through the common schools, and from the 
age of 18 to 23 years he taught in the schools of his 
county. His last school was taught in Ogle Co., 
111., whither he had removed in 1850, and where 
he spent the summer working at his trade. In 
the spring of 1851 he took a farm in Warren County, 
in Spring Grove Township, removing thence the 
following year to a farm which he had purchased in 
Sumner Township. Here he farmed with success 
up to the spring of 1858, when he removed to Mon- 
mouth, began at once the study of law, and in Janu- 



ary, of 1863, was admitted to the Bar at Ottawa. 
His official life began away back in 1855, when he 
was elected Supervisor of Sumner Township. Two 
years later, to fill a vacancy, he was elected to the 
County Judgeship, for the next full term in Nov. 
1857. This term the law giving the Court of this 
county concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court 
in civil suits to the amount of $500, making the prac- 
tice and pleading the same as in the Circuit Court, 
was passed by the Legislature, and Judge Porter 
was forced to study law to protect himself, and this 
fact probably more than any other accounts for his 
adopting the law for his profession. In 1861 he was 
again elected County Judge for four years, and soon 
afterward may be dated his real beginning as a law- 
yer. Up to 1862, he had worked with the Demo- 
cratic party, but since that date the Republican 
party has had no stronger supporter. 

In 1868 the party of his adoption sent him to the 
Legislature, probably the most important session since 
the war. The 14th amendment to the United States 
Constitution was adopted ; and so was the famous 
(or infamous) tax steal, the latter being passed over 
the Governor's veto, but to the credit of Judge Por- 
ter, it is said, that while he stood with the majority 
in the amendment bill, he opposed them in the tax 
theft. The Judge was the author of and drew the '' 
bill providing for the appointment of a conservator 
for habitual drunkards, the bill becoming a law with- 
out the delay of engrossing. 

On Jan. 25, 1847, Mr. Porter was married, in his 
native county, to Miss Mary E. Robb, at which 
time he rented a farm in Hartslog Valley, where he 
resided for the ne.xt three years, coming west 
in the spring of 1850. Their eight children are 
mentioned as follows: Mary, born in November, 
1847, died in April, 1883, and was the wife of 
W. J. Brooks; Sarah, born in 1849, is at present 
Mrs. Thomas Donahue, of Belle Plain, Kansas ; 
James R., banker, of Belle Plain, Kansas; Nannie is 
the wife of G. F. Bulier, Wellington, Kans. ; Silas 
W., attorney at Monmouth ; Charles H., a resident 
of Colorado; Ella F., at home; and George died in 
infancy. 

Mrs. Porter was the daughter of William and Mary 
(Livingston) Robb. The former was a native of the 
north of Ireland, and the latter of Lancaster Co., Pa., 
the Livingstons being one of the oldest families of 
that State. They were the parents of eight children, 



T 



rJLrr 



-H^ 



=?=?-3- 



628 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Mrs. Porter of tliis sketcli being tlie seventh in or- 
der of birtli. John married Miss Mary Cunningliani ; 
William married Margaret Cunningham, sister of the 
former, and they are both deceased, their widows 
living in Huntingdon Co., Pa. Alexander is de- 
ceased ; he was a physician and emigrated to 
Indiana and there died, about the year 1838. 
James lives in Mercer County 111.; Sarah J. mar- 
ried Peter C. Swoope, and they are both deceased. 
They left a family of four children, one of whom is 
deceased. Nancy Robb is the second wife of R. W. 
Porter, brother of the subject of this notice, and they 
at present reside in Sumner Township. Livingston 
Robb married Mary Wilson, a native of Huntington 
Co., Pa. ; ihey have a large family and reside on the 
old Robb homestead, in Haitslog Valley, Pa. Thomas 
S. Robb married Miss Martha Campbell, of McCon- 
nellstown. Pa., and they at present reside in Mercer 
Co., this State; ihey have six children living and 
have lost several. The Robbs are of Scotch descent, 
William Robb having come to this country about the 
year 1800, settling in Huntingdon Co., Pa., where 
he became a large land owner and a jjrominent and 
influential man in that section of the country. 

Judge Porter is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Socially, he belongs to the orders of Ma- 
sonry and Odd Fellows. Although now a member 
of one of the learned professions, so-called, lie is as 
proud of his record while a mechanic and a farmer 
as of any other part of his life, and fully believes 
with Burns, that "the rank is but the guinea's stamp, 
the man's the gold for a* that." 



"MCfi/Si©'" — m 



-wgfSWTOJiA 




4 



f' ames C. IrwiD, dealer in boots and shoes 
|- and millinery, at Monmouth, was born in 
Clarion, Pa., Aug. 19, 1843, and was the 
r^, son of William and Margaret (Patrick) Irwin, 
W natives also of Pennsylvania. The family 
I removed from the Keystone State to Michigan, 
probably in 1844 or 1845, and there in the city of 
Detroit the parents spent the remainder of their 
lives. 

James C. was educated at the common schools of 



Michigan; came to Morris, this State, in 1858, and 
to Monmouth in 1869. While at Morris he enlisted, 
August, 1862, in Co. C, 76th 111. Vol. Inf ,and served 
to the close of the war. 

He returned from the army to Morris, and clerked 
in a dry goods store up to the date of his coming 10 
Monmouth. Here he engaged with an older brother 
in mercantile business, and gave it his attention up 
to 1878, his brother, however, retiring from the firm 
at the end of the first year. In 1878, he closed out 
his dry goods, retained the millinery department, 
and put in an extensive stock of boots and shoes. 
Associated with him in business is Mr. James Man- 
non as salesman. Mr. Mannon is a native of Ohio, 
came to Monmouth in 1877, and has been with Mr. 
Irwin since 1880. Like Mr. Irwin, he is instinctively 
a gentleman, and the source of their success in their 
line, the secret to which they without efTort place 
themselves at the very head of their trade, is readily 
traceable to the fact that they recognize the rights 
of their patrons, and are satisfied with reasonable " 
profits. 

These are the kind of men who deserve to suc- 
ceed, and the writer of the industrial history of Mon- 
mouth places their names in the list of "honorable 
mention." 




(^ ames Gardner, owning 200 acres of good 
farm land, under an advanced state of cul- 
tivation, located on section 6, Cold Brook 
Township, was born in Edmonson Co., Ky., 
%V Sept. 13, 1829. The fatherof James, Thomai 
' "* Gardner, was born in West Virginia, and was 
the son of a farmer, who came to Edmonson Co., 
Ky. ; was there reared to manhood and married 
C'atherine Lair, a native of Barren Co., Ky., the 
daughter of a Kentucky farmer. Seven children 
were born to the parents while residents of Ken- 
tucky, James, our subject, being the eldest. 

James Gardner was 17 years of age when his 
father died in Edmonson Co., Ky., and two years 
later his mother, accompanied by her six children, 
came to this State and located in Cold Brook Town- 
ship, this county, where the mother remained until 



i* 



WARREN COUNTY. 



629 



%^ 



4 



her death, which occurred Feb. 28, 1880, at the age 
of 79 years, the date of her birth being April 26, 
1801. 

James Gardner, after accompanying his mother to 
this State and county, hved with and labored for her 
support and the maintenance of the children until 
his marriage with Miss Margaret A. Robison,' which 
occurred in Cold Brook Township, May 10, 1853. 
She was born Nov. 1,1 829, and was the seventh child 
of her parents' family, having been born in this coun- 
ty, and is at present the oldest citizen of the county, 
whose birth is recorded as within its boundaries. 
She is a daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Stitt) Rob- 
ison. (See sketch of M. C. L. Robison). Her par- 
ents came to this State at an early day, and settled 
in what is now Kelly Township, and known as Rob- 
ison Point, Sept. 12, 1829. That portion of the 
county at the time was undeveloped, and her par- 
ents endured all the privations incident to the im- 
provement of a new settlement. Their marketing 

■ was done at what is now Oquawka, Henderson 
County. The county at that time included what is 
now Warren and Henderson counties, the latter hav- 

■ ing received its name from Henderson Richie, who 
wasthe first whitechild born within its present bound- 
ary. Mrs. Gardner was the oldest white child born 
in Warren County. 

After Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were united in mar- 
riage, they located on a new and unbroken tract of 
prairie land, which to-day comprises the fine farm on 
which they reside. It consists of 200 acres, and the 
labors of the past have placed it under an advanced 
state of cultivation. 

When Mr. Gardner first started in this county he 
was as poor as a church mouse, but by energy and 
perseverance, coupled with the active co-operation of 
his good helpmeet, he is to-day the possessor of a 
fine faim as stated, and from his present standpoint 
looks back over the history of the past and smiles at 
the trials and difficulties which he and his good wife 
encountered and overcame. 

Their union has been blessed with the birth of 
seven children, two of whom are deceased : Ella D. 
became the wife of Clarence Young, a farmer resid- 
ing in Kelly Township, and of which union three 
children have been born— Roy, Phebe and Nellie; 
Eflfie D. was united in marriage to Henry Gates, who 
resides on a farm in Butler Co., Neb., and they have 



one child, Bertha; Nancy C, Milton E. and Ira M. 
are living at home. 

In politics, Mr. Gardner votes with the Democrat- 
ic party. 

Mrs. Gardner having been the first white child 
born in Warren County, strange to say, has resided 
within one and a half miles of the place of her na- 
tivity until the present, and in the sunset of her 
years realizes the wonderful developments through 
which the county has passed since her birth. She 
was never out of the State, even on a visit, until 
about the nge of 52. 



f-V-l^f g 



) obert A. Gibson, retired farmer, residing 
at Monmouth, was born near Xenia, Ohio, 
Nov. 6, 181 :;, and of the eight sons born 
Yu^ ^'^ Thomas and Martha (Hogue) Gibson, he 
was the youngest. His parents were natives 
of Maryland and Virginia, respectively, and 
in addition to eight sons, they reared five daughters — 
a real old-fashioned house full of children. 

Thomas Gibson came to Warren County in the 
fall of 1831, and bought a farm containing several 
quarter sections, about two miles northwest from 
Monmouth. Here he spent many years of his life, 
and here his wife ended her days in the year 1842. 
The old gentleman lived to become 87 years of age, 
and died in i860, at the iiouse of his son, George, 
near Little York. The Gibsons came originally from 
England, and the Hogues from Scotland. The sons 
of Thomas G. were brought up to farming, and the 
old mau gave each of them a quarter section. 

Robert A., whos- name heads this article, received 
a pretty thorough common school education, and at 
the age of 18 years, entered Hanover College, In- 
diana, and graduated as an A. B. in 1838. After 
leaving College he read taw soine and took a course 
of lectures, and after returning to Illinois, was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, in 1844. The farm, however, was 
his choice, and he abandoned a professional life be- 
fore he had scarcely begun it. He lived on his 
farm, two miles northeast from Monmouth, from 1844 
to 1875, when in the latter year he rented it out 
and moved into town, and like the sensible man that 



lA^ 



V 



t 



630 



WARREN COUNTY. 



he is, proposes to spend the rest of his life free from 
care. 

October 15, 1842, lie was married in Trimble Co., 
Ky., to Miss Maria Davidge, who lived but about 
four years and left one child, Sarah, now (Sept., 
1885,) employed at the Delevan (Wisconsin), Deaf 
and Dumb Institute. 

On the 17th of January, i86r, at Monmouth, 111., 
Mr. Gibson was again married to Miss Amanda 
Paine, a grandaughter of Gen. Edward Paine, the 
founder of the city of Painesville, Ohio, and the 
daughter of Chas. H. Paine, who came into Warren 
County, in 1836, and settled near Little York, and 
spent his life upon his farm, dying in 1859. Mrs. 
Gibson was educated at Painesville, Ohio; Michigan 
City, Ind ; Canton, 111.; and Jacksonville (111.) Fe- 
male Academy, and taught school from the time she 
was 16 years of age until she was 36. 

Mr. Gibson had also some experience at school 
teaching before he went to farming, but not enough 
to fall in love with it. He also soldiered a little in 
the Black Hawk war, and it may be presumed that 
he did not fall in love with war any more than he 
M did with scliool teaching. He has been a hard- 
working man, and to the talents given him has 
abundantly added, like the wise and good servant 
. spoken of in the parable. 

He belongs to the United Presbyterian Church, 
votes the Democratic ticket, and enjoys heartily the 
fruits of his many years' labor. 



=€>- 



(v(8 (I ''^''"1^ Porter is one of the prominent and 
^^^J9 substantial agriculturists of the township 
xO of Sumner, and is located on section 2. He 
is the proprietor of a large tract of land 
which contains 376 acres, and which is all 
in fine condition for profitable cultivation, with 
the exception of 20 acres, which is in timber, and 
increases the value of the estate. 

Mr. Porter made his first acquaintance with War- 
ren County in 1852, when he bought unimproved 
tracts of prairie, a part of which is included in the 
property he now owns. After making his purchases 



he returned to his home and remained there until the 
following spring, when he removed to Warren Coun- 
ty with his family. They were the occupants during 
the first year of a house on section i. Meanwhile 
Mr. Porter had erected a small frame house on his 
own land, to which he removed his family in the 
spring of 1854. A great transformation has been 
brought about by the application of persevering in- 
dustry, good management and the best and most ap- 
proved methods of modern farming. The pioneer 
home has been replaced by a house of convenient pro- 
portions, andtheotherbuildings which have been erect- 
ed are of the sort demanded by the purposes to which 
the farm is devoted. Shade and fruit trees add to 
the appearance and value of the place, and there are 
ample sheds and other arrangements for the protec- 
tion of the stock on the farm. 

Mr. Porter was born in Brady Township, Hunting- 
don Co., Pa., Nov. 5, 1 8 19, and is the son of James 
and Sarah (Wray) Porter. (See sketch of Judge 
John Porter.) He received his early education in the 
common, or as it was then called, subscription school, 
the system now in vogue not having been establish- 
ed. Later, he attended the district school in the 
winter seasons, and passed the remainder of the year 
in farm labor. He also assisted in the lumber woods, 
where it was the custom at that day to pass a portion 
of every year. 

At the age of 17 he obtained a position as clerk 
in a store in the village of Huntingdon. He ope- 
rated in that capacity one year, and then returned 
home and resumed farming. He alternated that 
employ with teaching. In 1845 he withdrew from 
the roof tree of his parents, taking possession of a 
home of his own, in company with his wife. 

He was married to Miss Isabella Lane, March 25 
of that year. They located on the family home- 
stead, and remained in Huntingdon County until 
their removal to Warren County, as has been related. 
She was the daughter of James and Martha (Steele) 
Lane. She was born in Huntingdon Co., Pa., Oct. 
15, 1824. Her parents on her father's side were 
English, and on her mother's side of Scotch-Irish 
origin. She is the ninth in order of birth of ten 
children, viz. , Mary, Samuel M., Eliza, Fileanor, 
William A , James R., Martha J., Isabella and 
Franklin H. One child died in infancy. Samuel, 
Eliza and Martha J. are deceased. Franklin H. was 



^ 



Jlr 



% 



4- 



«!!; X--- 




^ 



^^^^ ^^t^ 



4. 



i* 



WARREN COUNTY 



(>7,-S 



a General in the late Civil War, and is now living in 
Huntingdon, Pa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had ii children. Nine 
are still living. Sarah J. and Etta M. are the two 
eldest. Minerva is married to James Milligan, of 
Mercer County. James L and John C. are pros- 
perous farmers in Cedar Co., Iowa. Clara is a well- 
known and popular teacher in the public schools. 
The other survivors are Frank, Warren J. and Pearl. 
Ada, the seventh child, was born Sept. 4, 1857, and 
died June 19, 1883. She was well educated, and at 
thetimeofher death was engaged in teaching. Mar- 
tha J., the second child, died in infancy. 

Mr. and Mis. Porter have always taken a deep 
interest in educational matters, and provided liber- 
ally for the mental training of their children. They 
sent them to the academy in Monmouth, and to the 
college at Dixon. 

The parents are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Porter votes the straight Democratic 
ticket. 

f in?'» orter Phelps, one of the pioneers of War- 
ren County, was born in Madison Co., N. 



. y|5?^ Y., April 14, 1804, and died at his resi- 
fc. J dence in Lenox Township, four miles east of 
■h\^ Monmouth, Sept. 20, 1885. He was married 
to Mary Ellen Rees, in Peterboro, N. Y., 
March 29, 1826. She was born in Cazenovia, Mad- 
ison Co., that State, May 23, 1805, and died at the 
family residence July 26, 1884. 

The name of Plielps is very old, being found at 
Gloucestershire, England, as far back as the compi- 
lation of the Dooms Day Book of William the Con- 
querer. Porter Phelps traces his ancestry back in an 
unbroken and honorable chain to James Phelps, who 
was born in Tewksbury, England, about 1530. His 
grandson, William Phelps, was born at that place in 
August, 1599, ^'^d came to America, landing at South 
Boston, tlien Hull, May 30, 1630, but soon after set- 
tled at Dorchester. He moved to Windsor, Conn., in 
163s, and was conspicuous in the settlement of that 
State, filling many influential positions. Capt. Tim- 
othy Phelps, his son, was Lorn at Windsor, Sept. i, 
1639, and married Mary Griswold, May 19, 1661. 
He had a son, Timothy, born also at Windsor, Nov. 
I, 1662. He married Martha Crow, Nov. 4, i686. 



*r 



and removed to Hebron, Conn., in 1690. He also 

had a son Timothy, who was born at Hebron, June 
29, 1692, who was married to Hannah Calkins, July 
29, 17 14. They, too, had a son named Timothy, 
also born at Hebron, June 29, 17 18. He was mar- 
ried to Hannah Northam, Sept. 16, 1742. To them 
was born a son, at Hebron, whom they named Sam- 
uel ; the date of his birth was Sept. 2, 1759. He 
was married to Lydia Porter, Dec. 18, 1785. They 
were the parents of Porter Phelps, the subject of this 
sketch, and had moved to Madison Co., N. Y., pre- 
vious to his birth. Samuel Phelps, and also two of 
his brothers, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War 
and the former, while prostrated with fever, was 
held upon his horse to enable him to escape when 
New York was evacuated by the Americans. 

Lydia Porter, the mother of Porter Phelps, and for 
whom he was named, was descended from John Por- 
ter, who was born in 1590, in Kenilworth, Warwick- 
shire, England, at Wraxhall Abbey, the ancient 
seat of the family, where many of the name are 
interred. He was descended, in the 12th genera- 
tion, from William De LaPorte, a Norman knight, 
who came over in the train of William the Conquerer, 
at the time of the Norman Conquest, in 1066, as can 
still be seen upon the rolls of Battle Abbey, his 
name being transformed to Porter. John Porter, 
with his wife and children, were among the first to 
penetrate the wilderness of Connecticut, settling at 
Windsor, Conn., in 1635, the very year William 
Phelps arrived there. There he died, April 22, 1648. 
Their son, John Porter, was born in 1618. About 
1650, he married Mary Stanley, daugliter of Thomas 
Stanley, who came from London in 1635 and was one 
of the original proprietors of Hartford, Conn. They 
had a son, John, born Jaji. 3, 165 1; he married Joanna 
Gaylord, and settled in Windsor, Conn. Of their 12 
children, David was born Oct. 3, 1685, and on Jan. 
3, 1707, married Anna Phelps, daughter of Captain 
Timothy Phelps, above mentioned. They had seven 
children. Their youngest son. Increase Porter, born 
Feb. 26,1722, married Mary Niles, May rs, 1750. 
Their youngest daughter, Lydia Porter, born about 
1765, married Samuel Phelps Dec. 18, r785, as above 
stated. She was a sister of Rev. David Porter, D. D., 
a celebrated Presbyterian Divine, of New York, and 
grandfather of Prof. Porter, of Yale College. 

We find by the records that John Porter, who first 
X' 



¥ 



A 



634 



WARREN COUNTY. 



\r 



came to America, was a man of distinction and pos- 
sessed of large juoperty for those times. He was a 
man of line appearnnce and intrusted with positions 
of imporlance. A long list of names may be traced 
among his descendants, as well as among those of 
William Phelps, who came over about the same time, 
who were distinguished in the various learned pro- 
fessions and walks of life, throughout the country. 
The ancestors of Mary Ellen (Rees) Piielps came 
from Glamorganshire, South Wales, tracing their de- 
scent from old and distinguished stock. 

In 1835 Porter Phelps, with his family, started 
West, traveling the entire distance to this point in a 
wagon drawn by horses. They were 69 days in 
reaching Eugene, Ind., where they spent the winter. 
The following spring they came to Knoxville, 111., 
where Mr. Phelps was taken sick and was carried 
in a wagon to Monmouth to be doctored, there being 
no desirable physician, if any at all, in Kno.wille. 
His wife, with lieroism born of devotion, remained at 
Kno.wille to care for their little ones, and from time 
to time rode on liorseback to Monmouth to see her 
husband. He stopped while sick at the house of 
Daniel McNeil, which was situated on East Broad- 
way, about where the residence of Rev. Dr. McDill 
now stands. This was then almost the only resi- 
dence in Monmouth. There was an old log house 
where court was held. The judge and attorneys who 
traveled in those times almost, if not quite, from 
Springfield to Galeua on liorseback or by stages, 
stopped at the McNeil hostelry. Those were the 
days when Douglas, Browning, Richardson, Baker, 
McDougall, Lincoln, Walker, Butterfield and other 
great men of that day rode the circuit. There were 
mighty men in this wilderness, even tlien, whose 
ability has never been surpassed. 

In the spring of i8.-?7 Mr. Phelps, wiih his family, 
moved to Roseville Township, where he improved a 
small farm. In 1S44 he moved to the vicinity of 
Berwick, and in the spring of the following year took 
possession of the place wliere himself and wife both 
died. They reared a family of eight children, one 
daughter, Mary Gertrude, a lovely girl, dying in 
1847. She was greatly beloved and is still remem- 
bered by those who knew her. Their youngest son, 
Kenneth (irahani, died in 1S76, a few years after 
graduating from Monmouth College in the classical 
department, and when nearly ready to be ordained 



a minister of the United Presbyterian Church. He 
was a young man of great promise and most lovable 
character, whom to have known was but to love. We 
cannot forbear copying from the beautiful tribute to 
him of his class-mate, Miss Mary J. Howard : "Six 
years ago there left this port a sailor lad, whom to 
know was to love, to name was to praise. Just as 
he pulled away from the shore, his strength began to 
fail; the little bark rocked on the waves awhile, and 
then the angel came down the sunbeam-stairs and 
earned him upward and away. To day you may go 
out on the wharves of a village, that lieth cold and still 
and there you may trace in the rolling grass I he form 
of an upturned boat. Six years ago he left this dear, 
old college-port, the subject of his farewell speech, 
'A King.' One thing he said we will not forget — 
' For all bright things there is a resurrection.' One 
year ago, on the same day on which a group of boys 
and girls were starting out to sea, he was mounting 
the steps on the other shore,' to stand forever in the 
presence of ' A King. ' Of the soft, brown hair, the ' 
large gray eyes, so full of truth ; the warm, firm hand, 
we can only say, ' For all bright things there is a 
Resurrection. '" ' 

Samuel David Phelps, eldest son of P(.>rter Phelps, 
lives upon the old homestead, with his three children 
— Gertrude, Garrett Kirk and Rees. His wife was ' 
Jane E. Lockwood, now deceased, and the daughter 
of Sheldon and P.irthenia Lockwood, who were 
among the earliest pioneers of Warren County. They 
came from New York and settled about ten miles 
south of Monmouth, prior to the Black Hawk War. 
DeWitt Phelps, the second son, lives southeast of 
Kirkwood, in this county, and Delos P. Phelps at 
Monmouth, sketches of whom appear elsewhere in 
this volume. Ralph Gurley Phelps is a prominent 
lawyer at Atlantic, Iowa. Ellen Porter and Annie 
E. reside with their brother upon the old homestead. 
They are cultured and intelligent women, with great 
love of literature and poetry and both write more 
or less for the press. 

It is impossible for the present generation to real- 
ize the hardships and privations endured by the pio- 
neers. Porter Phelps was always an influential man 
in his neighborhood and was the Supervisor of his 
township from the date of township organization 
until the year 1864. He was retiring in his 
disposition and put forward others rather than 



"T^ 



4^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



63s ., 



himself. In politics, lie was always a consistent 
Democrat, and his five sons were of the same faith. 
Perhaps there is no better way to close this brief 
mention of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Porter Phelps 
than by copying from the notices of their deaths, as 
published in the county papers. 

"Mary Ellen Phelps, daughter of David and Ann 
(Smith) Rees, being a woman of intellectual and re- 
fined tastes, it required strong effort to make her 
home in tlie then new country. The decision once 
made, her unusual intellectual and physical strength 
was e.\erted that the new abode might be a success, 
and especially tliat her children might be deprived 
as little as possible of tlie superior educational ad- 
vantages of an older country. To the very last she 
retained her interest in public events, literature, 
history and poetry, keeping a daily record, and lay- 
ing down her pen only with her life. A consistent 
Christian, slie made a profession of faith at the age of 
14, uniting with the First Presbyterian Church (Dr. 
• Aiken's), of Utica, New York. She was a member 
of the Presbyterian Church of tiiis place almost from 
its organization until 1858, and at the time of her 
^ death, and for many years previously, a member of 
the Second United Presbyterian Church of Mon- 
mouth. The mother of eight children, six, with her 
husband, survive lier. Although her health had been 
very precarious for some time, she was not confined 
to her room, and was silting at the breakfast table 
when the summons came. VVithout a struggle or a 
word, in a moment's time, she departed. 

" Of no distemper, of no blast she dieri. 

But fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long. 

E'en wondered at because she dropped no sooner; 
Fate seemed to wind for three and half score 
years. 

Yet, swiftly ran she on ten summers more, 
Till, like a clock, worn out with eatiuj; time, 

The wheel.s of weary life at last stood still."' 

"Porter Phelps at his death had attained to more 
than eleven years beyond the three score and ten al- 
lotted as the life of man. He was descended in di- 
rect line, by both paternal and maternal ancestry, 
from those stern, hardy, conscientious, liberty-loving 
pioneers, who settled New England in the early 
part of the 17th century, when America was a wilder- 
ness. He, himself, was a pioneer, coming West from 
New York in 1835. Reaching Knox County, III., in 
1836, he came to Warren County in 1837, where he 
has since continuously resided, and for more than 40 



of the last years at his home, four miles east of Mon- 
mouth. Since his residence here he has witnessed 
this country change from uninhabited prairie and 
woodland to cultivated fields and cities enriched with 
a superior civilization. 

Mrs. Mary Ellen Phelps, a noble help-meet, 
worthy such a husband, with whom he lived for more 
than 58 years, died July 26, 1884, and for her he 
grieved constantly to the day of his death. They 
reared a family of eiglit children, six of whom sur- 
vive them. 

" Porter Phelps inherited the characteristics of his 
ancestors. He possessed a keen sense of justice, a 
discriminating judgment that suffered few errors, a 
passionate love of liberty, home and country, and 
a conscientiousness which was the mainspring of all 
his actions. Although physically weak, he was a 
man of great personal courage. A look of his eye, 
when aroused, not unfrequently quelled opposition 
and overawed su; erior strength. His will was in- 
domitable. His firmness and tenacity of purpose, ' 
when satisfied he was right, knew no such thing as 
change. His reading, intelligence, love of books, 
learning, poetry and eloquence, were remarkable ; •« 
and, had he chosen such a career, there had been no 
position in civil life he would not have adorned. To 
these stronger characteristics he added feelings ten- 
der and true, friendships warm, sincere and endur- 
ing. His soul was full of pathos. Many a time, in 
reading a touching poem or narration, the tears 
would start, the lip tremble, and the voice break 
with emotion. 

"The spirituality of his nature was very great. 
From early life he had been a sincere and devoted 
Christian. His faith looked up to Calvary, undim- 
nied by doubt or fear. He joined the Presbyterian 
Church when 21 years old, and from 22 was ruling 
elder at Stockbridge and Addison, N. Y., and Knox- 
ville, III. He was one of the earliest members of the 
Presbyterian Church of Monmouth, an elder therein 
for many years, and when he died was a member of 
the Second United Presbyterian Church of this city. 
But a few weeks before his death, he was noticed 
reading in liis Bible, the tears streaming down his 
cheeks. The page showed it was of the agony of 
our Saviour in the garden of Gethsemane. Still later 
and but a few days before his death, from near the 
window beside which he sat, he took his bible, founds 



IIIAJ 




4; 



636 



WARREN COUNTY. 



the 23d Psalm and read aloud in feeble yet confi- 
dent voice : ' The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not 
want. ' Here he stopped, and after turning his book 
from side to side, said he could not see. His sight 
had failed him. This was the last verse he ever 
read. 

" He had been a great sufferer through the last 
months of his life from progressive paralysis, and in- 
ability to help himself was a great trial to his self- 
reliant and determined spirit. Yet, through all his 
sufferings he was ever patient and thoughtful of 
those who cared for him. His last hours were peace- 
ful and comparatively painless. 

" In death his face was calm and beautiful. Faith 
and hope still sat upon his brow, though the light of 
his eye was quenched. His life had drawn to a close 
like the ending of that bright and beautiful autumn 
Sabbath. " 

"Hi>w tint' has Ww, day been! liow bright was the sun! 

How lovely ami joyful the course th:it he run, 
Thougli he rose in a mist when his r;u-e he begun, 

And there followed soMieidi'oppiiigs of i-iiiii! 
BiU when the fair traveler's come to the west. 

His rays are all gold, his beauties are best : 
He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest. 

And foretells a bright rising again. 

Just surh is the Ohrislian : 'his coinse-he liegins 

Like the siMi in a mist, when he mourns for his sins. 
And melts into tears; tlien_he breaks. out ami shines. 

.\nd travels his heavenly way: 
But when he comes nearer to finish his race. 

IJke a Ihie setting sun. he looks richer in grace, 
And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days, 

Of ri>iiig in brighter array." 




lfe.amuel W. Eodgers, one of the pioneers 
of Warren County, and at present (Octo- 
IVf. ber, 1885), oftlie firm of Glendening & 
'1^ Rodgers, dealers in wood, coal, hay, feed, etc., 
at Monmouth, was born near Hannibal, Mo., 
Oct. 12, 1832. His parents, Aleri and Mary 
(Davidson) Rodgers, were natives of Virginia, and 
of Scotch descent. They reared a family of five 
sons and three daughters, and buried two children 
in youth. 

The senior Mr. Rodgers was a farmer by occupa- 
tion ; removed from Virginia to Missouri, probably 
in 1821; from there to Hale Township, in 1836, 



where he died in 1863, about 74 years of age. His 
widow survived him until July 3, 1879, and was about 
89 years of age when she died. 

S. W. Rodgers was reared on the farm and edu- 
cated at the common schools. In 1882, he aban- 
doned agricultural pursuits, removed into town, and 
the following year entered into his present business 
arrangements. His first wife, to whom he was mar- 
ried in Hale Township, in 1S54, died in 1874, leav- 
ing five children — Ida E. (.Mrs. Horace Parsons), 
Jasper F., James A., deceased, John S. and Anna 
Mary. 

February 28, 1878, Mr. Rodgers was again mar- 
ried in Mercer County, this State, to Mrs. Mary A. 
Finley, «« Cabeen, and their only child is named 
Isabelle C. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers are 'members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 




#># 



on. John J. Glenn, the subject of the fol- 
lowing sketch, is one of the protninent jur- 
ists, not only of the Tenth Judicial District, 
but of the State of Illinois. He is a descend- 
ant from the hardy and vigorous Scotch-Irish 
I stock, his ancestors being natives of the North 
of Ireland. They emigrated to America and settled 
in Maryland, where John Glenn, the father of 
Judge Glenn, was born in the year 1794. He was 
reared there, and in 18 18 went to Ohio, and settled 
in Ashland County, where he followed the vocation 
of a fanner the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
curring in 1868. He had married Miss Anna John- 
son, a native of New Jersey, who died in May, 1841. 
Of this union, five children were born, three sons 
and two daughters. John J., one of the number, 
was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, March 2, 1831. The 
days of his youth, like those of most farmers' sons, 
were spent upon the farm, assisting his father during 
the summer months and in the winters attending the 
district schools. In the latter he received the rudi- 
ments of a good English education, and was thus 
prepared for an academic course, which he received 
in the Vermillion Institute, Haysville, Ohio. He 
was then fitted for college and accordingly entered 



> 



r 



■ cT > 



*! 



r WARREN COUNTY. 



^^ 



637 



the Miami University.fwhich institution subsequently 
conferred upon him the degree of M. A. 

After leaving college, our subject accepted a po- 
sition as teacher in the academy at Logansport, 
Ind. He Lad, however, no intention of making 
teaching the profession of his life, for soon after his 
arrival at that city he commenced the study of law, 
in the office and under the direction of Hon. Daniel 
D. Pratt, then one of the leading lawyers and prom- 
inent in the counsels of the State and nation. Young 
Glenn labored diligently in the acquisition of legal 
lore, and two years later, at New Castle, that State, 
was admitted to the Bar. Immediately after his ad- 
mission, lie went to Fori Wayne, opened an office 
and commenced the practice of his profession. He 
remained there until i860, when, believing that suc- 
cess would sooner crown his efforts in newer and 
more western fields, he came to Illinois and located 
at Aledo. Here he remained for one year, whence 
he removed to Monmouth, which has since been his 
permanent abode. In his new field he soon met 
with success, and in the course of a few years es- 
tablished a large and remunerative practice. 

Judge Glenn was justly recognized as standing in 
the front rank of attorneys in his Judicial Circuit. 
He possessed that kind of patient industry and care 
in the arrangement and preparation of his cases that 
made him intimately acquainted with their strong 
points, and these he was equally careful to impress 
upon Court or jury. In addition to the clearness 
and logic of his statements, they were always care- 
fully supported by decisions of the higher courts 
bearing upon the case. The natural result of such 
efforts was usually a verdict for his client. He soon 
earned for himself the reputation of being a careful, 
conscientious and painstaking lawyer, one who looked 
after the interests of his chent and used all honor- 
ble means to secure him exact and equal justice. As 
an advocate, his appeals to the jury and to the Court 
were made to the reason and judgment rather than 
to the passions ; and were not an endeavor to so be- 
cloud the intellect of his auditors, by sophistical 
reasoning, that the rightousness of the verdict was 
left ill doubt when rendered. 

In 1877, Mr. Glenn's ability as an attorney and 
his probity of character and worth as a man, received 
honorable and suitable recognition by his election to 
the Judgeship of the Tenth Judicial District, under 

' 'X 



the new law that originated in the Appellate Court. 
In 1879, he was elected for the full term, and in 
1885 was re-elected, without opposition, for a second 
full term. 

The same characteristics that marked Mr. Glenn 
as a lawyer are equally prominent in him as a Judge 
upon the Bench. Painstaking and careful attention 
to the evidence, and an intelligent application of the 
law to the case, renders his decisions impregnable, 
and he has had but few reversals from the higher 
courts. Politically Judge Glenn has always been a 
staunch Republican. 

On the i2th of August, 1856, Judge Glenn was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Magaw, 
daughter of William and Rachel (Paxton) Magaw, 
of Preble Co., Ohio. Five children have been born 
to them, who bear the following names: Anna R., 
J. McG., William M., Minnie E. and Addie M. The 
family are all mernbers of the Presbyterian Church, 
of which Judge Glenn has been an Elder for many 
years. 



4— <S- 



,> — h— ^ 




l-rs..Mary E. Freeman, widow of B. F. 
Freeman, residing qt Kirkwood, was born 
'"^ at Washington, Tazewell Co., this State, 
Feb. 5, 1842. She was united in marriage 
'^ to B. F. Freeman, Jan. i, 1865. B. F. Free- 
man, husband of the subject of this notice, was 
born in Mercer Co., this State, Nov. 29, 1835, and 
died June 15, 1876. His parents, Fauntleroy and 
Margaret E. (Brown) Freeman, were natives of Ken- 
tucky. They came to this State in 1834, and settled 
in Mercer County, where they remained a number of 
years, and where his father was engaged in the occu- 
pation of a farmer. Leaving the latter county they 
moved to Knox County, where they resided until 
their deaths, which occurred in 1844 and 1878, re- 
spectively. 

B. F. Freeman remained an inmate of the parental 
household until November, i868, having previous to 
attaining his majority acquired a good education in 
the district schools. After leaving home, he pur- 
chased a farm in Greenville Township, Henderson 
Co., of 160 acres, on which he located, with his fam- 
ily, and entered actively and energetically upon the 



-J* 



t 



:*^ 



638 



WARREN COUNTY. 



task of its cultivation and improvement, and by a 
subsequent purchase increased the same about 
160 acres, making his total landed interests some 
320 acres, on which he lived and labored until his 
death. 

He was married Jan. i, 1865, to Miss Mary E. 
Riddle, and of their union four children are living, 
viz. : Fauntleroy, .\lta M., Lloyd H. and Mary C. 
Mrs. Freeman has purchased a residence and lot in 
Kirkwood VilLige, and is residing tlrere at present 
with her three children. 

Her husb.tnd in political matters voted with the 
Republican party. He was a stockholder in the 
First National Bank at Kirkwood, and was a warm- 
hearted, generous, whole-souled gentleman, who was 
always ready to assist any good enterprise that was 
calculated to benefit the community in which he 
resided. 

He died respected and honored by those who knew 
him, either socially or in business transactions. 



eorge W. Brent is a prominent farmer 

and stock-raiser, residing on section 18, 

*■ Ellison Township, where ha was born on 




March the 4tli, 1840. He is the youngest son 
of Kenner Brent, Sr., who was one of the first 
settlers in Ellison Township. (See sketch of 
Paul Brent.) 

Our subject was reared on a farm and attended 
the schools in his township until he attained his ma- 
jority. On becoming of age he set out as a work- 
man on his father's farm for some time. His first 
purchase of land was 80 acres in Walnut Grove 
Township, Henderson Co., which was partly im- 
proved at the time of purchase. After making fur- 
ther improvements he added to his possessions a 
tract of 53 acres in Warren County, where he now 
resides with his sisters, Virginia and Sarah, the for- 
mer born in Virginia three months before her parents 
came to Illinois; Sarah was born in this county. 

Mr. Brent enlisted in the War of the Rebellion 
Feb. 14, 1865, in Company H, 49th Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland, and fought in all the battles in which 
his regiment was engaged. He was promoted to 
Corporal December 21, 1865. He was discharged 



at Selma, Ala., January 21, 1866, and returned home 
immediately. He iias since continued to reside upon 
his farm, where he is engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, and meeting with success in his chosen voca- 
tion. 

The property of Mr. Brent is mostly in a high 
state of cultivation, and his residence is located in 
a beautiful hickory grove. 



^^(iC S'Dafis H Burke, a pushing, energetic farmer, 
^1/- residing on section 19, Hale Township, 
^*^^ where he rents an A, No. i farm, is a son 
j£ oi Thomas and Rebecca (Morgan) Burke, na- 
][ lives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. His 
parents were married and settled in Indiana, 
and in 1837 did not take the ;idvice of Horace Gree- 
ley, but came West without it, and settled in Mon- 
mouth Township. From the date of their settlement 
we see they were early pioneers, and they no doubt 
experienced all the trials and privations which the 
old sturdy pioneers were compelled to pass through * 
in the early settlement of the county. In 1850, af- 
ter a residence in the county of some 13 years, the 
parents removed to Henderson County, where the 
mother died. After her iL-ath the father removed to 
Iowa, in which state his demise occurred. The issue 
of their union was nine children, of whom James H. 
was second in order of birth. 

James H. Burke was born in Hancock Co., Ind., 
May 6, 1833, and at the time his parents emigrated 
to this county was but four years of age, conse- 
quently may be classified as a pioneer himself He 
lived at home until he was 19 years old, receiving 
such advantages as were at that time afforded by 
the common schools. In the spring of 1853 he 
crossed the plains to Northern Oregon, and becom- 
ing imbued with the spirit of gain, he engaged in 
mining. From Nortiiern Oregon he went to South- 
ern Oregon and was there occupied in mining until 
the summer of 1856, vvhen he returned to this 
county and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has 
resided in Warren and Henderson Counties since 
that time. In 1876 he moved into Hale Township, 
and is at present following the vocation of farming 
on section 19, of that township. 

The marriage of Mr. Burke was solemnized in 



r; 



*x 



LAJ 



¥ 



■f- x _J' 



!?^H- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



639 



Sumner Township, Feb. 12, 1857, at which time Miss 
Mary A. Swain became his wife. She was born in 
Ohio Feb. 23, 1830, and has borne her husband six 
children, whose names are Harvey H., Kate I., Ra- 
chel E., Mary A.. Benjamin S. and Harry E. Kate 
I. is dead. 

Mr. Burke has held the office of Collector for 
three years, and at present is Assessor of the town- 
ship. In politics he is a staunch and active Repub- 
lican. 



rury B. Boyd, a pioneer settler of Point 
it. Pleasant Township, was born in the State' 
ilcSjV of Virginia, May 10, 1780. He was the 
nX son of George and Jemima (Birge) Boyd, and 
Ql was early orphaned by their death. He was 



made an apprentice to a trade, and when still 
young went to the State cf Georgia. There he was 
married, Feb. 18, 1805, to Elizabeth, the daughter 
of George and Nancy (Dean) Hurd. She was born 
^ in Georgia, Sept. ii, 1867, and soon after their mar- 
riage they went to Kentucky, where they located in 
Bath County, and the husband utilized his good edu- 
cation in teaching, and in the alternate seasons he 
worked at his trade. They lived there until 1822, 
when they went to Pulaski County, in the same 
State, and remained there until 1825. They re- 
moved thence to Greene Co., Ind., where they were 
among the earliest of the pioneer element. They 
located on land which was covered with heavy tim- 
ber, and their sons were occupied with the work of 
clearing the farm, while the father worked at his 
trade. After a time he purchased a saw-mill. His 
wife died Aug. r3, 1835, and he was again married, 
about 12 years later, to Elizabeth Kelshaw. 

The children of George and Nancy (Dean) Hurd 
were Mary, George, Elizabeth and Nancy. Mary 
was married to Joseph Dixson, and died in Greene 
Co., Ind. George was married and lived in Georgia. 
Elizabeth was the wife of Drury B. Boyd, subject of 
this sketch. Nancy became the wife of Sanford 
Raimy, and they lived in Preble Co., Ohio. 

While living in Indiana he was twice elected to 
represent liis District, and served two terms in the 
Legislature of that State. After his removal to War- 
ren County, he located at Ellison, and a few years 



later he settled on section 2, of Point Pleasant Town- 
ship, where he died, Sept. 7, T856. His wife was 
killed in the tornado at Ellison in 1858. Two of 
their children are still living. Mrs. Dixson is repre- 
sented elsewhere in this work, and it is through her 
interest in the preservation of the records of her fam- 
ily circle that these sketches of the members of the 
family have been obtained. Her only sister was the 
v^'ife of Elisha Hughen, of Point Pleasant Township, 
of whom a sketch is given in this work. 

Since this sketch was written, and since Mr. 
Hughen 's sketch was printed in this volume, his wife 
died. Her demise occurred Dec. 14, 1885, at her 
home in Point Pleasant Township. 

Mr. Boyd and his family made the trip from Ken- 
tucky to Greene County with horse-teams. They 
settled in a small log house, of the most unpreten- 
tious style, until the father could clear a place, upon 
which he erected a double-hewed log house. 

The children of Drury B. and Elizabeth (Hurd) 
Boyd, were: Eliza, Martha, Thomas H., John, Je- 
mima, Nancy, Amanda, Mary and Elizabeth. Eliza 
was born May 25, 1807, was married to|Cary O'Neall, 
Aug. r2, 1830, died Feb. T4, 1844. Martha, born in 
1809, died in infancy. Thomas H., born June 4, 
1811, was married to Margaret Jones, April 3, 1838, 
died March r, 1877. John, born June 14, 1 814, was 
married to Elizabeth O'Neall, March 11, 1840, died 
July 5, 1865. Jemima, born Jan. 28, r8[7, was 
married to Eli Dixson, March 12, 1840, and is the 
only survivor of the lamily. Nancy was born in 
1819, and died in 1825. Amanda, born April 12, 
1824, was married to Stephen Dixson, April 10,1845, 
and died May 3, i86r. Mary, born Sept. 9, 1827, 
was married to Elisha Hughen, April 8, 1847, died 
Dec. T4, 1885. Elizabeth, born Sept. 9, 1027, was 
married to Gary O. Jones, April 5, 1847, died Aug. 
14, r856. 



mi 



'^£*±Sf^a 






'(' J ;, octor William E. Pittman, practicing 

\ :;J^:-J ' :, ., physician at Swan Creek Village, was born 
^j^^C^""^ in this county, Feb. 22, 1859, and is a son 
'f% of James B. Piitman, a native of Indiana, 
^ where he was born in 1830. His father is a 
farmer by occupation, and resides in Pt. 



T ... 

Pleasant Township. He was married to Miss Eliza 



*ir 



LAjir 



"r 



■ cT_i 



■^^'^ 



640 



WARREN COUNTY. 



A. Simmons, in 1841. She was born in 1839, in 
this county, and bore her husband 1 1 children, Os- 
car, deceased at 18 years; William E., S. M,, J. B., 
George, Joseph, Charlie, Carrie May, Harry, Emma, 
and one who died in infancy. 

Dr. Piltman formed a matrimonial alliance with 
Miss Zoa Huston, Oct. 15, 1885. She was born in 
April, 1868, and is a daughter of William H. and 
Eliza (Crabb) Huston. Dr. Pittman commenced 
reading medicine preparatory to attending college, 
with Doctor William Randall, of Greenbush, and 
was with him for some three months. He then went 
to Nodaway Co,, Mo., where he read medicine under 
the instruction of Doctor M. R. Hackedorn, of Ma- 
ryville, Mo., for about 18 months. ■ He then mairic- 
ulated at Rush Medical College, March 13, 1882, 
and after following the entire curriculum of that in- 
stitution, graduated therefrom Feb. 17, 1885. He 
also graduated in Dental Pathology and Surgery at 
the Dental College, Chicago. He liolds a certificate 
'of honor from Rusli Medical College, and a certifi- 
cate of Clinical Instruction from the Central Free 
Dispensary, in Chicago. 
■ He at present has a large and lucrative practice in 
Swan Creek and the surrounding country. He is a 
thorough practitioner, and by careful diagnosis of 
^disease and faitliful attention to his patients, he has 
established himself in the confidence of his commu- 
nity. 

In politics Dr. Pittman is a supiiortcr of the prin- 
ciples of the Democratic party. 



-43- 



-£>- 



^*n^ 




Lharles H. Pierce, of Bersvick Township, is 

%X engaged in farming on section 31, where 

'^ "^ he is the proprietor of 160 acres of good 



land. He was born in Warren County, Feb. 
1840. His father, William H. Pierce, is a 

native of Vermont and came to this State in 
1835, locating at the village of Greenbush, wiiere he 
taught school for about a year. He then purchased 
the tract which is now in possession of his son and 
at once engaged in its improvement and cultivation. 
He was united in marriage with Miss Angelina Wal- 
din, who was born in Ohio, about 1817. They both 
came to this State prior to their marriage. The 
mother of Mr. Pierce died July 14, 1842, and the fa- 



*:jr 



ther Feb. 23, 1880. Of their union two children 
were born — Almiron G. and Charles H. 

Charles H. Pierce, subject of this notice, was 
united in marriage with Elizabeth Long, Feb. i, 
1862. She was born June 16, 1838, in Jackson Co., 
Ohio, and they have four children living — Maud Z., 
Blanche M., William H. and Harriet G. Mr. Pierce 
is engaged m general farming, and is meeting with 
success in his chosen vocation. In politics he is a 
believer in and a supporter of the principles advoca- 
ted by the Republican p.irty. 



-^ 



4- 





illiam Adcock, Clerk of Kelly Township, 
and a farmer on section 35, is one of the 
prominent and influential citizens of his 

)> township and county and a member of the 
local Board of Education since 1877. He is 

the oldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mc- 
Murtry) Adcock, was born in the year 1850, in the 
township where he is and always has been a resi- 
dent, of a family that has been largely identified with 
the first settlement and subsequent development of 
the country. His grandfather, Edmund Adcock, 
was among the very first, if not the first, white man 
that settled in this section of country, having been 
located with his family in Henderson Grove, near 
the Knox and Warren County line, in the year 1829 
or '30, two or three years before the Black Hawk 
War. William McMurtry, his grandfather on his 
mother's side, was for 30 years a member of the 
State Government, having held tlie offices of Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, State Senator, Re|)resentative and 
Penitentiary Commissioner during the building of 
the State Penitentiary at Joliet, 111. ; also Colonel of 
the i02d Reg't of 111. Vols, in the late war. His fa- 
ther, Joseph, is a noted land surveyor and for several 
years was County Commissioner. His brothers are 
Edmund, a prominent lawyer in Chicago, 111., and 
Robert, a practicing attorney at Monmouth. Mr. 
Adcock was biought up to a full understanding of 
the business of a farmer, and after receiving such 
education as the conmion schools afforded, became 
a student at Abingdon College, whence he was grad- 
uated with the degree of A. B., in 1871. For some 
years he o|)erated as a teacher through the winter 
seasons and gave his attention to farming the re- 



4= 



•^^^X^ 



4 



Warren county. 



641 



mainder of the year. Of late he has devoted his 
time exclusively to agriculture. He is a Democrat 
in political belief and connections and has been a 
delegate to several County, State and Congressional 
Conventions tliat have been held since he reached 
his majority. He purchased the farm of which he is 
the owner in 1877. It comprises 250 acres of good 
land, in first class condition, and the proprietor is 
occupied in the business of mixed husbandry. 

The union in marriage of Mr. Adcock with Mary 
J. Henderson, occurred July 13, 1876. Their chil- 
dren are Edmund, David and Mary S. Mrs. Adcock 
was born in the year 1858, in the town of Hender- 
son, Knox Co., 111. Her parents, David Henderson, 
a prominent citizen and recently member of the 
Board of Supervisors of Knox Co., 111., and Sophia 
(Davis) Henderson, were pioneers of Knox County, 
whither they came soon after the termination of the 
Black Hawk War. They were natives respectively 
of Pennsylvania and Indiana, and are still living in 
Knox County. 




|u_on. Isaac L. Pratt, banker and farmer at 
|[ Roseville, is one of the well known and 
highly respected citizens of Warren 
County. We are glad to be able to give the 
following very interesting record of the family, 
of which Isaac L. is a member : The Pratt 
family are of English ancestry, and date back to 
Mathew and Elizabeth Pratt, who emigrated to Amer- 
ica prior to the year of 1625. They settled in Wey- 
mouth, Norfolk County, Mass. Their ofifspring were 
Thomas, Matthew, John, Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth 
and Mary Pratt. Matthews' son Thomas is the 
next in line of these descendants. He and his wife 
lived in Weymouth until he was killed by the Indians 
in 1676. Their children were William, Sarah, Abi- 
gail, Hepzibah and Thomas. Tliomas and his wife 
moved to Easton, Mass., and their children were 
Thomas; Abigail, James, Mary, Hepzibah, Deborah 
and Jane. The father died in December, 1745. 
James Pratt, son of Thomas, lived in Easton, Mass., 
at which place he died Oct. 29, 1774, aged 76 years. 
His wife died Feb. 17, 1762. Seth Pratt, son of 



Thomas, was the only one of the children who at- 
tained to manhood. He married Mindwell Stone, of 
Easton, Mass. By this union there were four chil- 
dren, viz. : Jonas, Mehitabel, Seth, Jr., and Seaver. 
Seth, Sr., died Aug. 22, 1802, his wife surviving him 
until May 23, 1828. Seaver, son of Seth, was born 
April 27, 1782, and died Dec. 11, 1843, in the sixty- 
second year of his age. He married Charity Lo- 
throp in 1806. She was born in Easton, Mass., 
Aug. 14, 1790, and died Jan. 3, 1850, aged sixty 
years. 

The names and births of the offspring of Isaac 
and Sarah Lothrop were as follows : Sarah, born Aug. 
6, 1776 ; Catharine, born March 7, 1778 ; Ruth, Feb. 
10, 1780; Washington, born March 26, 1782; Mary, 
born Feb. 8, 1784 ; Isaac, born March i, 1786 ; Betsy, 
born July 23, 1788; Charity, born Aug. 14, 1790; Abi- 
gail-, born March 15, 1793; Anness, born Nov. 23, 
1795 ; Jarvis, born Junes, 1798- 

The offspring of Seaver and Charity Pratt were 
Laura, born Nov. 26, 1807; Amos, born Oct. 28, 
1809; Isaac L., born Aug. 4, 1818; Abijah, born 
June 12, 1824, and David, born July 6, 1829. 

Isaac L. Pratt, the subject of this sketch, was, as 
will be seen from the foregoing, the third in the fam- 
ily of Seaver and Charity Pratt. He married Miss 
Harriet W. Drake, a native of Easton, Mass., and a 
daughter of Joel and Lusannah Drake, whose ances- 
tors were the first settlers of Easton, Mass., on the 
mother's side. Their children were Betsey, born 
Nov. I, 1813; Harriet W., born March 29, 1816; 
Sarah Ann, born Dec. — , 181 7 ; Nahum, born Sept. 
28, 1820; Joel S., born June 8, 1823, and Bethnal 
F., born July 13, 1825. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were married May 16, 1844. 
They have had born to them four children, as fol- 
lows : Isaac F. born June 24, 1846, died July 27 of 
same year; Isaac Seaver, born Aug. 13, 1848^ died, 
July 14, 1865; Joel Drake, born Oct. 2, 1851, died 
Jan. 13,1852; Seth Franklin was born April 20, 
1853 ; he is cashier of the Roseville Bank. 

Mr. Pratt, whose biography we write, was born 
and reared in Easton, Mass. He remained beneath 
the parental roof until he was a young man. During 
this time he attended the district schools, and therein 
received the rudimentary part of an English educa.- 
tion. His education was further advanced by 
attendance at the HoUiston School, HoUiston, 



'Jkn 



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642 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Massachusetts, and at the Teachers' Seminary at 
Andover for three years. After leaving the school 
the subject of this sketch was engaged in teaching, 
and continued in that profession for eleven sessions, 
eight of which were taught in his native State, and 
three in this State. His attention was early attracted 
to the importance and future greatness of the West, 
which was then rapidly filling up with the best young 
and energetic blood of the Eastern States. In 1841 
he joined the great throng that had for its watch- 
word, " Westward, ho!" and came to Illinois, arriv- 
ing here in Warren County April 24 of that year. 
He remained here one year and a half. During that 
time he, in connection with E. Mitchell, purchased 
an unimproved tract of land in Ellison Township in 
this county. Soon after he returned East to his na- 
tive town and was there variously engaged for two 
years and a lialf. During his sojourn there he mar- 
ried as stated above. In June, 1845, '''^ ^'^^ '^'^ 
wife returned to Illinois and settled in Swan Town- 
ship, on section 6, where he purchased sixty acres 
of land. He at once erected a house, and went to 
work industriously to cultivate and improve his pur- 
* chase. He continued to reside there until 1S52, 
when he moved to Roseville Township, where he had 
purchased land on section 31. There he erected a 
substantial building, and there he still continues to 
reside. 

Mr. Pratt has been more than ordinarily a success- 
ful man. His landed interests consist of 2,000 
acres of good land in Illinois, 775 acres in Arkan- 
sas, and 300 acres in Easton, Mass. The latter 
acreage is a part of the land handed down through 
five generations of the past. This land and wealth 
has been the accumulation of years of toil, energy, 
and the practice of economical habits. It also is 
the result of wise and judicious investments, backed 
by good hard common sense and the utmost confi- 
dence in the future of the great State of Illinois. 

Religiously, Mr. Pratt subscribes to none of the 
formulated creeds, but believes in doing unto others 
as you would have others do unto you, and that in 
the careful observance of that rule tlierein is con- 
tained the genuine essence of true religion. 

Politically, Mr. Pratt is a stanch Democrat. He 
cast his first vote for Martin VanBuren for the Pres- 
idency, in 1840, and from that time to the present, 
tlirough good as well as evil report, he has remained 
firm and true to his first political love. 



In 1883, his worth and standing as a man, and 
character as a citizen, received suitable and honora- 
ble recognition by his election to represent his dis- 
trict in the General Assembly of the State. While a 
member of that body he proved himself a valuable 
legislator, one who was careful and always present 
at the sessions of the Legislature. He was a mem- 
ber of the committees on Finance, Drainage and Re- 
trenchment. He has been frequently honored with 
offices of trust in the township in which he resides, 
and has been Justice of the Peace for fifteen years. 

This in short is a brief biography of Isaac L. 
Pratt. He is truly a representative Western man. 
During his long residence here he has become thor- 
oughly identified with and understands the interests 
of the West. His success stamps him as a man of in- 
domitable energy that brooks no defeat. He started 
in life poor, a'nd whatever he has attained is the re- 
sult of his industry, energy and great good common 
sense. With these virtues, aided by a strong consti- 
tution, he has carved out for himself and those de- 
pending upon him, a comfortable competency, at the 
same time making and retaining for himself a name 
for strict honor and integrity — which, after all, is the 
best inheritance to leave to his posteritv. 

As one of the leading and truly representative men 
of the county, and a gentleman who is an honor to 
the community in which he has so long resided, we 
take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Pratt 
in connection with this sketch. 



ri 



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■^^^^]4.dward D. Alexander, druggist at Alexis, 
7 tlb is a native of AVarren County. He is the 

''^^^ only son of John E. and Mary C. (Reich- 
i^ ard) Alexander, who are residents of Mon- 

'> mouth. Mr. Alexander was born in that city, 

j May 10, r86o. He attended the city schools 
until he had finished the branches of primary study, 
and he subsequently was a student for a year at the 
college in his native place, where he made good pro- 
gress. When he decided on his profession he went 
to Chicago and passed a year at the School of Phar- 
macy in order to be thoroughly prepared for the re- 
sponsible duties of his chosen vocation. 

In 1878 he assumed charge of the drug business 
which he has since conducted. He is winning the 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



643 



patronage and support of the community in which 
he resides and his trade is one of the most prominent 
in the place in its comparative relations. We present 
an interior view in this volume of Mr. Alexander's 
neat and tasteful drug house. He is a young man 
of ability and perseverance and in the event of his 
conducting his affairs in the same way in which he 
has made his initiatory, he has an assured future of 
usefulness and activity. His business principles are 
excellent and he is amply fitted for the discharge of 
the duties of his vocation. In manner and address 
he is courteous and affable and is always observant 
of his obligations as a gentleman. In his political 
principles and affiliations, he is a Democrat. 

Oct. 16, 1883, he formed a matrimonial alliance 
with Miss Mina Kobler, and one child has been born 
to them. The latter is named Theo Marie. Mrs. 
Alexander was born in Monmouth and is the daugh- 
ter of G. J. and Anna M. Kobler. 



-^!-i4^i?--i- 




I 



'[^ f\fli iehael S. Rees, a farmer in the township 
-3k of Kelly, located on section 32, is the son 
'* of a pioneer of Warren County, and was 
'^ \ born in the township in which he is now a 
K citizen of prominence. Martin Rees, his father, 
I came to Warren County in 1836. He was born 
on Pine Creek, near the center of Pennsylvania, in 
1781, of German parentage. At the age of 19 he 
moved with his parents to Warren Co., Pa., where 
he divided his time in rafting logs and lumber and 
in farming. He succeeded in accumulating consid- 
erable property. He married Miss Jane Davis, at 
that place and continued to reside there until 1S36. 
He then sold his farm and personal property, and 
put his family, which consisted of himself, wife and 
eight children, on board a raft, with three other 
families, and moved out upon the waters of the Alle- 
gheny River, on the loth of May of that year. They 
floated to Pittsburg, where he sold his raft and pur- 
chased a keel boat, which he run to Rising Sun, Ind., 
a small town on the Ohio River. In the meantime 
they were visited with that terrible disease, the small 
pox, from which, however, all recovered. They 
landed, and the elder Rees purchased three yoke of 
oxen and two span of horses, five wagons, some 
voung horses and other necessary articles, and 



started for Monmouth, where he arrived Sept. 10, 
1836. Here he remained five days, when he moved 
to a house located about one mile south of where 
Gerlaw now stands. He bought the northwest quar- 
ter of section 36, Spring Grove Township, and also 
the north half of section 32, in Kelly Township. 
The latter had a log house, stables and crib upon it, 
and 30 acres had been broken and fenced. Here 
Mr. Rees lived for four years, and during the time 
improved the farm in Spring Grove Township, to 
which he removed, but after remaining two years he 
returned to the Kelly Township farm, where he re- 
mained until his death, which occurred in 1861. He 
owned considerable land in this and adjoining coun- 
ties, which he divided among his children. 

Mr. Rees vi^as a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church for over 50 years, and was highly re- 
spected for his strict morality and the firmness of 
his faith. He was noted for strength, energy and 
industry. Politically, he was formerly a Whig, but 
became a Republican when that party 'was organ- 
ized. He served for many years as Justice of the 
Peace. He was a captain of Pennsylvania volun- 
teers in the War of 1812, and his wife was pensioned 
as widow of a soldier of that war. Her death oc- 
curred Dec. 17, 1882. 

J3y the three marriages of Mr. Rees, he became the 
father of nine children, seven by the first and two 
by the second wife. Seven of them are still living. 
The maiden name of the second wife of Mr. Rees 
was Sarah Smith and she was born in Indiana. 
The third wife was Catherine Struthers. 

Michael S. Rees, of this sketch, is the oldest child 
of the second marriage. His birth took place in 
Kelly Township, Nov. 18, 1S38. He passed the 
years of his minority in labor on the farm and in ob- 
taining a limited education in the pioneer schools. 
He was under the home roof-tree until the death of 
his father, and he managed the farm for a year after 
that event. He became a soldier in 1862, and en- 
listed in August of that year in Co. B, io2d 111. Vol. 
Inf., 20th corps, remaining in the service until the war 
ended. His regiment joined the army in the field at 
Chattanooga, and he was in the action at Resaca, 
also at Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach- 
tree Creek, and at the siege and capture of Atlanta, 
and served in other lesser engagements. 

From the latter place the command proceeded to 



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644 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Savannah and thence througli North Carolina to 
Washington to the Grand Review, which constituted 
the closing scene of the most remarkable war on 
record. In June, 1865, the regiment was discharged 
and Mr. Rees returned to his native county and 
township, and took possession of the homestead 
which is now his property. The estate of which he 
is the proprietor contains 325 acres and is all in an 
advanced agricultural condition. Mr. Rees has put 
up good buildings of a character suited to the pur- 
poses to which the farm is devoted, namely, mixed 
husbandry. We present a view of the homestead in 
this volume, on page 474. 

January 16, r868, Mr. Rees was married to Mar- 
garet Low, and they are the parents of five chil- 
dren — Eva, who died at the age of six months, Elsie 
R., EflSe E., Daisy F., and Bertha A. Mrs. Rees was 
born in the township of Spring Grove, Aug. 3, 1S44, 
and is the daughter of John and Margaret (Rey- 
nolds) Low. Her parents came to this county the 
year previous, from Pennsylvania. Her father was 
a native of England and came to this country at the 
age of 16 years. Her mother was a native of tlie 
, Keystone Stale, as were her maternal grandparents. 
Mr. Low married the second time, the lady of his 
choice being Mrs. Lenora Stewart. By the previous 
marriage he had 12 cliildren and by the last, one. 
Of this number, six are now living. Mrs. Rees is 
the fifth in order of birth of the above family. She 
resided with her family on their farm in Spring Grove 
Township until her marriage. Her mother died in 
1866, and the father in 1878. Mr. Low's second 
wife is living in Iowa. Her oldest brother, William 
Low, died in the service of his country, at Paducah, 
Ky., in 1862. 

In politics, Mr. Rees votes the Republican ticket, 
and he and his wife are members of the Christian 
Church. 

^^^^^-^ - 




I illiam H. Dawdy, owning 260 acres of 
land in Berwick Township, 80 acres of 
which is under an advanced state of cul- 
tivation, and residing upon section 1 1, of 
the township named, was born in Knox('o., 
this State, Oct. 2, 1845, and is a son of John 
Dawdy, a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 



1798. The father was one of the pioneer settlers of 
Illinois, coming to this State in r828, and locating in 
Knox County; he died in 1874. His marriage oc- 
curred in 1834, in this State, at which time MissTo- 
bitha Boydson became his wife. She was born in 
1809, in Kentucky, and is still a resident of Knox 
County, this State. Of her union with Mr. Dawdy, 
ten children were born, named Benjamin M., Eliza, 
Emily, Malinda, William H., Jacob W., Alexander 
C. and Sarah E. 

The gentleman wiiose name stands at the head 
of this notice was married to Miss Amanda J. 
Howard, Jan. 3, 187 i. She was born Oct. 28, 1852, 
and is a daughter of Nathan Howard, who was born 
in 1826, in Kentucky, and came to this State in 
1855, locating in Warren County. Her father married 
Miss Martha Hood, and they had nine children, 
viz.: Lucinda E., Isaac S., Amanda J., Mary C, 
Sarah A., Joseph, Cora A., Rosa B. and John E., 
twins. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dawdy, of this sketch, are the par-, 
ents of six children: Delia M., born in 1873; Jessie 
V. in 1874; Daisy D., in 1875 ; George W., in 1877; 
Perley E., in 1881, and Bertha R., in 1883. Mr. .< 
Dawdy is pleasantly located and has a good resi- 
dence. He is turning his attention to the raising of 
cattle, his specialty being the Short-horns. He is , 
also dealing in Poland-China hogs, and is meeting 
with success in both his farming and breeding in- 
terests. 

Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., to 
which order he has belonged for the last 12 years. 
In politics, he is a Democrat. 



f WTi' (I ) illiam M. Pinkerton, of the firm of Page 
qtj'^i) & Pinkerton, hardware and furniture deal- 
■^ ers, at Monmouth, was born in Preble Co., 
% Ohio, near the village of Fair Haven, April 
18, 1837. His parents, Ebenezer and Mary 
(McCrary) Pinkerton, natives respectively of 
the States of South Carolina and Ohio, and of 
Scotch-Irish extraction, reared three sons and three 
daughters, William M. being the eldest son and third 
child in order of birth. The senior Mr. Pinkerton 
was by occupation a farmer ; came to Illinois in 1854, 
and spent the balance of liis days in Peoria County, 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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64s 



dying in the year 1863, aged 58 years. His widow 
survived him up to 1883, dying in September of that 
year, at the age of 75 years. 

The subject of our sketch was brought up to farm- 
ing, and followed it in Peoria, McLean and Mercer 
counties, up to 1876, when he rernoved to Monmouth 
and entered into the present business arrange- 
ment. 

Aug. 18, 1862, at Peoria, he enlisted in Co. C, 77th 
111. Vol. Inf., and served three years, participating in 
13 battles : Haines Bluff, Arkansas Post, Magnolia 
Hills, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River, Siege 
of Vicksburg, Bank's E.xpedition in Western Loui- 
siana, Ft. Morgan, on the Te.xas Coast, Bank's Red 
River Expedition, Sabine, Cross Roads, Pleasant 
Hill and the siege and final taking of Mobile. In all 
these battles he was wounded once, and that so light 
he never left his command. It must not be sup- 
posed, however, that the army life did him no injury. 
As with nearly every other man who saw service, his 
health was impaired, his constitution undermined, and 
he was finally forced to abandon the farm on account 

^ He was married in Peoria County, December, 
1868, to Miss Martha A. Finley, who died at Mon- 
mouth, April 17, 1877. The children she bore were 
Grace, Fannie and Martha, and two that died in in- 
fancy. 

Jan. 28, i88i,Mr. Pinkerton was again married, 
to Ehzabeth Peacock, and has had borne to him 
two children, James H. and Anna Mary. 

-J #># J^ 




Mary Jamison, became his wife. She was born July 
1, 1833, in the county in which she was married. Her 
father was a farmer, and was married in Kentucky, 
afterwards removing, in 1829, to this State, and set- 
tling in Henderson County. She bore her husband 
IT children, three of whom are deceased: Batha- 
nia is the wife of John H. Warfield, who resides in 
Montgomery Co., Iowa, and is there engaged in the 
occupation of farming ; Velma became the wife of 
M. B. Jamison, who resides on a farm in Ellison 
Township, and is its Supervisor; Arthur J., Schuy- 
ler L., Charles E., William W. and Ellen, all reside 
at home with their mother. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Brent settled on a 
farm of 80 acres, where the family lived for some 
time. By energetic labor and economy, coupled with 
good judgment and perseverance, he succeeded in 
adding to his original purchases, until at the time of 
his demise, April 22, 1S80, he was the owner of 160 
acres of good farm land. 

Religiously, Mrs. B. is a member of the Method- 
odist Episcopal Church, and has been for several 
years. In politics, Mr. B. was, during his life time, 
a strong supporter of the principles of the Repub- -^ 
lican party. 



^ 



illiam P. Brent, deceased, was one of 
the early settlers of this county, coming 
•Q here in 1835, with his parents, and pre- 
vious to his demise resided on section 
17, Ellison Township. Mr. Brent was born 
in Lancaster Co., Va., and came 10 this State 
and county with his parents when he was 15 years 
of age. He continued to reside with his parents, 
enduring with them all the privations incident to the 
settlement of a new country. 

His years prior to attaining the age of majority 
were passed on the parental homestead. Oct. 3, 
1850, Miss Margaret E., daughter of James and 

X 




^.ornelius McNeil, was born in Philadel- 
phia, July 17, 1810, and was the son of 
^?^ Cornelius and Mary (Allison) McNeil, 
™v^ natives respectively of counties Antrim 
'^*^ and Kerry, Ireland, but their ancestors were 
originally from Scotland. The senior Corne- 
lius came to America, in 1792, and Mary Allison 
came in 1800. They were married in Philadelphia 
where Mr, McNeil died, in 1826, and his widow in 
1847. 

Cornelius McNeil, Jr., was educated at the com- 
mon schools of the city of "Brotherly Love," and 
when 16 years of age was indentured "five years 
eleven months and two weeks to the trade and mys- 
tery of Weavers' Machine Making." Mastering the 
"mysteries" he embarked in business upon his own, 
hook, and followed it 17 years, in Kensington, where 
he built a shop with the $169 inherited from his 
father. 

In company with John Corkin he bought the 



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646 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Gloucester Ferry House, an old building standing yet 
near the Walnut Street Ferry, Pliiladelpliia, and run 
it wiili great success about four years. 

He left Pliihidelpliia in 1855, having been swindled 
out of his pro[)evty by some descendents of the pa- 
triarch, Abraham, and spent a year at South Bend, 
Ind. The year following he came to Monmouth, 
where he has since been known as a first-class me- 
chanic. We should not forget to say, however, that he 
was in the employ of the United States Government 
awhile during the war as a carpenter, and as such 
was at Nashville, Tenn., during the last battle at that 
place. His specialty for some years past has been 
the manufacture of washing machines, a patent 
upon which he controls. 

Politically, Mr. McNeil formerly belonged to the 
Whig party, then affiliated with the Democrats, and 
is now an Independent. 

July 4, 1836, Mr. McNeil was married, in Phila- 
delphia, to Miss Elizabeth Young, and has had born 
to him II children, seven of wlioni are deceased. 
The living are James, Isabella (Mrs. Henry Duer), 
Letitia (Mrs. J. A. Chafee) and Miss Ida. 

Mr. McNeil belongs to no Church, but his lieart is 
true to Masonry, which means, i[i tlie enlightened 
world, the highest order of religion. 



^i„li Dixson. From an early history of Greene 
: L i^-k '■ County, Ind., we get the followmg facts of 
^t^ ' ^'^'^ I^ixson family: Eli Dixson, who is the fa- 
therof Mrs. Jemima Di.xson's husband, referred 
to elsewhere in this work, was a son of Solo- 
mon and Sarah Dix.son and was born in 1769, 
in Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. He 
emigrated to Georgia, where, near the city of Augus- 
ta, he married Rebecca Hart, in 1799, and moved to 
Preble County, Ohio, in 1806, settling in what is now 
called Dixson 'I'ownship, being the first settler in 
that township. He remained there about twelve 
years, during whicli lime he cleared a farm and exer- 
cised a prominent influence in tlie settling of tlie 
neighborhood. He removed to Greene Co., Ind., in 
1818, and settled in Smitli Township, where he im- 
proved a farm. He was noted for his liberality and 
l)enevolence in helping such as were not able to help 
themselves. He served two terms in the State Leg- 



islature, from Greene, Owen and Putnam Counties. 
He died respected by all who knew him, March 9, 
1836. He had six brothers and tliree sisters, viz. : 
Samuel, John, Joseph, Henry, Solomon Stephen Ruth, 
Sarah and Elizabeth. Sam'l Dixson died in Greene 
Co., Ind., Aug. 30, 1850, aged 53 years. John 
Dixson was drowned in the Ohio River, near Shaw- 
neetown. Joseph Dixson died at his residence, in 
Greene Co., Ind. Henry Dixson died in Tennessee. 
Solomon Dixson was born Oct. 4, 1771, died Oct. 8, 
1824, in Greene Co., Ind. Stephen Dixson was 
killed by the Indians, near Terre Haute, Ind., dur- 
ing the war of 181 2. 

Rebecca, the wife of Eli Dixson, was the daughter 
of Isaac and Hester Hart, and was born near .Au- 
gusta, Ga., Sept. 2, 1779, and died Oct. i, 1852. 
She had four brothers, viz.: William, Isaac, Thomas 
and Phineas ; and two half-brothers, viz. : Amos and 
Jerry Greene ; and one half-sister, who married a Mr. 
Jones. Her brotlier, William, died in Georgia; 
Isaac and Tliomas died in Preble Co., Ohio, and 1 
Phineas in Peoria Co., 111. Her half-brothers, sister 
and mother emigrated to Michigan at an early day. 

Eli and Rebecca Dixson 's family consisted of ^ 
eight sons and three daughters, viz. : Samuel, Sarah, 
Solomon, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Eli, Stephen, John, 
Phineas, William and Prior. Samuel was born June 
22, 1800, died Dec. 17, 1844; Sarah (Johnston) born 
Aug. 27, 1801, died April 29, 1839; Solomon, born 
June 21, 1803, died June 20, 1851 ; Elizabeth, died 
in infancy; Rebecca (Johnston), born Oct. 24, 1807, 
died June 27, 1834; Prior, born Nov. 15, 1809, died 
Sept. 10, 1850; Eli, born Mays, 181 1> died Oct. 27, 
1857; Stephen, born Dec. 21, 1814, died March i, 
1879; William, born 1822, died Feb. 9, 1870. Joiin 
Dixson was born in 1816. He, being the only sur- 
vivor of the family, still resides in Greene Co., Ind.; 
Samuel, Solomon, Eli and Rebecca (seniors), Sam- 
uel, S ilomon, Sarah, Rebecca Prior, Phineas, Eli, 
and William all being buried in the Dixson grave- 
yard, in Greene Co., Ind. 

Mrs. Jemima Dixson, of Point Pleasant Townshi]), 
is a settler of Warren County of 1858. She came 
here after the death of lier husband with her four 
cliildren, and located in tlie same township in whicli 
she is still living. She was born in Bath Co., Ky., 
Jan. 28. 18 17, and is the daughaer of Drury B. and 
Elizabeth (Hurd) Boyd, of whom an account is given 
on another page in this volume. The latter removed 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



647 



to Pulaski Co., Ky., when his daughter, Mrs. Dix- 
son, was a child of five years. The family was trans- 
ferred to Greene Co., Ind., in 1825, when she was 
eight years of age. There she passed the remaining 
years of her youth, and was married, March 12, 1840, 
to Eh Dixson. He was born in Preble Co., Ohio, and 
was the son of Eli and Rebecca (Hart) Dixson, men- 
tioned above. At the time of their marriage, they 
settled on a farm, which he had purchased in Smith 
Township, in White River Bottom, in Greene Co., in 
the State of Indiana. 

Mr. Dixson was a man of excellent character and 
a successful farmer. He improved and added to his 
acreage to a considerable extent. He resided on the 
same place until 1850, when he came to Illinois to 
prospect. In 1855, he came again, and at that time 
to Warren County. He decided to make an invest- 
ment here, and he accordingly bought unimproved 
land in Point Pleasant Township. He returned to 
the farm in Indiana with every intention of removing 
his family to Illinois and of settling on the land he 
had bought. In 1857 he was engaged in making the 
necessary arrangements for a transfer of his interests, 
and in the midst of his operations, with that end in 
view, he was taken sick and died, Oct. 27, of that 
year. His widow rented the Indiana farm the fol- 
lowing year and removed to Illinois. Her father and 
other relatives had located in Warren County, and 
she joined them, settling on section 12, in Point 
Pleasant Township. The farm on which she look 
up her residence was at the time unimproved, but 
that has all been changed, and the place is in a 
splendid condition for prosperous management. Mrs. 
Dixson and her children are still the owners of the 
property in Indiana. 

To her and her husband five children were born. 
The oldest, Samuel B., was born Jan. lo, 1841. He 
married Jennie C. Davis, April 14, 1870, and they 
had one child. Bertha. He died Aug. 14, 1S74, in 
Point Pleasant Township, where he had lived and 
managed the family farm up to that time. His widow 
and daughter reside in Burlington, Iowa. Elizabeth, 
the eldest daughter of Mrs. Dixson, was born Aug. 
16, 1842, and died in her infancy. Rebecca was 
born May i, 1845, and died March 30, 1862. Mary 
E., the only daughter now living, was born April 13, 
1849, and is the wife of Lambert Lester, of this 
township. Eli is the youngest child and is the only 
surviving son. He was born in Jefferson Township, 



Greene County, Ind., Jan. 8, 1853, and was five years 
old when he accompanied his mother to Illinois, 
where he has since lived. He was educated in the 
common schools primarily, and afterwards attended 
Abidngon College (Knox County) two years. Later, 
he went to the Commercial College, at Monmouth. 
He is a farmer and a citizen of prominence, and is 
one of the Directors in the Roseville Union Bank. 
He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Roseville. 
The farm of which he and his mother are the joint 
owners contains 560 acres and is one of the finest 
and most valuable places in the township. He is 
also part owner of the Indiana homestead. 



^3- 



-S5- 



^ || obert Moore, owning an excellent farm, lo- 
cated on section 15, Tompkins Township, 
Wp(^^'" where he follows the vocation of an agri- 



^I'W culturist, is a native of Ohio, having been 
k' born in that State in 1818. His father, Abra- i 
I ham Moore, and his mother, Margaret Moore, 
whose maiden name was Wolverton, were natives of 
Pennsylvania. After their marriage, in 1829, they 
came from their native State to Hancock Co., 111., 
and there resided until the father's death, which oc- 
curred in 1834. 

Robert Moore, whose name stands at the head of 
this biographical notice, was an inmate of the paren- 
tal household for 20 years, receiving during that time 
a good education in the common schools. At the age 
named he left the parental roof-tree and engaged in 
farming, which occupation he had followed, more or 
less, up to the time of his leaving home. He first 
farmed in Iowa for one year, and was one of the first 
to run a steam ferry across the Mississippi at Flint 
Hills, now Burlington, at which he was engaged fortwo 
years. In 1837 he came to this county and bought 
lai-.d, on which he located and again engaged in 
farming. He married, Feb. 20, 1846, Jane Adams, 
who bore him two children — -Ellen S. and Wilson 
M. She died Feb. 22. 184S, and in 1852 Mr. Moore 
married Delilah Stone. In 1849, when the gold fever 
was at its height, he crossed the plains to California 
and Oregon and for three years prospected in those 
States for gold, meeting with signal success. He then 
returned to Illinois and purchased 240 acres of land 
in Ellison Township, which he successfully cultiva 
ted until 1S55, when he sold it and purchased the 



lAr: 



he 1 



4= 



r^^^^ 



648 



WARREN COUNTV. 




160 acres on which he is at present residing. He has 
lived on the latter tract of land for 20 years, contin- 
uously engaged in its cultivation and improvement, 
and has been amply rewarded for his labors. Mr. 
Moore was a soldier in the Black Hawk War of 1832, 
but received no injuries from the engagements in 
which he took part. He has a wife and seven chil- 
dren living, the names of the children being — Ellen 
S., Marion E., William A., John S., Willis C, Grace 
B. and Fred A. 

In his political views, Mr. Moore coincides with 
the principles of the Republican party, and is one of 
the leading representatives of his vocation in Warren 
County. 



eorge Bruington, engaged as a general 
farmer and stock raiser on section 16, Cold 
'^ Brook Township,was born in Knox County, 
near the Warren County line, on the 4th of 
October, 1840. His father, Thomas Bruing- 
ton, a faimer by occupation and a native of 
Breckenridge Co. Ky., was of Scotch-Irish descent. 
He was married in the county of his nativity to Jane 
McLaughlin, who was also a native of Breckenridge 
Co. Ky., and of the same parentage and descent. 
Before their emigration West in 1833, when they 
came to the State of Illinois and located in Kno.x 
County, they had a family of three children. Mr. 
Thomas Bruington came into the new western 
country and found it an improved, unbroken prairie, 
and made a trade of his horse and a gun for liis first 
farm of 160 acres. After improving that farm and 
when George, of whom we write, was but a small 
child, they removed into Cold Brook Township and 
here purchased 160 acres, where the son now resides, 
and entered actively and energetically on its im- 
provement. While residing at this place the moth- 
er's demise occurred, in the year 1849. ^'^^ ^^^s the 
mother of nine children, of whom our subject was 
the sixth in order of birth. The father then married 
again in Kelly Township, where he lived until his 
death, which occurred in 1883. His second wife was 
Mrs. Anna Goff, tiee Ingersol. 

When i8 years of age, George Bruington, of whom 
we write, set out to battle for himself, going in 1858 
to Missouri, and the following year to Pike's Peak, 



Col. To this latter place he went in view of mining, 
but having no success, in the spring of 1861, he re- 
turned to his township and began to farm on his own 
account. 

The marriage of Mr. Bruington with Miss Mary, 
daughter of Thomas Wallace, one of the old settlers 
in this county, occurred June 7, 1863. The cere- 
mony was performed at the residence of the bride, 
who was born Sept. 1839, in Cold Brook Township, 
and resided at home with her parents until her mar- 
riage. Her motlier's maiden name was Margaret 
Murphy. She now resides with her son, John Wal- 
lace, a resident of this township, at the venerable 
age of 85 years. Mr. Wallace, iier husband, and 
father of Mrs. Bruington of this notice, died in this 
township, April 9, 1861. 

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bruington five 
children have been born. Margaret J., teacher; 
Jessie L., Arnold, Elmer and Alma. Margaret and 
Jessie have been educated in Lombard University, 
Galesbiirg, 111. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. B. 
settled on the farm where they now live. Mr. B. is 
the owner of 440 acres of well-improved land, sup- 
plied with all the necessary outbuildings, and a fine 
residence. 

Mr. Bruington is a member of the Christian Church. 
He has been Road Commissioner for 15 years and 
in politics is an active Democrat. 

^^fe^dward R. Houlton, who resides at Kirk- 
*™'L' wood, and is extensively engaged as a 
dealer in thoroughbred cattle, and in 
j^S- agriculture, was born at Houlton, Maine, Au- 
gust 3r, 1838. His parents, Joseph and Almira 
(Ray) Houlton, were New Englanders, the 
former having been born in New Salem, Mass., and 
liie latter at Concord, New Hampshire. They came 
from Maine to Illinois in 1851, and found a desira- 
ble location in Ellison Township, at the head of 
Ellison Creek. Here the senior Houlton purchased 
1,000 acres of land. At that time, that section of 
the county was all new and the fertile prairie land 
had never been turned by the plow. He was among 
the first settlers in that section of the State, and un- 
til his death, which occurred in 1883, was one of the 
most influential, widely known and highly respected 




*% 



+* 





( 



2fl^ 



^ 



^ 



1^3-i- 



< 

i 



WARREJsr COUNTY. 



^49 



citizens of that section of the county. They reared 
a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, 
viz. , Joseph, Frederick, Edward, Charles, Frances 
and Frank. 

Edward accompanied his parents to Illinois, and 
remained with them until he was 19 years of age, 
when he started out to labor for himself. His first 
work after leaving home was in the capacity of a 
clerk for Knowles, Ray & Chapin, of the well known 
mercantile firm of that day, located at Kirkwood. In 
1858, young Houlton bought out the interest of Mr. 
Knowles, and the firm name was changed to Chapin, 
Creswell & Houlton. Mr. Houlton was connected 
with the firm until 1885, when he sold out his inter- 
est and turned his attention to stock raising and 
farming. He is also connected with the Kirkwood 
Mineral Springs Company and besides his interests 
here, which are quite extensive, he owns 4,000 acres 
of land, adjoining Yankton, Dakota, which is stocked 
with Short-horn and Durham cattle. He divides his 
time and attention between his farm in Dakota and 
his interests here, giving considerable attention to 
the Mineral Spring Company, of which he is the 
President. Mr. Houlton is an excellent business 
man, received a good common school education, and 
attended the Commercial Colleee at Chicago in 
1858, from which he received a diploma. 

The above record tells of his success, and his 
high standing in the community tells of the esteem 
in which he is held by those who have known him 
ever since he began as a clerk in the store at Kirk- 
wood. 

Politically he is a Republican, and belongs to the 
Masonic fraternity. 



|i! obert H. Nance. It is only occasionally 
that we come across in our travels a well- 
^^' to-do and active farmer, who is a native 
of this county. We have in the person of 
Mr. Nance, however, such a gentleman. He 
was born Jan. 20, 1856, and is the son of 
John W. Nance, a well known and early pioneer of 
this section, and a native of Nortli Carolina, where 
he was born May 15, 1814. He came to Illinois 
about 1844, and for about fifteen years lived in 
Greenbush, when he located upon a farm on section 




26, of Berwick Township, where Robert H. now re- 
sides. The elder Nance at present lives at Abing- 
don, 111. His wife, Nancy Simmons, is a native of 
Tennessee where she was born Feb. 2, 1815. She 
was a daughter of Charles Simmons, and became 
Mrs. Nance May 24, 1826, in Tennessee. To them 
were born the following 1 1 children, Rufus D., Fran- 
cis M., Susan A., Sarah E., Mary J., William C. 
Nancy C, Martha W., John A., Harriet E. and Rob- 
ert H. 

Robert H. married Miss Malinda J. Shirley, Aug. 
16, 1875. She became the mother of two children, 
when, Sept. 10, 1879, her demise occurred. Walter 
E. their only living child, was born Dec. 26, 1878. 
Their first, who died in infancy, was born Feb. 22, 
1877, and died on the 3rd of the following March. 

Mr. Nance is conducting a general farming busi- 
ness, and is an active enterprising young man, 
highly respected in the community. Politically he is 
a Democrat. 



^- 



J-'ir* 



-^ 



^r. William Randall, a member of the reg- « 

,1-, ular school of medicine, practicing at 

"Qt^"^ Greenbush, graduated at the Jefferson 
pX Medical College, Philadelphia, at the head , 
of his class, March 9, 1858. He soon after- 
ward located in Greenbush, this county, where 
he has built up a good practice and has been very 
successful. The Doctor is also a graduate of sur- 
gery, and his library is complete. 

Dr. Randall was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., 25 
miles from Cincinnati, in the town of Aurora, May 
27, 1834, and is a son of George Randall, born in 
Canterbury, Kent Co., Eng., in 1796. His father 
emigrated to the United States in 181 9, and located in 
Shawneetown, 111. He was a minister of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and followed his sacred 
calling in this county some ten years, and died in 
1866. He had located in Indiana, where his mar- 
riage to Miss Rhoda Ewbank, which took place in 
1826, was blessed by the birth of eight children, 
namely : John E., George F., William, Mary, Thomas 
E. and Richard R., twins, Rebecca J. and Elizabeth 
V. Two are deceased — Mary and Richard. The 
wife and mother was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 
1806, and died in Indiana in 1859. 

Dr. Randall, of this sketch, was first married 



V- 



^*4— 



1!=^^ 



650 



WARREN COUNTY. 



March 10, 1863, to Miss Caroline, daughter of F. G. 
and Adeline Snapp, who bore him four children — 
George S., born Dec. 27, 1863; Channing C, Aug. 
5, 1865 (deceased); Claud C, Jan. 8, 1870 (de- 
ceased) ; Clyde W., Oct. 6, 1872 ; she died May 20, 
1875. The Doctor married Edwina C, daughter of 
J. W. and Sarah E. Bond, Feb. 26, 1879, and by 
this union there is one child, William B., born April 
3,1882. 

In politics, the Doctor is a believer in the princi- 
ples advocated by the Democratic party. His suc- 
cess as a practitioner is due to his careful diagnosis 
of the diseases of his patients, and his constant at- 
tention to his cases. 

Dr. Randall is a gentleman who not only reflects 
honor upon his profession, but is a credit to the com- 
munity m which he lives. His large and e.xtended 
experience, his deep and abiding interest in his pro- 
fession and the general welfare of the community, 
make him both a valuable physician and citizen. He 
is as widely known and as highly esteemed as any 
practitioner in the county, and numbers among his 
patrons and friends many of the best people in War- 
si ren County. As both a representative of his chosen 
profession and a citizen of the county, the publishers 
take pleasure in placing Dr. Randall's portrait in this 
Ai3UM in connection with this sketch. 

-J ^-# i- 




lamuel Knox Crawford, M. D., prominent 
physician and surgeon at Monmouth, and 
Professor of Surgical Anatomy in the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, 
is a native of Fredericksburg, Ohio, where he 
was born, Jan. 22, 1835. His parents, Hugh 
B. and Rebecca (Knox) Crawford, were born in the 
Ligonier Valley, Pa., and traced their ancestry back 
to the North of Ireland, Protestant, and in the fe- 
male line, to a direct kindred with the famous John 
Knox. They reared to men and women three sons 
and five daughters, and buried in youth and child- 
hood, two sons and a daughter. 

The subject of this notice, who was tlie youngest 
of the family, spent the first 20 years of his life, 
when not in school, upon his father's farm. He 
graduated from Fredericksburg (Ohio) Academy, 
when about 21 years of age, and three years later 



*t 



entered the Medical Department of the Ann Arbor 
(Mich.) University, having in the interim completed 
a full course of the study of medicine with Doctor 
Timothy H. Baker, of Wooster, Ohio. His first 
course of lectures was attended at Starling Medical 
College, Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the 
Medical Department of the University of Michigan, 
in March, 1861, and from Ann Arbor went direct to 
Bellevue, (N. Y.) Hospital, and there spent the 
summer under clinical instruction from the distin- 
guished doctors, Flint and Clark, and passed the fol- 
lowing winter at Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- 
phia. 

In May, 1862, Dr. Crawford entered the United 
States service as Surgeon, or Medical Director of the 
Hospital Steamer, "Sunny Side," and made several 
trips between Pittsburgh Landing and Cincinnati. 
July following, he became Assistant Surgeon of the 
50th Ohio Vol. Inf , and was promoted to Surgeon of 
that regiment during the succeeding autumn. He 
served in this position until March, 1864, when he 
was detailed as chief of the Operating Board for the 
Second Division, 23d Army Corps. This duty placed 
him in charge of the Field Hospital, where we find, 
him in December, 1864, when the 50th and 99th 
Regiments were consolidated, and he was by special 
order made Staff Surgeon to Brigadier General J. T. 
Cooper. This charge in nowise relieved him from 
his responsibility as chief of the Operating Board, 
and he discharged double duty up to April 26, 1865. 
Remembering the facts that Dr. Crawford was never 
absent from duty, but at his post while his conmiand 
fought the desperate battles of Perryville, Resaca, 
Goldsboro, the Atlanta Campaign with its 100 days' 
fighting, Franklin and Nashville, and even an ordi- 
nary mind can imagine something approximating his 
exi)erience, and the intelligent can know that in 
placing him in the chair of Surgical Anatomy, the 
managers and directors of the Chicago College of 
Physicians and Surgeons understood what they were 
doing. 

July 20, 1865, Dr. Crawford first landed at Mon- 
mouth. He is a member of the Warren County 
Military Tract, American and State Medical Societ- 
ies. For 10 or 12 years he lectured regularly to 
Monmouth College classes upon anatomy, physiol- 
ogy, and hygiene. He has for several years held 
commissions from various life insurance companies 
as Medical Referee of the State, and, in 1884, he 



-M- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



•^^^^ 



651 



was made Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical 
Department of the University of Wooster, at Cleve- 
land, Ohio, a position he was unable to fill by reason 
of the multiplicity of duties already claiming his 
time and attention. The Doctor is also a writer of 
repute, as attested by the popularity of his "Letters 
to a Young Physician," in the Obstetrical Gazette (Cin- 
cinnati), 1879 and 1882 ; an article on "Typhoid Fe- 
ver," Transactions Illinois Medical Society, 1874, and 
also an elaborate paper on Obstetrics. 

Nov. 2, 1865, Dr. Crawford was united in marriage 
at Fredericksburg, Ohio, with Miss Maria Irvine, 
daughter of the late Samuel Irvine, D. D., of that 
place, who has borne him eight children — Ada L., 
born Oct. 8, 1866, died Dec. 7, 1874; Charles, a stu- 
dent; Mary I., Samuel K., Hugh B., who died in 
infancy ; Fannie C, Grace May and John Jay. 



■•«^<#i^^-^ 



wiui»s 




4 



\ obert A. Elliott, owning 160 acres of good 
farm land under an advanced state of im- 
provement in Lenox Township and resid- 
ing on section 34, of the same, is one of the 
energetic and successful farmers of Warren 
County. The parents of Mr. Elliott, Thomas 
H., and Ellen A. (Helvestine) Elliott, were natives 
of England and Virginia respectively. They were 
married in the latter State and removed from there 
to Jackson Co. O., where the father still resides. 
His wife died May 5, 1880, leaving to the care of 
her husband 11 children, whose names were William 
H., Margaret, Mary J., Eliza, John Q., George, 
Charles, Sophia, Thomas, Ellen, James and Rob- 
ert A. 

Robert A. Elliott of whom we write, was a native 
of the Buckeye State, having been born in Jackson 
County, Jan. 8, 1849. He lived with his parents, at- 
tending the common schools and assisting in the la- 
bors on the farm until he attained the age of 17 years, 
in 1865, when he came to this county and since 
that time has continued to reside here. His life to 
the present has been passed in agricultural pursuits 
in which he has met with success. In 1869, four 
years after arriving in this county, he had accumu- 
lated sufficient to enable him to purchase 80 acres 
of land on section 34 Lenox Township. On this 
f.irin he settled with his bride and they unitedly en- 



tered upon their separate tasks of improving and 
beautifying their home and cultivating their land. 
As the years rolled by, their savings enabled them 
to purchase an additional 80 acres, making their to- 
tal landed interests in Lenox Township 160 acres, 
all of which is under an advanced state of cultiva- 
tion, and is supplied with a good residence, and all 
necessary farm buildings. 

The marriage of Mr. Elliott took place March 14, 
1869, in Lenox Township, at which time Miss Sarah, 
the accomplished daughter of John and Clarinda J. 
(Ray) Shirley, became his wife. Her parents were 
born in Kentucky and their children were four in 
number, Sarah being the eldest, after whom Hiram, 
Malinda and Annie were born. Sarah, Mrs. Elliott, 
was born in Lenox Township, this county, and re- 
sided with her parents until her marriage with Mr. 
E. They have become the parents of seven child- 
ren, Nettie A., Sophronia J., Nora M., Annie H., 
Eletha S., William E. and Ethael P. Mr. Elliott 
has been School Trustee and Treasurer in his town- 
ship and he and his wife belong to the Baptist 
Church. In politics he votes with and is a supporter 
of the principles advocated by the Democratic 
party. 



ames C. Morris, a farmer and stock-raiser, 
resides on section 9, Ellison Township. 
He was born in Gloucester County, the 
flk name it bore at that time, but now known as 
Atlantic Co., N. J., on the 14th of March, 
r827. His father, Amos, was a native of New 
Jersey and married Phoebe Campbell, who was also 
born in that State. Both were of English and Scot- 
tish extraction. The parents of Mr. Morris had 
seven children, he being the fifth child of the family. 
He lived at home and attended the common schools 
up to the date of his marriage, when he resolved 
upon removing to Madison Co., Ohio. 

Our subject was only three years old when his 
parents first arrived in Madison County. In the 
same place his marriage was celebrated on the 26th 
of March, 1851, the lady's name being Miss Mary 
C. Moore, a native of Madison County, born March 
26, 1832. Slie was the daughter of John and Cath- 
erine (Coon) Moore, of Virginia. The father was 




rju 



i 



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■a. 



JU 



652 



WARREN COUNTY. 



born near Harper's Ferry, Va., the latter in Ross Co., 
Ohio. Mrs. Morris was a baby of 18 months at the 
date of her father's death. The mother and daughter 
always lived together up to the date of the latter's 
death. Mrs. Moore's demise took place at her res- 
idence July 28, 1884, at the advanced age of 78 
years. Mrs. M. was the younger daughter of five 
children, herself being the mother of 12 children, 
six of whom are now deceased. There are at present 
still living — Alice, Emery F.,George B., A. R., Jesse 
E. and Walter T. Mrs. M. received a good com- 
mon school education, and before her marriage was 
a great favorite with her companions and school- 
mates. 

After the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, they 
took up their residence in Madison County, and 
commenced to farm, which occupation they contin- 
ued until 1856, when they came West to Mercer 
County, where they resided for four years, thence to 
Warren Co., 111., where the parents had first arrived 
■ in 1854. In 1863, when Mr. Morris purchased 80 
acres of land, he decided to settle his residence 
where he at present lives. Besides this, he owns 160 
)>< acres of prime land, which from time to time has 
been considerably improved. 

For more than ten years our subject has filled the 
, office of Township Assessor, a position in which he 
has shown himself well fitted not only for this office, 
but any other ordinarily falling within the scope of 
men in his position. He is a consistent Democrat 
in politics, and a warm advocate of right, no matter 

what cause or in whatever form appearing. 



I^apt. Richard A. Howk, farmer, ice 

"Sllj^^jT dealer and general speculator, residing at 
"ll^" Monmouth, is a son of Horace and Fanny 
(Crouch) Howk, natives of the State of New 
York, and of German descent. Richard was 
born in Washington Co., N. Y.,Feb. 22, 1834, 
and was the eldest of three sons of his parents' 
family. His mother died in 1838, and his father in 
i88i,both in Washington County. 

The father of Capt. Howk was born in Washing- 
ton Co., N. v., in 1817; the mother in the same 
county, in the year 1820. The brothers of Capt. 
Howk were John, who died in infancy; and the third 



brother was also named John, and now resides in 
Wayne Co., N. Y. He was married to Catharine 
Whitcomb, a native of New York State.and to them 
have been born five boys, viz. : Leon, Edward, Jud- 
son, Horace and Jay. 

The subject of this notice was brought up to 
manhood upon his father's farm, and educated at the 
common schools of Granville, N. Y.; came to Mon- 
mouth in 1858; began work as train baggageman for 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (then Peoria & 
Oquawka Railroad) and was directly appointed 
Freight Conductor, and followed the business alto- 
gether for about two and a-half years. He then turned 
stock shipper for a few months from Peoria and Quin- 
cy, 111. In April, 1861, he enrolled as a private in 
Co. G, ist 111. Vol. Cav., and with that command fell 
into the hands of the enemy at Lexington, Mo. Be- 
ing at once retired, he joined the nth 111. Vol. Cav. 
as First Lieutenant of Co. K, and followed the for- 
tunes of Col. "Bob," Ingersoll's regiment about a 
year and a half. Leaving the nth at Memphis, 
Tenn., he returned to Illinois and raised Co. L for 
the 12th Cavalry, and went out as its Captain, and 
in 1862-63 was a member of Gen. Wallace's staff. 

From first to last while connected with his regi- 
ment, Mr. Howk had participated in all its engage- 
ments. With the I St Cavalry his term was brief; 
with the nth he was in Tennessee at Ft. Donelson, 
Donelsonville, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone Ridge, etc. ; 
with the 12th he was in the far South and up the 
Red River, that stream which the poet says "Damned 
poor Banks forever." The Captain was about a 
year and a half upon detached service as a Quar- 
ter Master at New Orleans, and left the army in 
August, 1865. 

At the battle of Shiloh the Captain received a bul- 
let in his leg, which still remains there, through a 
period of 24 years, and continues to annoy him. He 
received another wound by his horse running away 
at Baton Rogue, which almost disabled his right 
arm. 

Returning to Monmouth after the war closed, Mr. 
Howk engaged in business, and has since been one 
of the most active and enterprising men in the coun- 
ty. He is an ardent Republican and a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. 

Capt. Howk was married at Monmouth, Jan 1 2, 
1866, to Miss Margaret Harper, the daughter of 



*4^ 



JU 



WARREN COUNTY. 



653 



Parker B. Harper. Her parents were natives of 
Ohio. She was the third in order of birth of a fam- 
ily of nine children, viz. : Harvey, who was killed 
at the battle of Stone Ridge, Mo. ; Eliza J., Sarah, 
James, Thomas, Walter, Charley, and one deceased. 
Mrs. Howk was born in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1848. 
The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Howk are men- 
tioned as follows: Albert, a graduate of Monmouth 
College, is now connected with the engineering de- 
partment of the Union Pacific Railroad ; Edward is 
engaged in the grocery business at Monmouth, and 
Mamie resides at home. 

Capt. Howk is purely a self-made man ; what he 
has of this world's goods, and his fortune is ample, 
he has acquired by his individual effort and in- 
dustry. 



ohn MeClanahan. To the present gener- 
ation of Warren County, the statement that 
the name which leads this biographical 
notice was one of the most honored in the 
records of the county, will be acknowledged by 
all, so identified with the best interests of the 
people was he who is represented in this sketch. He 
was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1794. 
His parents went, in his youth, from the Old Domin- 
ion to Highland Co., Ohio. They were pioneers 
there and there they reared their family. 

John MeClanahan passed the years of his minor- 
ity in Highland County, and when the period ar- 
rived for him to take up in his own behalf the 
weapons of warfare with the elements of fame and 
fortune, he went to Adams County, in the same 
State, and there became identified with the devel- 
opment of the county by connecting himself with its 
agricultural interests. He located " in the timber," 
where he bought a large tract of land, cleared a 
patch for a house, and settled himself to carve out a 
home and fortune as so many had already done in 
portions of the country now far advanced in improve- 
ment. He was connected with the history of Adams 
County until 1837, when he sold his possessions 
there and went to Brown County, also in Ohio, and, 
in company with another party, bought an e.xten- 
sive tract of land. It was a valuable piece of prop- 
erty from the fact that it contained a water-power, 
grist and saw-mill. The owners managed their busi- 




ness together about three years, when they divided 
the proceeds and acreage, and Mr. MeClanahan 
took his share in land. Much of it was under par- 
tial cultivation, and he devoted himself with vigorous 
energy to the pursuit of agriculture until 1855. He 
liad already made a considerable distribution of his 
land among his children, and, in the year named, 
sold all he had remaining and came to Illinois, lo- 
cating in Monmouth. 

Mr. MeClanahan took possession of the property 
known as the Thompson farm, which is situated 
about one mile west from the seat of Warren County, 
in the capacity of a renter. He continued to man- 
age the estate two years and at the expiration of that 
time he removed to Spring Grove Township, where 
he had bought a farm and on which he had made 
some miprovements. He operated there as a farmer 
until 1862, when he could no longer resist the ele- 
ment that attracted and overwhelmed every patriotic 
citizen, and cast his fate in with the contending j 
elements of the Civil War. In July of that year he 
raised a company of soldiers, and, on the organiza- 
tion of the command, was made its Captain. It was 
attached to the 83d Regt. 111. Vol. Inf., and was 
designated Co. B. The regiment joined the forces 
in the field and participated in the engagement at 
Fort Donelson. Capt. MeClanahan, while gallantly ■' 
leading his men in a charge, fell at the head of his 
command, mortally wounded. He was taken into 
the hospital and tenderly cared for during a severe 
suffering of 19 days, when, on the 22d of February, 
1863, he yielded up his life for his country's cause. 
His remains were brought back to the home he had 
given his life to defend. He sleeps the sleep of the 
just and fearless man who saw more than life in the 
defense of a principle, and more than the reward of 
the patriot who valued above all else an unsullied 
flag and a country intact, as the heritage from those 
who had erected the most glorious national structure 
in the history of all the ages. 

John MeClanahan was known all his life as pos- 
sessing the elements of true courage and chivalry. 
He was always the foremost in any enterprise that 
bore even the smallest promises of permanent ben- 
efit to the general well-being. While living in Ohio 
he was one of the most prominent of the business 
men of the Buckeye State, and he was for a long 
lime tlie moving spirit in the Ripley & Hillsborough 
Stone Pike Company. He also, while in Ohio, held 



-^ 



A 



i* 



654 



WARRBI^ COUNTY. 



*% 



various public positions, and served two terms in the 
Legislature of the State as a Representative of Brown 
County. 

Mr. McClanahan married Miss Margaret B. 
Wright, of Fall Creek, Highland Co., Ohio, and of 
their union 17 children were born. The race is of 
Scotch-Irish origin and is tenacious of life. Of the 
sons and daughters of John McClanahan, 14 yet 
survive, and worthily represent tlie honored name of 
their sire. The mother died in October, 1874, aged 
74 years. Of her husband it may further be added 
that he was wholly self-educated, and that means a 
far more liberal cultivation than that afforded by the 
restricted curriculum of the schools. But he was a 
thorough student of books in a general way, and was 
a most successful teacher for many winter seasons 
in Ohio. In political connection he was by inher- 
itance a Democrat, but when the Republican party 
was organized, its tenets harmonized with his views 
and he enrolled under its banners. His brave and 
honored life terminated in defense of its fuiidamental 
principles, and " O'er his sacred dust shall wave the 
Jree of liberty." 



-«^'4#=^" 



i|« D. Birdsall. This gentleman is a farmer 
and blacksmith, and resides in Tompkins 
Township. He was born Jan. 3t, 1816, in 
Westchester Co., N. Y. His parents were 
John and Letitia (Fowler) Birdsall, both 
natives of New York. They went to Canada 
in 1820, where '.hey continued to live until 1838, en- 
gaging for the time in farming. On coming to War- 
ren County, they settled in Ellison Township, and 
purchased 320 acres of land. On this they remained 
15 years, when they sold the estate and moved into 
Henderson County, where they purchased 160 acres, 
on which the family lived until the death of our 
subject's father in 1863. I'he death of the mother 
took place in 1838, an incident that had a saddening 
effect on the whole household, and more especially to 
the boy, P. 1). Birdsall. 

Up to his twenty-fifth year Mr Birdsall remained 
at home, receiving in the interim a common school 
education, and assisting his father on the farm. Af- 
icr 'eaving home he engaged in the flouring mill busi- | 
'A 




nessat Biggsville.and soon after removed to Oquawka, 
where in the capacity of blacksmith he worked for 
nine years, then returning to Warren County he set- 
tled in Tompkins Township, and purchased 120 
acres, upon which he still lives, carrying on general 
farming and the blacksmith trade. 

He was married, in 1842, to Miss Fannie Ryder, a 
native of New York, by which union 1 2 children are 
living: Charles E., Alexander, Mary, Nancy, John, 
George, Jacob, William, Flora, Fannie, Clara and 
Frank. Of these, seven are married, and altogether 
he has 15 grandchildren. 

In politics, Mr. Birdsall is a prominent Green- 
liacker, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He is one of the representa- 
tive men of Warren County, and considered a 
consistent member of his Church, and steadfast 
politician in principle. • 



K>OC>^ 




harles Albert Hebbard, Editor of the 
Roseville Times, is a native of this State 
having been born at Oquawka, Hender- a^ 
son County, September i, 1844. His boyhood ' 
was spent in this section and when a lad of 
16, he was apprenticed to learn the machin- J 
ist trade in the C. B. & Q. R. R. shop at Galesburg. 1 
Here he remained industriously engaged at the em- | 
ployment he had so early in life selected, from i860 | 
to 1863. He only then left the work-shop to go to | 
the front in defense of his country's flag. He en- 
listed on Nov. 18, 1863, at Springfield, 111., in Co. 
F, 1 13th 111. Vol. Inf. He was sent to the front and 
did valiant service in the cause he esteemed so dear, 
and on the loth of June, 1864, at Guntown, Miss, 
received a gun-shot wound in the left side. He 
continued in the service, however, until Septem- 
ber of the following year, when he was mustered out 
at Springfield, 111. 

Mr. Hebbard, like many other enterprising men 
of the North, felt that there were good openings for 
various enterprises in the States that were recently 
in rebellion. He was therefore persuaded to return 
to Arkansas and for the next two years was engaged 
running a gang of choppers in getting out wood for 
steamboats. This not proving satisfactory, he once 
more returned to Galesburg, and for a time engaged 
at his trade. Being ambitious and longing for a bet- 



■^ 



WARREN COUNTY 



u 



(>i^ 



ter education he made his arrangements for again 
entering the school-room. He entered the Grand 
River Institute, at Austinburg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, a 
year later. From this institution he was graduated 
with the degree of B. S. Shortly after leaving the 
school-room as a student we find him in charge of 
the Jefferson High School, of Jefferson, Ohio. For two 
years he successfully, and to the satisfaction of the 
general public, managed that school. We next find 
him at the head of the Madison Seminary, at Madison, 
Lake Co., Ohio, where he remained for four years. 
He then returned to Ashtabula County and went 
into the service of the Western Lock Manufacturing 
Company, taking charge of the manufacturing de- 
partment. This position he held for four years, his 
education as a machinist proving invaluable to him. 
Mr. Hebbard again resumed his profession as a 
teacher, and in the early autumn of 1884 came to 
Roseville and took charge of the schools at this 
place. So satisfactory has been his service here 
that he has been retained in the same position since. 
On the first of September, 1885, he purchased the 
Roseville Times. This he enlarged and by devoting 
>i to it his characteristic energy as a business man and 
ability as a writer, has made it one of the most valu- 
able and interesting local papers in the county. It 
is now a six-column quarto and not only ably edited 
but creditably printed. Mr. Hebbard is earnestly en- 
gaged in the efforts to give the people of Roseville 
and vicinity a good and valuable newspaper. 

While living in Ohio, Mr. Hebbard was united in, 
marriage with Julia A. Williams, of Harpersfield, 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio. The date of this, to him very 
important event, is 187 1. 



.m%a 4 *» ^ 



^^ 




C. VanRiper, a retired farmer, on section 
16, Tompkins Township, was born in Hud- 
son Co., N. J., March 25, 1830. His par- 
ents were Cornelius and Mary R. (Sickles) 
VanRiper, also natives of New Jersey. A. C. 
remained under the parental roof until he 
was 23 years of age. During that time he received 
a good common school education. After leaving 
home he engaged in the dairying business in New 
Jersey, which occupation he followed successfully for 
five years, and then followed other pursuits up to 



1855, when he came to Illinois. Then he conuiienced 
purchasing and selling land, but abandoned this af- 
ter 16 months, returned East, where he remained 
until the year 1861, when he revisited Illinois 
and occupied himself with the former business of 
land purchase and sale, at the same time pursuing 
farming more or less. He at present own 120 acres 
of land, 40 acres lying in the corporation of Kirk- 
wood, on which he now resides. A great portion 
of his time, however, is taken up in visits to the 
East. 

He was married to Miss Cornelia Ackerman, a 
native of New Jersey, by whom he had six children — 
Mary G„ Euphemia E., Cornelius, Abraham, Ed- 
ward and Jeannie. Mary G. married M. G. John- 
son, and by this union there are two children — 
Gertrude and Freddie. Euphemia E married New- 
ton Spence. 

By political persuasion, Mr. VanRiper is a Demo- 
crat, and with his wife and two daughters belongs to 
the Presbyterian Church. He has been elected to 
office on the Village Board as one of the "City 
Fathers." He also filled the position of Captain of 
the police force in Jersey city. He is one among the 
leading, most thoughtful and substantial men of 
Kirk wood. 

Ifolin Lorimer, auctioneer and dealer in car- 
1^ riages, buggies, etc., at Monmouth, as well 
as one of Warren County's prominent bus- 
iness men, was born in Muskingum Co. Ohio, 
March 26, 1831. His parents were Dr. Sam- 
uel and Mary (Few) Lorimer, natives respect- 
ively of old Ireland and the Slate of Ohio. They 
both died before John was three years old, and at this 
writing, he and his sister older, are the only survivors 
of his father's family. 

His youth was spent principally at school, supple- 
menting a pretty thorough common school training 
by a course at New Concord (Ohio) College. Leaving 
College he taught school about four years in Ken- 
tucky, Ohio and Illinois and then after a year 
or two spent at farming, settled down at Monmouth. 
He came here in 1856, since which time he has been 
one of the busiest men in Warren County. He be- 
gan auctioneering in 1861 and has kept it up stead- 
ily, notwithstanding a multiplicy of duties of various 



J 




-H^ 



656 



r v. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



Ju 



kinds have necessarily demanded much of his atten- 
tion. He was elected Constable in 1861 and held 
the office 19 years. Was elected City Marshal, in 
1864, and held the office about three years. Was 
Deputy Sheriff of Warren County several years. He 
ran an auction store eight years in Monmouth and 
has been engaged in the buggy and carriage business 
about eight years, two years of the time on the road 
carrying with him a full line of vehicles. 

September 13, 1853, he was married at New Con- 
cord, Ohio, to Miss I. M. Russell, a native of the 
Keystone State, and daughter of Thomas Russell, 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lorimer have had born to 
them five children, as follows : Rachel N., wife of J. 
M. Harvey, of Buena Vista, Colorado ; Samuel B., 
interested with his father, in tlie carriage and buggy 
business ; John, now a resident of Colorado; Thomas 
and Minnie, in Monmouth. Mr. Lorimer is identi- 
fied with no Church or secret order, and through life 
he has depended upon his own individual effort and 
industry for such of this world's goods as he pos- 
sesses and enjoys. He is a good liver and a man 
that enjoys life wherever he is. 



•w-v^-\t4C£r©-S@' 



>».^f^^(5*v.'W'vv 




.avid Tuttle. Prominent among the num- 
erous retired farmers of Roseville, ranks 
the subject of this personal sketch, who is 
spending the evening of an active and use- 
ful life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his 
toil. David Tuttle was born in Greene Co. Pa., 
Oct. 13, 1800, and is consequently 85 years of age. 
His parents Israel and Mary (Martin) Tuttle, were 
natives of New Jersey, but at a very early day moved 
into Pennsylvania and secured farming property. He 
had a family of ten children, four sons and six 
daughters. The wife, Mrs. Mary Tuttle, died in 
Pennsylvania in February, 1824, and Israel Tuttle in 
January, 1842. 

David was a member of the home family until a 
young man of 24 years of age. Of course during 
these years he assisted his parents on the farm and 
attended such schools as the neighborhood afforded. 
His first venture after leaving home was to purchase 
a farm of 120 acres. Here he lived for several years, 
when he sold out and purchased his father's farm, 
where he lived until 1850. Feeling that the West 



offered superior advantages, he sold out and came to 
Illinois, finding a desirable home in Warren County. 
Here 011 section 28, of Roseville Township, he se- 
cured a valuable 80 acre tract of land, where he 
lived and farmed until iSSo. He then sold out and 
moved into Roseville, buying eight acres where he 
now resides. Politically Mr. Tuttle is a Prohibition- 
ist, and together with his wife belongs to the United 
Brethren Church. 

In 1854, January 24, Mr. Tuttle and Mrs. Philena 
E. Young, a native of Ashtabula Co. Ohio, were 
united in marriage. Mrs. Tuttle was born Dec. 13, 
i82i,and was a daughter of Samuel and Philena 
(Ward) Overbaugh. They were natives of New York 
and Connecticut respectively and had a family of two 
daughters. Mr. O. died in 1822, the year following 
the death of his wife. 




F. Loudon, whose hair is silvered by the 
lapse of time, is passing the sunset of his 
life in peace and quiet at his residence in 
Kirkwood. He is a native of South Caro- 
lina, having been born in that State in 181 2. 
The parents of Mr. Loudon, George and Mary 
(Ferris) Loudon, were natives of Ireland and South 
Carolina respectively. They moved to Indiana in 
1816, where the father purchased 80 acres of land, 
on which he moved with his family and there re- 
sided until tlie death of both heads of the house- 
hold. 

W. F. Loudon, the subject of this notice, received 
an education in the common schools and from about 
the age of 12 years until he was 25, he worked at 
various occupations, assisting in the maintenance of 
his fatiier's family. In 185 1, he came to Henderson 
County, this State, and there purchased 40 acres of 
land. On this land he located and entered vigor- 
ously and energetically upon the vocation of an ag- 
riculturist and was there occupied for two years. He 
then came to this county and for two years followed 
farming on rented land, when he purchased 160 
acres on section 8, Tompkins Township, and there, 
for 25 years, was engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He has lived in Kirkwood Village for the past four 
years where he has 1 2 acres of land and a good res- 



I 



*x 



V 



-64^ 



WARkEN COUJ^TY. 



— -H- 



657 



idence, and is passing the evening of his life in quiet 
retirement. 

The marriage of Mr. Loudon with Miss Jane Mar- 
tin was solemized in 1836, and their union has been 
blessed by the birth of five children, Margaret, 
Nancy, George, Mary A., and James H. After 40 
years of married life, during which the wife had 
shared the toils and trials, the successes and re- 
verses, of her husband, she passed to the better 
land, the date of her death being 1876. Mr. Lou- 
don in his poHtical belief endorses the principles of 
the Democratic party and religiously is a member of 
the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

¥ <-^^-» * 




Joseph Pine located in Warren County in 
1844. He is now a resident of Galesburg, 
][5p!?'°l' 111. He was 16 years of age when his par- 
ents started from Ohio for Illinois. They 
came over the intervening country with their 
own conveyance, and reached Warren County 
after a slow, but, in some respects, pleasant and 
profitable journey. 

Mr. Pine is a native of Somersetshire, England. 
He was born May 2, 1828, and is the son of Rob- 
ert and Elizabeth (Morris) Pine. His father emi- 
grated with his family from England to Amer- 
ica, sometime in the year 1840. Mr. Pine was then 
12 years old, and has a distinct remembrance of the 
incidents of the voyage from Liverpool to Philadel- 
phia, as the time passed on the ocean was six entire 
weeks. They went to Lake County, in the Buckeye 
State, and were there resident until their removal at 
the time stated to Illinois. They started on their 
overland trip with three horses and a pair of oxen. 
The members of the household and the domestic 
belongings were accommodated in two large wagons. 
In the vicinity of Cleveland the father exchanged 
the oxen for horses, and the distance between them 
and their destination seemed to diminish with pro- 
portionate rapidity. 

The senior Pine bought a claim on section 14, in 
the part of Warren County then designated on the 
government charts as township 12, and which on its 
organization as a municipality was named Kelly 
Township. There were 20 acres of the property in 
tillage, and a log house had been erected. The lat- 



ter was of the style of architecture which pointed 
out a most primitive condition of things, and the 
roof was made of "shakes," which were kept in their 
places with poles. The usual improvements were 
afterward made on the place by the owner, who hved 
there until the close of his life. His death trans- 
pired about 1870. The family included six chil- 
dren, and the subject of this sketch was the fifth in 
order of birth. 

Mr. Pine remained a member of his father's house- 
hold until his marriage to Letitia Watson, which 
event took place in 1853. His wife was born in Ken- 
tucky, and is the daughter of Basil and Matilda Wat- 
son, who were members of the pioneer element of 
Kelly Township. At the time of his marriage Mr. 
Pine located on section 9, in the same township 
where his father had settled, and improved the farm 
on which he fixed his permanent residence, and 
which is still in his possession. 

In March, 1876, he rented his farm and went to 
Galesburg, where he is now living. He is manu- 
facturing brick and terra cotta articles of merchan- 
dise, and is a member of the Stock Company in that 
place which was incorporated in 1885. He is the ' 
Superintendent and one of the Directors of the 
Works. 

His son, Edwin A., lives in Kelly Township, and 
is officiating as Assessor. Frank J. is a hardware 
dealer at Alexis, and is represented in this work. 
Janet and Linnie May are the daughters of Mr. and 
Mrs. Pine. 

Mr. Pine is a member of the denomination known 
as Second Adventists. 



ohn Tucker, owning the undivided half 
interest to 450 acres of land in Swan 
Township, and residing upon section 20 of 
the same, was born in the township where he at 
]C present resides, Nov. 21, 1846, his parents both 
being natives of Washington Co., Pa. Mr. 
Tucker formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Ida 
F. Bostwick, Oct. 11, 1871. She was born July i, 
1852, in Roseville Township, this county, her father's 
name being Alanson Bostwick. He was born in 
Connecticut, in 1814, and married Jane A. Jones, in 
1848. She was born in 1818, and bore her husband 




*+~ 



V 



t 



658 



WARREN COUNTY. 



three children — Ida F., Ozro P. and Ora A. Her 
father died Dec. 23, 1876. 

The father of Mr. Tucker, of this notice, James 
Tucker, was born May 15, 1807, in Washington Co., 
Pa., came to Illinois in 1834 and located in Swan 
Township, this county ; removed from there to Rose- 
ville, where he is at present residing. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Caroline Johnson, April 27, 1840. She 
was born July 9, 1809, in Washington Co., Pa. They 
were married in the Keystone State, and of their un- 
ion four children- were born — Daniel J., Aug. 20, 
1841; James M., Feb. 24, 1844; John, Nov. 21, 
1846, and George, Feb. 22, 1849. Daniel J. died in 
the army, Sept. 20, 1861, at Lexington, Mo., of ty- 
phoid fever, after an illness of eight days. He par- 
ticipated in the battle of Le.\ington, on the 20th of 
September, that year, and died on the 28th of the 
same month. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tucker of this sketch are the happy 
parents of two children — Carrie J., born Sept. 9, 
• 1873, and Ora A., January 11, 1877. Mr. Tucker 
has a good residence on the place, two stories in 
height, and is there passing his life in the prosecu- 
>^ tion of a vocation which he has followed since he 
was old enough. In politics he is a believer in and 
a supporter of the principles advocated by the Re- 
publican party, which ticket he has always voted. 




; oshua C. Ray, a successful farmer owning 
1^^ 150 acres of land located on section 4, 
Greenbush Township, where he resides 
1^ and is actively engaged in the prosecution of 
the labors of an agriculturist, was born in 
Lenox Township, this county, in 1852, and is 
a son of Woodford Ray, a native of Kentucky, where 
he was born in 1824. The latter followed the voca- 
tion of a farmer and died in September, 1865, at the 
age of 45 years, in Missouri. The father formed a 
matrimonial alliance with Miss Nancy Simons in 
1850. She was born in Kentucky in 1831, and died 
in May, 1852. Of their union two children were 
born, — James G. and Joshua C, our subject. After 
their mother's death, the father was a second time 
married, and by this wife had five children, namely ; 
Ida J., Charles C, Lewis R., Harriet and Delos. 



Joshua Ray, subject of this biographical notice, 
was married April 2, 1874, to Eliza Morris. She 
was born Jan. 25, 1855, and has borne her husband 
three children, one of whom, Mary E., died July 12, 
1880. Marshal 15. was born Jan. 2, 1875, and Wal- 
ter, Oct. 29, 1880. Mr. Ray and his family are 
pleasantly situated on their fine farm in Greenbush 
Township, and in addition to their acreage in this 
county, Mr. Ray is the owner of 12 acres in Mc- 
Donough County, this State. In politics, he votes 
with the Democratic party. 

The father of Mrs. Ray, Bethuel Morris, was born 
in Ohio, in 1826, and inarried Miss Mary Crawford 
in 1847. She was born in Ohio and bore her hus- 
band six children, as follo\vs: Merribah, John B., 
Almira, Flora, Eliza E. and Melissa. Mr. Morris 
and his wife are members of the Christian Church, 
and, in politics, he votes the same ticket as his son- 
in-law, Mr. Ray. 




ev. George W. Hamilton, pastor of Little 
York United Presbyterian Church, was 
born in New Wilmington, Mercer Co., Pa., 
March i, 1848, and was the son of George 
Hamilton, also a native of Pennsylvania, and 
the grandson of Thomas Hamilton, whose 
birthplace was Ulster, County Tyrone, Ireland, and 
the date of his birth 1763. In belief this latter gen- 
tleman was a staunch Presbyterian of the Old School, 
and came of a direct line of Scotch ancestry. He 
emigrated to the United States in 1784, locating in 
Eastern Pennsylvania, where he lived for some time, 
then removed to Beaver County, of that State, where 
he died. He had all his life engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. Early in life he married Miss Agnes 
Mitchell, who was likewise born in County Tyrone, 
March 2, 1773, and like her husband was of Scotch 
descent. They had 13 children, all of whom reached 
maturity. The fatlier of the subject was the nth in 
order of birth and in his native county grew to man- 
hood, being reared on his father's farm, and in early 
life married Rebecca Strain, a native of Beaver 
County, who was born in 18 19. Shortly after mar- 
riage they removed to Mercer County, where he 
took up land, which he worked until 1855, and in 
that year he moved into Iowa, settling near Dubuiiue. 
Here he bought a farm, upon which his wife died, in 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



the year iS6[, he surviving her until 1876, when he 
followed her to their long home. 

Rev. G. W. Hamilton, our subject, and the ninth 
child in the large circle of brothers and sisters, was 
seven years of age at the time ot his parents' removal 
to Iowa. Here he grew to the years of maturity, 
receiving his early education in the district schools, 
and in 1872 graduated from college, having taken 
a full classical course. Subsequently he entered the 
Theological Seminary of Xenia, Ohio, in which he 
continued two years, and leaving this he became a 
student under Dr. Patton, of Chicago, with whom he 
remained one year. He commenced his ministra- 
tion in 1875, in the States of Michigan, Iowa and 
Missouri, laboring two years before receiving ordina- 
tion. This event took place at Elvira, Clinton Co., 
Iowa, March 27, 1877, and at this time he was in- 
stalled pastor of the Church there, the pulpit of 
which he occupied until August, 1880. Receiving a 
call to the United Presbyterian Church of Little 
York, he took up his abode in that town, in October 
of that year, which pastorate he holds at the present 
time. His marriage occurred Sept. 5, 1878, to Anna 
C. Young, native of Michigan. Mr. Hamilton is a 
man of large usefulness and adorns the position he 
occupies, and is, heart and mind, enlisted in the work 
of "bringing in the sheaves." 




4 



5'V\/v^-^ 



B. Holeman. One of the energetic and 
successful farmers of Warren County is 
Mr. D. B. Holeman, who resides upon 
j^ section 35, Roseville Township, having been 
born in this township Nov. 20, 1850. He is a 
son of Reuben and Susannah (Crab) Holeman, 
who are natives of Indiana, and whose biography 
appears elsewhere in this book. 

D. B. Holeman, the gentleman whose name heads 
this personal narrative, remained at home until he 
attained his 20th year, in the meantime receiving a 
common-school education and assisting his parents 
with the labors on the farm. He afterward farmed 
with his father on shares for two years, and in 1872 
thinking he could better himself considerably, he 
went to Kansas, and located in Linn County. Here 
he made a purchase of 80 acres of land and engaged 
11 ;tock-raising, continuing the saaie for two years, 



itjzafl/®^* 



K4 — >.'^~S/B'OT>v 




rederick Heinzman, an agriculturist, re- 
£_ siding upon section 33, Greenbush Town- 
ship, where, on his fine farm of 240 acres, 



he is prosecuting his vocation, was born in 
Baden, Germany, Oct. 11, 1827, and emigrated 
to this country in 185 1, landing at New York, 
from whence he proceeded to St. Louis, Mo., where 
he remained one year and worked at the mason's 
trade, which he had learned in the fatherland. 

At the end of the time stated, Mr. Heinzman 
came to Springfield, this State, and resided at that 
place for two years, engaged in working at his trade, 
when he went to Decatur, and, after remaining there 
a year, moved to Prairie City. In the latter place 
he worked at his trade until 1874, when he came to 
this township and located on section 33, Greenbush 
Township, where he purchased 80 acres of land. 
He at once located on his land and engaged actively 
and energetically in its improvement and cultivation, 
and by economy and perseverance has, by subse- 
quent purchases, increased his landed interests in 
Warren County to 240 acres, and is also the owner 
of 80 acres in McDonough County. Mr. H. has a 
good residence upon his place, 35 x 45 feet in dimen- 



n^j 



4 



<5S9 



when he exchanged his property for some land situ- 
ated about three miles distant and entered upon the 
latter tract, of 80 acres, where he engaged in mixed 
husbandry for three years. He again returned to 
Illinois, and in [88r purchased 1465^ acres of land, 
80 of which is in Roseville Township and is in ex- 
cellent cultivation ; 37 acres are prairie land and 
295^ good timber. 

Mr. D. B. Holeman was married in 1870 to Miss 
Harriet Smith, a native of Warren County and 
daughter of Allen and Susan (Miller) Smith, natives 
of Indiana, who came to Illinois in 1848 and 
settled in Warren County. Mr. and Mrs. Holeman 
have had their home brightened and blessed with 
the birth of two children — Susannah, born Oct. 12, 
1871 ; and William B., Aug. 29, 1875. 

Mr. Holeman affiliates with the Democratic party, 
and is one of the representative and solid men of 
Warren County. He and his wife are members of 
the Christian Church, and he fills the position of 
School Director. 



t 



66o 



WARREN COUNTY. 



sions, with a good cellar, the walls of which are of 
his own work. His barn is 30 x 40 feet with a good 
basement. 

Mr. Heinzman was united in marriage with Fred- 
rica Behler, March 6, 1855. She was born March 
5, 1828, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to 
America in 1854, landing at New Orleans. From 
there she proceeded to Decatur, 111., where she re- 
mained one year, at the expiration of which time she 
married Mr. Heinzman. Of their union ten chil- 
dren have been born, namely: May E., Jan. 16, 
1856; Frederick, May 25, 1857; Frank, Aug. 11, 
1858; Louisa F., Dec. 2, 1859; Rudolph, May 5, 
1861; John, Oct. 27, ^1862; Charles Oct. 14, 
1864; Minnie, born March 30, 1866, died July 25, 
1881 ; Albert, born May 14, 1868, died April 29, 
1870; and Lillian, born July 10, 187 1. 

In religion, Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the 
Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. H. votes with the 
Democratic party. His father, Jacob, was born in 
1802, in Germany, and married Miss Mudinger. 
who was born in that country in 1800. The father 
died in Nebraska, in 1881, and the mother in this 
" county in 1875. They had nine children, five of 
whom are deceased. The living are Frederick, 
Mary, Jacob and Charles. 



ambert Lester, a prominent farmer on sec- 
tion 13 of Point Pleasant Township, was 
born in Greene Co., Ind., Jan. 11, 1839. 

f Thomas C. Lester, his father, was a native of 
South Carolina, where he was born Aug. 3, 
1816. The latter was a son of Peter R. and 
Haney (O'Neil) Lester. The families of both his 
parents were South Carolinians. His great-grand- 
father, James Lester, was an Englishman. His wife 
a Deneford ; her given name is not recollected by 
her descendants of this generation. She was reared 
in Ireland, came to America at an early day and 
was united in marriage to the «bove named James. 
They had eight children, seven of whom were boys : 
John, Isaac, James, Peter, Charles, Abner, Samuel 
and the daughter, Joicey. All except Abner and 
Samuel lived to raise families of their own. The 
parents, with their children, moved to South Caro- 
lina before the Revolutionary War, and about the 




year 1787, Peter, the fourth son, married Jane Ru- 
ble, who was born in Newbury, S. C. To them were 
born II children, five boys and six girls, as follows: 
Patty, Sally, Peter, James, Mary, Willis, Rhoda, 
Vincent, Simpson, Cinderella and Jane. They all 
grew to maturity and reared families of their own; 
only three of the number arc now living, namely : 
Peter, the grandfather of our subject; Vincent, 
who lives in Greene Co., Ind.; and Simpson, who 
resides at Batesville, Mississippi. Peter Lester re- 
moved with his family to Indiana when his son 
Thomas was but five years of age. He was one of 
the earliest of the pioneer settlers in the county of 
Greene, and is still living there at the age of 96 
years. The son just referred to— Thomas C. — grew 
to manhood in Greene County, where he was mar- 
ried to Eliza Hughen, wlio was born in South Caro- 
lina, Dec. 31, 1815. His father presented him with 
80 acres of land on his marriage, which was situated 
in the township of Plummer, on Wliite River, in the 
same county in which the father resided. As it was 
all in heavy timber, there was a vast amount of hard 
work before him to make a suitable home for the 
new-made wife. But he built a log house on a •< 
small clearing, in which they took up their residence, 
and the work of reclamation from the original forest 
went vigorously on. The husband was a man of' 
energy and industry, and in a very short time placed 
40 acres under good culture. He was enabled to 
make a further purchase of land, whicli he thor- 
oughly improved, and remained the occupant of the 
farm as long as he lived. His death transpired 
in May, 1851. His widow lives at present in Clay 
Co., Neb. There were five children in the family of 
Thomas Lester, but none now living save the sub- 
ject of this sketch and Mary, the wife of Walter 
Paine, of Edgar, Clay Co., Neb. 

Mr. Lester was 12 years old when his father was 
removed by death. He continued to live in his na- 
tive county until October, 1856. The homestead 
was then rented, his mother having remarried, to a 
man named ^Villiam R. Hindnian. The latter removed 
the family to Warren County, in the year named, 
and located in Point Pleasant Township. The son 
accompanied the family and was married to Mary E. 
Di.\on Oct. 19, i86g. His wife is tlie daughter of 
Eli and Jemima (Boyd) Dixon, of whom a sketch is 
given elsewhere in this book. 

Previous to his marriage he became the owner of 



1^ 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



66] 



40 acres of land, which he had purchased in 1863, 
and which constituted the nucleus of the splendid 
farm upon which he now resides. His mother re- 
sided with him on the 40-acre tract until he married. 
He has been prosperous and has added to his estate 
until he is the owner of 400 acres of excellent land, 
all in a good state of cultivation. It includes 30 
acres of timber land, whose value is appreciated in 
a prairie country. 

Mr. Lester is a Democrat in political views. Mrs. 
Lester belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. Minnie J. Lester, the sole daughter of the 
parents' home and hearts, was born Feb. 7, 1876. 

Among the views of farm residences given in the 
pictorial department of this Album, may be found 
that of Mr. Lester's, on page 380. 



ohn S. Whelan, a well-to-do, sturdy tiller 

1^ of the soil, resides in this county, on his 

'■'''' farm of 160 acres, located on section 18, 

Hale Township. He is a son of James and 

Margaret (Moore) Whelan, natives of Ireland. 

They were the parents of seven children, of 

whom John S. is the third in order of birth. 

He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1853. 
When John S. was but two years of age his parents 
brought him to Illinois. They located in this county 
in August, 1861, in Swan Township, where his fa- 
ther died. His mother still survives. 

The subject of this notice received a good common 
school education in the district schools of this county, 
and continued to reside here, engaged in the occupa- 
tion of farming, until 1876, when he removed to Hen- 
derson County, and there lived for five years following 
the same occupation. At the expiration of this time 
he came to Hale Township, and purchased the land 
which he still owns and occupies. This land is all 
under an advanced state of cultivation, and in the vo- 
cation which he has followed the major portion of his 
life he is meeting with success. 

The ceremony which united tlie lives of Mr. Whe- 
lan and Miss Kate Mason, the accomplished daugh- 
ter of Michael and Johanna (Shaw) Mason, natives 
of Ireland, was solemnized February i, 1876, in 
Henderson County. Miss Mason was the fourth in 
order of birth of a family of nine children. She 

• . ■ -X 




was born in Ohio January 16, 1855, and has borne 
her husband four children, Charlie M., Mary E., Ka- 
tie and J. Edgar. Mr. Whelan has held the office of 
School Director in his Township, and in his politics 
is independent. He and his wife are faithful and 
active members of the Catholic Church. 



^v'w-Atiiaz/®^^-' 



>S■x•^^S/OT?r»v- -uvv~. 




homas Meadows, farmer on section 3, 
Berwick Township, was born in this county, 
^ Dec. 18, 1845, and is a son of Henry 
Meadows, a native of Kentucky, where he was 
born March 28, 1798. The father of the sub- 
ject of this notice came to Illinois prior to the 
Black Hawk War, in 1832, and died Jan. 13, 185 1, 
in this county. He was married to Miss Mary 
Coffey March 26, 1818. She was also a native of 
Kentucky, born there Sept. 6, 1799, and died Aug. 
24, 1881. They had 14 children, namely : Nancy, 
born May 21,1819; Andrew, May 10, 1820; Jane, 
April 15, 1821; Martin C, March 12, 1822; Eliza- 
beth, July 23, 1823; James and Martha (twins), > 
Nov. II, 1825; Mary, July 3, 1827; Sarah, July 5, 
1829; Henry W.. Dec. 30, 1831; Althea, Jan. 5, 
1834; John G., Nov. 30, 1837; Artimisia, Feb. 20, 
1836; Erastus, April 16, 1842; and Thomas, born 
as stated above. 

Thomas Meadows, the subject of this biographical 
notice, was married to Miss Mary J. Brown, March 
9, 1865. She was born Oct. 13, 1846, in Indiana, 
and her parents came to this State in 1854, locating 
in this county. Her father, Wm. L. Brown, was 
born in Ohio, Dec. 31, 1820, and was there married 
to Miss Julia A. Newkirk, Jan. i, 1S46. She was 
born Sept. i, 1826, and was also a native of Ohio, 
and both are still living, residing at present in Ab- 
ingdon. They have been blessed with eight chil- 
dren — Mary Jane, born in October, 1846; Almeda 
Ann, who was born Oct. 6, 1848, and married Wm. 
P. Meadows March 10, 1870; Sarah M., born Sept. 

26, 1850, (niarriedGalen P. Meadows Feb. 7, 187 i); 
John W., born Aug. 27,' 1852 ; Harriet E., born Feb. 

27, 1855, (married Wm. L. Roney Sept. 24, 1874); 
Jerusha R., born June i, 1858 (married Albert J. 
Haynes in 1879); Alzora, born June 24, 1861, is 
deceased; and Alvira A., born Nov. 29, 1863, be- 
came the wife of Lewis J. Supple April 3, 1884. 



^ 



-4 



i* 



662 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Thomas Meadows, of whom we write, and his 
wife are the parents of the following children : El- 
mer, born Feb. 12, i866, Ira D, Feb. 10, 1868; 
Austin T., March 16, 1870; Leonard P., Dec. 22, 
1874; Charlie L, Jan. 20, 1878; Vella Ann, June 
.7, 1885. 

Mr. Meadows is the proprietor of 98 acres of good 
land, located on section 3, Berwick Township, and 
as an agriculturist is meeting witii tlie success which 
energy and perseverance are sure 10 bring. In poli- 
tics, he votes with the Democratic party, and, re- 
ligiously, he and his wife are members of the Chris- 
tian Church. 



-W-«- 



o<Sg-<B»-^o ^ { «- 




eimer Lahann is a manufacturer and whole- 
sale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco, 
i>i\zs\ ^' ^' Monmouth, the name of his establishment 
)v^ being the Maple City Cigar Factory. He was 
born Oct. 8, 1842, at Delmat, Holstein, Ger- 
many. He came to America in 1861, four 
years after his father, who died suddenly at Palmyra, 
Mo., in 1868, while en route from Hannibal, Mo., to 
Monmouth. Reimer Lahann's first employment in 
the United States was farming, which he followed 
for a year and a half near Troy, N. Y., after which 
he went to work at cabinet making, in Troy, 
N. Y., where he resided until 1866, during which 
time he also learned the cigar-maker's trade. While 
a resident of New York State he served a term as a 
member of the National Guards, assisting the organ- 
ization in protecting lives and property at a time 
when riots and disturbances were imminent. 

Immediately upon removing to Monmoutli, which 
be did in 1866, Mr. Lahann began the manufacture 
of cigars. He rolled the smokers himself. His bus- 
iness was on a small scale, but with slight assistance 
from his estimable wife, a good start was being made. 
The fire of '68 com|)letely cleaned out the busmess, 
but Mr. Lahann was not discouraged. He began 
work again at the beginning. By gradual development 
his establishment, which he has built up alone and 
unaided, except by his wife, has become one of the 
leading institutions of Monmouth. The Maple City 
factory is Mr. Lahann's pride, and it is evidence of 
his industry and business ability. From 35 to 40 men 



are constantly employed in the factory and a num- 
ber of salesmen are continually on the road, dispos- 
ing of the different brands of cigars, all of which have 
an excellent reputation. The factory turned out in 
1884 over 1,500,000 cigars. During the last four 
months of that year the number sold was 440,525, 
while during the corresponding period of '85 the 
number was 493,500, a most gratifying increase. Not 
only its size, l)ut its prosiierous condition, makes the 
institution one of particular advantage to the city of 
Monmouth, inasmuch as the place becomes known 
throughout tlie extensive territory in which the cigars 
are sold. Mr. Lahann's adherence to the practice of 
using only a superior quality of stock has done much 
to overcome the prejudice for Eastern cigars where- 
ever the products of the Maple City factory are ob- 
tainable. 

Mr. Lahann was married at Troy, N. Y., Jan. 24, 
1865, to Miss Katie Fougard, of Huhrhesse, Ger- 
many. Their children are Ida, Andrew and Nina May, 
the first the wife of Mr. Fred T. Hayden, the second 
a cigar-maker and the third a school girl. Mr. Hay- 
den and Andrew Lahann are both employed in the 
factory. Mrs. Hayden has a daughter, born Feb. 2, 
1886, and Mr. R. Lahann proudly responds to the 
title of grandfather. Mr. Lahann is a Knight Tem- 
plar in Masonry, an Odd Fellow, a member of the 
Leiderkranz Society, and in politics, a Republican. 



-<^4^#-H*- 



eorge W. Stice is extensively engaged as 
an agriculturist upon section 30, Swan 
^ Township, where he owns 910 acres. It 
1^^ is all tillable land but 15 acres, which is cov- 
C ered with timber. He has erected a good, 
f substantial two-story dwelling, which is 30 x 30 
feet in dimensions, upon his farm ; also a good barn, 
38 X 42 feet. He is a breeder of Short-horn cattle, 
having at present seven head, also excellent grades 
of roadsters. In his chosen vocation, he has met 
with remarkable success, being an industrious, per- 
severing and economical farmer, and to himself and 
good helpmeet, his wife, is his prosperity attribut- 
able. 

Mr. George. W. Stice, of whom we write, was born 
in Madison Co., 111., July 8, 1832, and is the son of 



1 



i 




t 



'JKl 



V 



t 



■ v. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



663 i 




Charles Slice, a native of North Carolina, where he 
was bom in 1795, on the nth of February. The 
latter came to this State in 18 14 and located in 
Madison County. The elder Mr. Stice was a Ranger 
during the War of 1812, and was under General 
Whiteside in the Black Hawk War in 1832. It was 
while in that war that he came through this county 
and saw the fertility of the soil, and was so well 
pleased that in 1833 he came to what is now the 
southern part of Henderson County ; but as that lo- 
cality proved unhealthful, he came to Greanbush, 
this county, engaging in merchandising and was ap- 
pointed Postmaster. After a residence of seven years 
there, he exchanged his town property for a farm 
on section 29, Swan Township, which he occupied 
until his death. Miss Patsey Whitley was the lady 
chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and 
reverses. She was born in 1800, in Illinois, and of 
her union with Mr. Stice 12 children were born, as 
follows : Sarah, Andrew, Nancy, Tabitha, James 
and Diana (twins), Martha, Charles, George W., 
Oscar, and a pair of twins who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Stice, the mother of our subject, died in 1847, the 
father's demise occurring April i, 1869, in Swan 
Township. 

George W. Stice was united in marriage with Miss 
Phoebe King, Jan. ig, i860. She was a native of 
McDonough County, and the daughter of R. T. 
King, who was born in Washington Co., East Ten- 
nesse, Nov. 28, 1817. He came to Illinois in 1835, 
and on Nov. 28, 1839, was married to Miss Martha 
A. Holden, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, 
July 2, 1822. Her father was a native of Vermont, 
moved to Ohio at an early day, and had a family 
comprising eight children — Phebe, born Feb. 4, 
1841 : William H., Feb. 12, 1847 ; James M., in 
November, 1849; John H., in July, 1852; Myrim 
H., Oct. 10, 185s ; Isabella L., in 1857 ; Thomas F., 
Feb. 28, 1859; and Charlie, Aug. 8, 186 1. All the 
above children are at present living and have at- 
tained the age of manhood and womanhood. Mr. 
King was really one of the pioneers of McDonough 
County. 

George W. Stice, whose name heads this article, is 
the father of three children hving and three deceased. 
George F. was born Oct. 29, 1864 ; Freeman S., 
Oct. 15, 1870; Sylvia A., Oct. 2, 1872; Edith, born 
Dec. 3, i860, died in infancy; Charles, born Jan. 8, 



1862, died Nov. 13, same year; Harry, born April 
30, 1876, died May 22, 1876. Mr. Stice lived on 
sections 26 and 27, of Point Pleasant Township for 
16 years. In the spring of 1874 he moved to sec- 
tion 30, Swan Township, where he had purchased 
lund and here he has lived to the present time. 

In addition to the cultivation of his land, Mr. S. 
is engaged to a considerable extent in the breeding 
of Short-horn cattle and graded roadsters. In pol- 
itics, he is a strong advocate of temperance and votes 
with the Prohibition party. His wife is President of 
the W. C. T. U. county organization, and has held 
the position for five years. She is also President of 
the Band of Hope at Swan Creek, and is a lady of 
most excellent qualities. Mr. Stice is one of the 
leading representative citizens, not only of Swan 
Township but also of Warren County. 

yrus B. Bristol, Jr., of the grocery house 
of Bristol & Glendening, at Monmouth, 
was born at Fairmount, W. Va., Feb. 13, 
1840. His parents, the Rev. Cyrus Beecher 
and Maria (Henderson) Bristol, were de- 
scended respectively from old English and 
Irish families, and were bom, the first named in 
New Haven, Conn., and the latter in Fayette Co., 
Pa. They reared four sons and four daughters, and 
as if the figure four were destined to play some con- 
spicuous part in his history, the subject of this sketch 
was the fourth child in order of birth and was four 
years old when his parents removed to Armstrong 
Co., Pa. The Rev. Mr. Bristol had charge of two 
churches in Armstrong County for about 12 years^ 
and in 1856 came to Illinois. He resides now (Oct- 
ober, 1885) at Schaller, Iowa, with his son, W. R. T. 
Bristol. He is 87 years old; his wife 78. 

At Elder's Ridge, Glade Run Academy and an 
institution of learning in Pittsburgh, Pa., Cyrus B. 
Bristol, Jr., accjuired a pretty thorough English edu- 
cation. After coming to Illinois he learned the car- 
penter's trade, and worked at it for some years. Feb. 
20, 1862, he enrolled in Mercer County, this Slate, 
as a private in Co. B, 65th 111. Vol. Inf , and re-en- 
listed at Knoxville, Tenn., March 30, 1864. Soon 
after his first enlistment he was promoted Corporal. 
He veteranized as Second Sergeant, was promoted to 




*4 



664 



WARREN COUNTY. 



+^ 



Orderly Sergeant and mustered out as Sergeant 
Major, July 13, 1865; was commissioned Second 
Lieutenant, but did not muster. He saw service un- 
der Burnside in East Tennessee; was in the 23d 
army corps and took part in all the engagements of 
that army from Dalton to Atlanta. He smelt gun- 
powder and heard the bullets at Columbia, Ga. 
Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville. After the battle 
of Nashville, his regiment was transferred to the 
Eastern Army and took a hand in the Wilmington 
and Fort Fisher engagements. At Harper's Ferry, 
Sept. 15, 1862, the enemy gobbled him up along with 
the regiment, held them a day or two and paroled 
them. He was with his command from beginning 
to end and never missed duty but two days. 

Returning from the war, he farmed two years in 
Mercer County, and went to Pennsylvania, where, 
on the i6th of May, 1867, at the town of Kent, In- 
diana County, he was married to Miss S. J. McFar- 
land, a native of that place and a daughter of Mr. 
William McFarUiiid. In 1868, he came to Mon- 
mouth, where he has since resided. He worked for 
the Weir Plow Company about nine years, and has 
been in the grocery business since 1879. His first 
partner in mercantile business was W. T. Wiley ; 
second, W. P. Pressley ; third, A. S. Carson ; and 
the present partnership was formed in June, 1885. 
(See biography of D. D. Dunkle). 

Mr. Bristol is a Mason, a member of the G. A. R. 
and Master Workman in the A. O. U. W. Both he 
and his wife are consistent members of the Presby- 
terian Church. 






■^_ol. James W. Davidson, an attorney and 
ciliKS^r counsellor at law, residing at Monmouth, 
'Slfe,V'*' has practiced at the Warren County Bar 
^% a greater number of years than any other man 
^ now living. He was born in Barren County, 
\ Ky., Sept. 16, 1813, and was the third of si.\ 
sons bred and reared to manhood by Hezekiah and 
Eleanor (Wilson) Davidson, natives of the States of 
North Carolina and Kentucky, and of Irish and 
Scotch extraction respectively. 




Hezekiah Davidson was a mechanic, and in his 
day was the most extensive manufacturer of guns 
and cotton gins in the country where he resided. He 
came to Warren County in i83r, and spent the rest 
of his life on his farm near Monmouth, dying in 
1841, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His widow 
survived him up to the winter of 1857-8. 

Col, James W. Davidson was in his youth inured 
to the toils of farm life, and also learned the trade of 
his father. He afterwards acquired a thorough acad- 
emic education, teaching school two years in Logan 
and two years in Simpson counties, Ky. He went to 
Mississippi and remained there about one year. He 
returned to the old Kentucky home to find that the 
rest of the family had some time before emigrated to 
the West. He had traveled from Brandon, Miss., to 
Barren Co., Ky.,on horseback, and without delay he 
pressed forward, and by the same conveyance reach- 
ed Monmouth. Remaining tliere but a short time, 
he returned to Kentucky, and at Bowling Green, in 
the office of W. L. Underwood began reading law. 
During the last two years spent under the instruction 
of attorney Underwood he taught school in Simpson 
County, going tlience to Logan County, Ky., where ' 
he taught about two years. At Russellville, Ky., he 
finished his course of study witli lawyer Benjamin E. 
Gray, and was admitted to the Bar. He landed at 
Monmouth, May 10, 1839, and at once hung out his 
shingle as attorney-at-law. 

Something of the confidence with which young 
Davidson inspired the people in his abilities as a 
lawyer, may be surmised from the fact that before the 
convening of the first term of Court after his arrival 
in Warren County, Nov. 1839, he was entrusted with 
no less than 83 causes. When Court set, however, his 
early ambition was doomed to disappointment. The 
cold November day augmented the decline of his 
young, though invalid wife, and hercondition became 
at once so precarious as to forbid his absence from 
her bedside, and the Court convened and adjourned 
regularly for more than two years without his attend- 
ance. Not that his young wife yet required his at- 
tention, for before the roses bloomed and while yet 
the new spring time was just warming into life the 
little seeds that were to shoot forth the bright 
flowers and green grasses, Mary E. (Wickware) Da- 
vidson, to whom he was married in Kentucky, Aug. 
26, 1838, yielded up her life, leaving to the care of 



*% 



V 



A 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



665 



her husband an only child, Thaddeus C. Davidson 
now a business man at Kansas City, Mo. 

Mr. Davidson has led the Democratic party of his 
district in two heated campaigns for Congress, his last 
nomination being by acclamation at Peoria, in the fall 
of 1858. In the first, he ran 1,271 votes ahead of 
Buchanan. Senator Douglas publicly complimented 
him by saying, "his campaign was, under all circum- 
stances, the grandest he had ever witnessed." In 
June, 1857, James Buchanan appointed Mr. David- 
son United States Marshal for the Northern District 
of Illinois, but because the influence of the office 
was not used against Mr. Douglas, Davidson was 
soon afterward replaced. 

At the request of the members of the Bar of his 
Judicial District, Mr. Davidson ran for the Circuit 
Judgeship in 18 — , but his Democracy was too pro- 
nounced to carry a majority in a district so ultra 
radical, and previous to the election he withdrew from 
^ the contest. In 1 844, he was defeated by seven votes 
for the Illinois Legislature. I''or46 years Mr. David- 
son has devoted his time to the practice of law, and 
during the last decade has been ranked as the Nestor 
of the Warren County Bar. Criminal causes have re- 
ceived so much of his attention as to make it proper 
to say that that branch of his practice has been 
his specialty. 

April 4, 1843, ^^r. Davidson was married to his sec- 
ond wife, Mary E. Coleman, a native of Hopkins-- 
ville, Ky., who was born July 2, 1823. 

The parents of Mrs. Davidson were James and 
Lucy O. (Hawkins) Coleman. The father was of 
German extraction and the mother of Scotch. The 
family of Mr. Coleman consisted of ten children, 
five brothers and five sisters. The only survivors are 
Mrs. Davidson and one brother, William P. Coleman, 
who is now a resident of Sacramento, California, 
President of a Sacramento bank, and an influential 
citizen ; and one sister, the wife of Dr. Huston, of 
Blandinsville, McDonough Co., this State. One of 
Mrs. D.'s brothers, Stephen O. Coleman, formerly of 
St. Louis, Mo., was a soldier in the Mexican war, and 
in the late war was Captain of the St. Louis Grays 
and with his company served until near the close 
of the war, and was killed at the battle of Wilson 
Creek, near Springfield, Mo. 

Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. David- 
son, we make the following brief memoranda 



Rosalind O. and Cordelia A. died in infancy ; Jes- 
sie P. is now the wife of Mr. H. A. Webster; Lucy 
Ellen, is the widow of Frank Huff; Harry died in in- 
fancy; Stephen Lee is a business man in Kansas City ; 
Julius M. resides at Monmouth ; Kate married a Mr. 
Johnson ; and Pearlie was united in marriage to a 
Mr. Montgomery. 



9<00€ 



>:[Spi; illiam P. Pressly was born near Abbey- 
•Sp?v7prf^ ville. South Carolina, March 17, i8ir. His 
^ father, David Pressly, and his mother, whose 
maiden name was Jane Patterson, came from 
Ireland in their early youth. William was 
the youngest of seven children. He attended for 
some time Miami University, at O.xford, Ohio. 

In 1832 he bought a farm in Preble Co., Ohio, and 
engaged in farming with that energy and success that 
has always marked his busy life. After about 20 
years his health failed him, and he went into busi- ■ 
ness for a time in Hamilton, Ohio. In 1859 he came 
to Monmouth. For one year he farmed west of the 
city limits. Then he began mercantile life here and 
from that time to the present he has been identified 
with Monmouth as one of the most successful, un- 
tiring, energetic and reliable of the business men of 
the city. He dealt finally in dry- goods, and of late 
years also in groceries. 

No man, far or near, has sustained in all these 
years a more unblemished credit than Mr. Pressly 
and none have made a more benevolent use of money 
carefully invested "where it would do the most good." 
In the year 1863 he gave to Monmouth College 700 
acres of choice farming land in Iowa. This would 
have proved e.xceedingly valuable to the college if it 
could have been held for a few years longer. He 
has given, for the purpose of educating native Egyp- 
tian ministers and teachers, $20,000 to missions in 
that sorely troubled land. He was practical in this 
as in all his benevolences, thinking that a native 
could best deal with natives. 

In this county W. P. Pressly will ever be remem- 
bered as the founder of the Warren County Library, 
To estabhsh a library for the county he bought an 
ample lot and built a substantial and excellent brick 



+^ 



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666 



■ ■y 

WARREN COUNTY. 



4^ 



building in 1870. He provided that the building 
should be kept up, and books constantly purchased 
from the rents of two large store-rooms, also given 
by him. As the library has grown in usefulness and 
other needs have become manifest, he has increased 
its power for good by increasing his gift. The $18,- 
000 which he has expended in this way has founded 
one of the most successful popular libraries in the 
West. In accordance with his own idea it is a peo- 
ple's librar)', for the country as well as for the city. 
Thus its benefits are intended for and enjoyed by a 
population four times that of Monmouth. 

The practical good sense of a careful business man 
has given direction and insured success in his own 
life time, and under his own eye, to that which his 
money founded and his judgment sanctioned. 

Mr. Pressly was married in 1833 to Mary Gilmore, 
of Preble Co., Ohio, who died in 1836. In 1838 he 
was married to Mary Miller, of Virginia. She died 
in 1885. Their four children, Virginia, Sarah, Mary 
Jane and Henry are all deceased. 

Henry, a fine, bright, excellent young man, gave 
his life in the service of his country, before Vicks- 
burg. 

Mr. William P. Pressly has always been prominent 
as a devotedly religious man in Sabbath-school 
work, in a devout knowledge and use of Scripture, 
and in that broad Christian charity which lives for 
others and recognizes " One Lord and One Faith" in 
the Christian world. 



W. Jones, the subject of this brief per- 
sonal sketch, is one of the leading farm- 
ers of Roseville Township, living on 
y ^ \ section 12. His farm comprises 297 acres 
'•'V' and is finely improved and cultivated. He 
I makes a specialty of raising the cereals and is 
also interested in stock-raising, being succesful in 
his particular line of labor and a go-ahead, indus- 
trious agriculturist. 

Mr. Jones was born in Hardin Co., Ky., in 1836, 
and his parents are Jesse P. and Magdalen (Gray) 
Jones, both natives of Kentucky. All their lives 
they followed the occupation in which Mr. Jones is 
at present engaged. He remained at home until he 
reached his majority, receiving a common-school ed- 
ucation, and soon after leaving home he visited the 




State of Illinois, remaining one summer. He then 
returned to Kentucky, in which State he continued 
two years, at his home. In i860 he came to Warren 
County and rented a farm in Roseville Township. 
He then, in 1867, bought a farm in Fulton County, 
which property he held two years, and wliich he sold 
at the end of this time, and in 187 i bought his pres- 
ent home. He has been active and energetic and 
has allowed nothing to deter him from the discharge 
of his duty, and, as the result of this, he is the owner 
of one of the pleasantest homes in the county. 

In the year 1S72 Mr. Jones was united in the holy 
bonds of matrimony with Mary J. Hiett. To their 
family circle have been added four children — Em- 
eranza, Mary E , William J. and Edith M. Both 
himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church 
and he is a member of the Masonic Order. He has 
been School Director for some length of time and is 
a rigid Democrat in belief and sentiment, with which 
party he also votes. He is one of the representa- 
tive citizens of Warren County and a desirable friend 
and neighbor. 




rohn Flake is one of the settlers of 1856, 
and a leading farmer by occupation, resid- 
11^^^ ing on section 3, Kelly Township. His 
W£ farm includes 102 acres, all improved and cul- 
^F tivated, and upon it stands a good and com- 

I modious farm residence. He also devotes 
some attention to stock-raising and has proved him- 
self successful in business. 

Mr. Flake was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Sept. 
II, 1830. His father, Amos Flake, was a native of 
Indiana and of German descent. John grew up from 
childhood in the county of his birth, living at home 
on the farm and receiving his education in the com- 
mon schools. He continued with his parents until 
his marriage, Oct. 28, 1852, with Miss Amelia Welhoff, 
who was born in Butler Co., Pa., Nov. 23, 1833, and 
was the daughter of Jacob and Wilhelmina (Steele) 
Welhoff. 

Michael Flake, grandfather of our subject, was of 
German descent and was one of the first settlers in 
Dearborn Co., Ind. He " took up " a tract of tim- 
ber land, upon which he fixed the boundaries and 
commenced its cultivation and improvement. From 
here he went to Hawesville, Ky., where he became 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



667 



a slave-holder. The father of the subject came to 
Mercer County in 1856 and settled in North Hen- 
derson Township, where he bought a farm, and 
where he lived until his death, in 1862. 

The father and mother of Mrs. Flake were born 
in Pennsylvania and Germany, respectively. The 
young people took up their abode at the Flake home- 
stead, where they lived until 1856. From there they 
came to Warren County, locating in Kelly Township, 
where the husband purchased land on section 9, and 
where they lived for two years. At the expiration of 
this time he was confronted witli the old title, where- 
upon he leased the place for five years and bought 
the place which is now his present home. 

In 1868 a tornado swept over the country and de- 
stroyed his house, barn and fences. This was a 
great loss to him, but he rallied from the shock and 
soon after rebuilt, this time a neat frame house. 

The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Flake has been 
made complete by the addition of six children as fol- 
lows : Augustus, Laura, Emily, Amos, Hattie and 
Albert. The father and mother and three of the 
children of this happy household are members in 
regular standing in the Methodist Church. Mr. Flake 
'is a Republican in political sentiment and a useful 
man in the community. In 1863 he added to his 
property a sorghum mill, which he has run ever 
l|, since. 



W. Conlee, station agent of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at Rose- 
yille, is one of the leading representative 
citizens of this village. He is President of the 
Village Board and of the Board of Education, 
and is one of the most enterprising and wor- 
thy men claimed by the town. He was born in 
Morgan Co., 111., in 1847. His parents were Josiah 
and Mary A. (Brown) Conlee, natives of Madison 
Co., 111., and Tennessee, respectively. They were 
by occupation farmers and the father entered the 
better life in July, 1882. His relict, the mother, still 
survives him, living in the liome of J. W. 

The subject of this notice lived under the parental 
roof until he reached the age of 22 years, receiving a 
common-school education, and, while at home, 
showing an interest in the affairs of the farm, work- 
ing with his father. He afterward learned telegraphy 
and was employed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad 
in the years 1869-70. He went from here into the 
employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road, where for 12 years he has held the position of 
station and express agent. 

He deserted the ranks of single blessedness on be- 
half of Miss Minnie, daughter of John Powell, of 
Roseville. The event securing his happiness took 




place in 1880. One bud has blossomed on the pa- 
rental stalk, a son, Grover C, and the little home 
circle is a pleasant and attractive one. 

Mr. Conlee is a man of keen foresight and logical 
common-sense. -He feels aii interest in public af- 
fairs and is Democratic in political sentiment. He 
is Master Mason in the lodge of that order, an Odd 
Fellow of the encampment at Bushnell, as well as 
one of the Select Knights, A O. U. W. He owns a 
pleasant residence, on the corner of Gossett and 
Chamberlain Streets, and is desirably situated and 
filling a wide sphere of usefulness. By religious pro- 
fession he is a Baptist and an active worker in all 
philanthropic and worthy enterprises, and may truth- 
fully be called " good," in its worthiest sense. 



♦^^^ 



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asper Galloway is a resident of Little 
g York and a native of Ohio, being born in 
^^ Green County, Feb, 29, 1844. He is the 

^!!^ son of Anthony and Catherine (Junkin) Gal- 
loway. His father also was born in Ohio, 
and his mother came from the State of Penn- 
sylvania. When Casper was nine years of age, his 
parents came to Illinois and located in Warren 
County, where they lived for two years, and remov- 
ing from this place went to Henderson County, 
where his father bought a farm, in Green Bush 
Township, close to the Biggsville line. He, how- 
ever, enjoyed his new home but a short time, being 
snatched away by death in the prime of manhood, 
in the year 1856. Following his death, his wife 
bought a farm over the line in Biggsville Township, 
which property she still occupies as a home 

Mr. Galloway of this narrative grew up in the 
home of his mother, remaining with the bereaved 
widow until 1864, and proving a valuable assistant 
and confidant. At this date he entered Monmouth 
College, from which institution he graduated with 
the degree of A. M. in 1870. Soon after graduation 
he went to Washington, D C, where he received 
an appointment as clerk in the Census Bureau, 
in which position he labored for one year and 
from which he came back to Warren County, en- 
gaging as a teacher, in which profession he continued 
until 1878, when he formed a business association 
with G B. Harvey as partner. This was located at 
Ale.xis, and he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 
1882, at which time he sold out and for about a 
year was idle. He next took a trip to the West for 
the purpose of seeing the country, with which he 
was pleased, so much so that in 1883, he came to 
Little York, and bought a building then in process 
of construction. On the completion of the same he 
formed a business connection with Charles Rogers 
as associate partner, and the two opened a general 
A- • , 



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668 



WARREN COUNTY. 




store. This firm coniiniied with a large and gratify- 
ing trade until May, 1884, at which date Mr. Gallo- 
way sold out to his partner. 

In the year 1873, April 24, he espoused Miss Re- 
becca A. Wakefield, wlio was born in Miffland Co., 
Pa., Dec. 3, 1 844. and to them have been given five 
children, as follows: Horace C, Mary C, Edith, 
Jennie and Chester A. Mr. and Mrs. Galloway are 
devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, which 
religious denomination they strongly supi>ort. He 
is a member of Lodge No. 702, Alexis, A. F. &. A. 
M., and of Little York Lodge, No. r53, L O. O. F., 
and is in politics a Republican. 

^. -^r ^ooo c : I 

D. Patch. Standing prominent among the 
leading merchants of Roseville, and identi- 
fied as proprietor of the Commercial House, 
is the gentleman of whom this brief personal 
sketch is written. The hotel which he con- 
ducts has been in active working order since 

1873, at which time it was erected. 

Mr. Patch was born in Eaton, Carroll Co., N. H., 
and his parents, originally from Maine, were Dennis 
and Susan (Drew) Patch. While yet young, Dennis 
learned tlie carpenter trade, at which he worked for 
a number of years, then, in 1857, with his wife and 
little family, removed to the State of Illinois. Here 
he settled in Ellison Township, purchasing 80 acres 
of land, to which he afterwards added 40 acres. 
Making one or two changes into different parts of 
the township, he eventually settled down and there 
remained until his death. Their family was un- 
usually large, consisting of 14 children, of whom 12 
grew to manliood and womanhood, nine still sur- 
viving. 

Mr. Patch came to Illinois in 1856, and stopping 
in Ellison Township, began a teacher's life in the 
schools of Warren County. At this profession he 
continued, teaching a large share of the time until 

1868, when he bought a farm and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. To this, with native thrift, he 
added work at his trade as a carpenter, until, in 

1869, he went to Kewanee, Henry County, and there 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. Following this for 
three years, he closed his labors in this direction, 
and, coming to Roseville, bought a lot and erected 
the present Commercial Hotel. In tSyS, he en- 
gaged as clerk in the Grange store and in this busi- 
ness he continued until 1882, when he purchased 
the entire stock from the company and has since 
been sole projirietor. To the original goods he has 
added agricultural implements, reapers, mowers, 
plows, wagons, etc. He purchased on the corner of 
Main and Walnut Streets, the Grange store and four 



lots. His stock includes dry goods, boots and shoes, 
hats and caps, and also groceries. In 1865, Sept. 
21, he entered into conjugal relations with Miss 
Sarah E. Morford, native of Mercer Co., Pa., and 
daughter of Benjamin Morford of Roseville, now de- 
ceased. 

The family of Mr. Patch consists of four children 
— Grace D., Flora M., Fred. G. and Gertrude, one 
child having been lost by death, a son, named Ralph. 
Grace and Flora are in attendance at the Hillsdale 
College, of Michigan. This is their second scholas- 
tic year, they expecting to graduate in three years 
from the date of their entrance to the institution. 
Mr. Patch is an active worker in public affairs. He 
is a Greenbacker in political sentiment, and belongs 
to the A. O. U. W. Lodge, and is well known as a 
citizen who has at heart the best interests of his 
home town. 



^^ 




^avid Graham, a citizen of Monmouth, wns 
iv born in Todd Co., Ky., April 12, 1821. 
His parents, Matthew and Janette Gra- 
ham, were of Scotch descent and moved from 
South Carolina, their native State, to Kentucky, 
about the year 1804, where there were born to 
them ten children, eight sons and two daughters. 
The eldest, Martha Graham McDill, was born in 
1805 and died in 1841 ; Andrew, born in 1807, died 
in 1848; John W., born in 1809; Robert C.,born in 
181 1, died in 1878; William M., born in 1S14, died 
in 1863; Margaret Graham Porter, born in 1816, 
died in i86t ; Wilson M., born in t8i8, died in 
187 I ; James H., born in 1823; A. Y., born in r826, 
died in 1876. 

In 1878, the entire family moved from Kentucky 
to Preble Co., Ohio. The father died in 1857 and 
the mother in 1843. 

David Graham came with his father to Henderson 
County in 1836, where he was brought up to the 
vocation of farming, which he has pursued all his 
life. He removed to Monmouth in 1867, where he 
has resided ever since. Coming from the old Whig 
party into the Republican ranks, the latter has been 
the recipient of his unciualified support ever since, 
though at no time has he been known as a politician. 
He was married Nov. 3, 1846, in Warren County, to 
Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of the late Hon. 
John Brown, of this county. She was born July 8, 
t826. They have had born to them six children — 
Elizabeth (Mrs. G. H. Cowden), Clara (Mrs. A. G. 
McCoy), James A., Mary L. (Mrs. W. B. Bryson), 
Fannie, M., and Ralph W., who died in 1861. The 
family are communicants of the United Presbyterian 
Church. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



66s 





INTRODUQT^ORY 




~«>- :=^ ^^-<isHs>'^ 




IME is ever moving on. The 
deeds and actions of to-day 
form the subject of history 
to-morrow. From the rec- 
ord of these deeds men form 
opinions, and their actions 
in the present and future are gov- 
erned thereby. Warren County fur- 
nishes tlie world a record that is 
of great interest, a record that tells 
of heroic deeds of its pioneers, 
how that vast territory was se- 
cured from savage tribes and 
made the home of civilized man. 
In Rock Island County originated 
the trouljles, and from this county 
nearly every movement was made, 
in the Black Hawk War, and here the chiefs gath- 
ered together in council, and treaties were made re- 
sulting in lasting peace. Upon the lovely island 
and magnificent bluffs that overlook the river, the 
red men were wont to stray, and many beautiful and 
touching legends are told of their presence here. 
The white men came, and that country so lovely in 
nature has been greatly changed, but it can never be 
robbed of its great beauty. The island and the 
bluffs still exist, and the valleys are transformed into 
fields of waving grain. The trails of the hunters and 
the wily red man have £;iven place to railroads and 
broad thoroughfares, school-houses, churches, mills, 
postoffices, manufactories and elegant dwelling-hous- 
es are now to be seen upon every hand. The rec- 



ord of the marvelous change is history, and the most 
important that can be written. 

It is but little more than half a century since the 
white men came to this beautiful land for the pur- 
pose of securing homes, but in that time what great 
and startling events have transpired! Monarchies 
since then have crumbled into dust and republics 
have been reared upon their ruins. Inventions that 
have revolutionized labor have been given to the 
world, and in much of what has been done the peo- 
ple of Warren County have borne a leading part. 

The question is often asked, why men leave the 
comforts and pleasures of civilized lands and strike 
out into a new and almost unknown country, bearing 
the toils and privations which are unavoidable. Not 
more from choice than necessity did the old pioneers 
bid farewell to the play-grounds of their childhood 
and the graves of their fathers. One generation 
after another had worn themselves out in the service 
of avaricious landlords, or to eke out a miserable 
existence upon barren or worn-out land, which they 
called their own. From the first flashes of the morn- 
ing light until the last glimmer of the setting sun they 
had toiled unceasingly on from father to son,«arry- 
ing home each day upon their aching shoulders the 
precious proceeds of their daily labor. Money, 
pride and power were handed down in the line of 
succession from the rich fatlier to his son, while un- 
ceasing work, continuous poverty and everlasting 
obscurity were the heritage of the working man and 
his children. For the sons and daughters of thq 






'T' 




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666 



lVARREI\f COUNTY. 



poor man to remain there was to follow and never to 
lead — to be poor forever. 

Without money, prestige or friends, the old pioneers 
drifted along seeking the garden spot, the place 
where he might establish a home, where he might ed- 
ucate his sons and daughters, giving them privileges 
he never enjoyed himself. The broad prairie and 
beautiful groves of Warren County in that early 
day were indeed inviting to those seeking a home in 
a more favored land, and here planted their stakes, 
many of whom the present generation have rea- 
son to rise up and call blessed. To secure and 
adorn the homes desired by the pioneers, more than 
ordinary ambition was required, greater than ordina- 
nary endurance demanded. How well they have 
succeeded, let the broad, cultivated fields and fruit- 
bearing orchards, the flocks and the herds, the pa- 
latial residences, the places of business, the spacious 
halls, the clattering car-wheels and ponderous en- 
gines all testify. 

There was a time when pioneers waded through 
deep snows, across bridgeless rivers and through bot- 
tomless sloughs, more than a score of miles to mill 
or market, and when more time was required to reach 
and return fro;r; market than is now required to cross 
the continent or Atlantic Ocean. These were the 
times when their palaces were constructed of logs 
and covered with " shakes " riven from forest trees. 
These were the times when children were stowed 
away during the nights in the low, dark attics, 
amongst the horns of the elk and the deer, and 
where through the chinks in the " shakes " they could 
count the twinkling stars. These were tlie times 
when chairs and bedsteads were hewn from the for- 
est trees, and tables and bureaus constructed from 
the boxes in which goods were brought. These were 
the days when all were required to work six days in 
the week and all the hours in a day from sunrise to 
sunset. Now all is changed. In viewing the bless- 
ings which now surround us, we should reverence 
those that made them possible, and ever fondly cher- 
ish in memory the sturdy old pioneer and his log 
cabin. 
Generation after generation comes and goes like the 



•vwca/tMS-''— f^l 



leaves of autumn. Nations have been born, have 
had their rise and fall, and then passed away, leav- 
ing scarcely a riffle on the great ocean of time to 
show that they ever existed, so imjjerfect and muta- 
ble has been the means to perpetuate their achieve- 
ments. It was left to modern ages to establish an 
intelligent, undecaying, immutable method of per- 
petuating this history; immutable in that it is almost 
unlimited in extent, and perpetual in its action; and 
this is through the art of printing. Nations may be- 
come disintegrated and pass away, monuments and 
statues may crumble into dust, but books will live. 
This art has been rapidly advancing from its first in- 
ception until now it would seem that tliere were no 
longer any further grounds for improvement. This is 
pre-eminently an age of printing, an age of books. 

To the present generation, however, are we indebt- 
ed for the introduction of the admirable system of 
local history and local biography By this system 
every man, though he has not achieved what the 
world calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate 
his life, his history through the coming ages ; so alike 
has every community. 

We come now to the work before us : To our pat- ==> 
rons, we say, tiiat the scythe of Time cuts down all ; 
nothing of the physical man is left; the monument 
which his children or friends may erect to his mem- 
ory in the cemetery will crumble into dust and pass 
away ; but his life, iiis achievements, the work he has 
accomplished, which otherwise would be forgotten, is 
perpetuated by this book through coming ages. 
Shakespeare has said : 

Till' evil that men do lives after them; 
The good is oft iiitened with tlieir bones. 

Our aim i;i this work has been only to preserve the 
good. We have sought to gather from the best 
sources of information obtainable, the conditions and 
incidents of early.pioneer life, and to present them 
together with tlie present development of the county. 
Many of the pioneers came into this beautiful coun- 
ty without a dollar in their pockets, but with the 
unflinching determination to carve out their fortunes 
and build up a community. With undaunted hearts 
and a courage equal to that of the great heroes of 
our country, they began life. 



*4^ 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



!?^^4-§^ 



667 




^^^^'^€^^^>#^^^^»r^^^w^^P^ 




4 




Y way of preface to the history 
of Warren County, a brief 
account of the settlement 
and organization of the State 
of Illinois is essential to the 
proper understanding of the 
condition of the country in 
this part of the State prior to 
its settlement. The terri- 
tory now embraced by this State at one 
time belonged to the Aborigines. The 
time of their settlement here has never 
been definitely fixed by history. They 
have never, however, been treated by 
historians in other than a nomadic sense ; 
never having been recognized as citizens, 
or even occupants of this continent. 
Therefore, we will make our bow to the 
illustrious precedence that has been es- 
tablished by historians, and pass on. We will say, 
then, that this territory was originally a part of Flor- 
ida and belonged to the Spanish Government ; that 
the Spanish chevalier, Fernando de Soto, with his 
band of followers, was the first to discover this beau- 
tiful land. This was as early as 1541. The Span- 
ish, however, never took possession of it and it was 
first occupied by the French, who, after having planted 
settlements along the St. Lawrence and in Canada, 
fitted out one of their Jesuit missionaries and sent 
him westward up the St. Lawrence. From thence he 
was to take the Mississippi and follow its course. 
This explorer was the famous Father Marquette. He 



reached the great " Father of Waters " in the spring 
of 167;^, hoisted the sails on his little bark canoes, 
and, with his companions and two Indian guides, 
with joy unspeakable, floated down the majestic river ' 
between the broad plains of Illinois and Iowa. While 
descending the Mississippi, he discovered an Indian 
trail and immediately moored his boats and took the ' 
trail. After walking about six miles, they came to an 
Indian village, when the inhabitants advanced to 
meet them, and through their calumets, the pipe of • 
peace was smoked. In saluting Father Marquette, 
they addressed him in a language familiar to him. 
" We are Illinois, " they said. " How beautiful is the 
son, O Frenchman, when thou comest to see us 
Our village awaits thee, thou shalt enter in peace all 
dwellings." He remained with these hospitable 
people a few days and then descended the Missis- 
sippi River until he was satisfied that it entered into 
the Gulf of Mexico, when he returned and reaching 
the 39th degree of north latitude, entered the Illinois 
River and followed it to its source. He was cor- 
dially invited by the Illinois Indians to occupy its 
banks and remain with them. Desiring, however, to 
continue his travels, he declined their generous offer 
and was conducted by one of the chiefs, accompan- 
ied by several of his warriors, to a point near Chicago, 
if not that point, where he remained to preach the 
gospel to the Miamis, sending his companions back 
to Quebec to announce his discoveries. This may 
be said to be the inception of the settlement of Illi- 
nois by the Caucasian race. 

Father Marquette's discoveries and his fame 



iA!r: 



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668 



■ Y . 
WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



thrilled the hearts of many adventurers in France, 
and among these was Robert Cavalier de la Salle. 
La Salle came to this country, remained awhile, and 
then returned to France. He sought an interview 
at once with Lojis XIV, whom he inspired with 
his own enthusiasm and from whom he received a 
commission to explore the valley of the Mississippi. 
He returned with a number of mechanics, military 
stores, merchandise, etc., in the year 1678. After 
leaving the St. Liwrence and Niagara Rivers and 
crossing Lake Erie, he reached Green Bay, and next 
entered St. Joseph River. At these places he es- 
tablished trading posts. He then descended the Il- 
linois River as far as Lake Peoria, where he was met 
by a large p^rty of Illinois Indians, who offered him 
the calumet and witli whom he formed an alliance. 
He was received with great joy and when they 
learned tliat he was lo establish a colony among 
them, their happiness knew no bounds. Thus began 
the first white settlement in this fair Territory. 

A long war arose between England and France 
over the possession of this country. Peace was con- 
cluded between these two countries, Feb. 10, 1763, 
by virtue of which France ceded to England the 
Canadas, Nova Scotia, Louisiana (east of the Miss- 
issippi) and her possessions on the Mississippi and 
Ohio, which included tlie Territory of Illinois. At 
this time the white population numbered al>out 3,000 
souls. These resided along the Mississippi and Illi- 
nois Rivers, the largest towns being Kaskaskia and 
Cahokia. 

Although Illinois was ceded in (863, it was not 
taken possession of by England until 1765, when 
Capt. Sterling, sent by Gen. Gage, then Comman- 
der-in-Chief of the British forces in Ainerica, as- 
sumed control in the name of Great Britain. Illi- 
nois remained in the possession of the British until 
177S, when Col. Rogers Clarke vvas secretly fitted 
out by the Commonwealth of Virginia with seven 
companies, money, arms, ammunition and military 
stores, and clothed with all the authority he could 
wish. After a brief resistance, he took possession in 
the name of Virginia. Reporting his signal triumph 
to the Governor of that State, the Legislature passed 
an act in October, 1778, establishing "As the County 
of Illinois, all that part of Virginia west of the Ohio " 
(which surpassed in dimensions the whole of Great 
Britain), and appointed Col. John Todd Civil Com- 
mander and liieutenant Colonel of that county. After 



establishing garrisons at Kaskaskia, Cahokia and at 
the falls of the Ohio (on the site of Louisville), Col. 
Clarke exerted his great influence to bring about a 
good feeling between the Indians and the Americans. 

After the close of the Revolutionary War and the 
surrender of Cornwallis with his whole army, Oct. 
19, 1781, to the Americans, a treaty of peace was 
signed between England and the United Colonies, 
by virtue of which the independence of the latter 
was recognized and all the land East of the Missis- 
sippi and south of the lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, 
Superior and the Lake of the Woods, which included 
Illinois, was ceded to the Americans. All this terri- 
tory, by virtue of the conquest through that renowned 
soldier, Col. Rogers Clarke, was claimed by Virginia; 
in part, it was also claimed by New York, Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut, but having in view the all- 
paramount object, a Union among the States of the 
Confederacy and the establishment of a permanent 
Government, the people of these States, through 
their patriotic influence, ceded all their rights to this 
territory, which was called the Northwestern Terri- 
tory, to the Federal Government. Subsequently 
Congress, in the summer of 1787, passed a general 
law for the government of the Territories of the 
United States. This law provided for a Governor, a 
Secretary, a Court of three Judges, Representatives, . 
and a legislative Couni ii, which was to be appointed 
by Congress. The legislature was authorized to elect 
by joint ballot a delegate to Congress. Gen. Arthur 
St. Claire, a distinguished officer of the Revolution- 
ary Army, was appointed to the Governorship (which 
was the first to be appointed to the Northwestern 
Territory), and Commander-in-chief of the Territory. 
The new Government, however, was not destined to 
remain in peace, for the Indians again commenced 
hostilities, incited by English gold and also by the 
hope of recovering their favorite hunting grounds. 
St. Clair being feeble in health and unable to prop- 
erly command his troops, was disastrously defeated 
by the Indians. To remove the disgrace of this de- 
feat and retrieve the credit of the American arms, 
the gallant Gen. Wayne was sent out, who com- 
pletely routed the Indians and once more restored 
peace. 

In 1803 a new Territory was formed, called the 
Territory of Indiana, whicli embraced the whole of 
the Northwestern Territory, with the exception of 
that part from which Ohio was formed, and William 



*4^ 




WARREN COUNTY. 



^r¥ 



669 



H. Harrison was appointed Governor. This Gov- 
ernment remained until 1809, when another change 
was made and Illinois was erected into an independ- 
ent Territory, with Ninian Edwards as Governor. 
Peace had been made and the whole people com- 
menced again their agricultural pursuits on ground 
which had been occupied by the red men. This con- 
dition remained until the second conflict with Eng- 
land, known as the War ofi8i2. A bold, daring 
chief, Tecumseh by name, taking advantage of this 
war between the two countries, incited his people 
again to battle and joined the British forces, who 
again occupied a part of this Territory. This war was 
carried on chiefly in the Northwestern Territory, and 
Gen. Harrison was one of the chief actors. The con- 
flict was hot and decisive, and the Americans were 
again victorious. The defeat of the British by Com- 
modore Perry, on Lake Erie, and on land at the bat- 
tle of the Tlianies by Gen. Harrison and the gallant 
Colont-l Johnson (in whicli battle Black Hawk took 
part), the killing of Tecumseh and the rout and 
slaugliter of his warriors, terminated this conflict in 
the Nor'hwestern Territory, which was once more 
united to the Republic, never again to be separated. 

In 1812, under the ordinance of 1787, a delegate 
was sent to Congress and a Territorial Government 
established. In this manner the Territory existed, 
with Ninian Edwards as Governor, until 1818. The 
population at the close of the War of 181 2 did not 
exceed 12,000 souls. In 1818 the inhabitants num- 
bered 50,000. At the beginning of this year the peo- 
ple of the Territory unanimously resolved to enter 
the Union as a State, and instructed their delegate, 
Nathaniel Pope, who was then in Congress, to bring 
the subject before that body and take such means as 
was necessary to accomplish this result. 

The bill for the admission of Illinois into the 
Union as a State, was passed in April, 1818. An 
election was held under the provisions of this Act, 
for State officers, and Shadrack Bond was chosen 
Governor, and entered upon the discharge of his du- 
ties in October, of the same year, with the seat of 
government at Kaskaskia. Subsequently, Ninian 
Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas were chosen Senators. 
In 1822 Edward Coles, an anti-slavery man, was 
elected to succeed Gov. Bond. In 1826 Gov. Coles' 
term expired, and Ninian Edwards was elected to 
succeed him. This brings the history of the State, 
the principal points of which have only been touched. 



down to the period when the settlement of Warren 
County begins, and at this point the former is left 
that the history of the latter may be taken up. 




jri9^ 



Organization of "Warren County. 

HE Legislature of the State of Illinois, at 
its session during tiie winter of 1822-23, laid 
out into counties what is known as the Mili- 
^ tary Tract, together with other unorganized ter- 
ritory. This land was situated between the Il- 
linois and the Mississippi Rivers, extending as 
far north as the north line of Warren County. At 
this session Pike County was formed from this terri- 
tory, with a county seat at Atlas. Subsequently the 
counties of Adams, Fulton, Peoria and Schuyler were 
organized with McDonough attached to the latter for 
judicial purposes. 

During the Legislative session of 1824 and 1825, 
Warren County was fotmed, which comprised all 
that part of the Military Tract west of the 4th 
P. M., extending to the Mis^issiI)pi River, and 
including the territory now occupied by Hender- 
son County. At tliis time it was attached to Pike 
County for judicial purposes. Subsequently it was 
attached to Peoria County. The county was named 
after Gen. Joseph Warren, of Revolutionary fame. 

The first settlement in the territory now embraced 
by this county, was made in 1827, by Mrs. Talbot, 
her son, John B., and her nephew, Allen G. An- 
drews. For more particular information regarding 
its early settlement, the reader is referred to the his- 
tory of the several townships. 

The first furrow turned m Warren County soil was 
in 1828. The foundation for six settlements was 
made during this and the following year, and the zeal 
of the settlers was only equaled by their industry, 
and one pioneer was soon followed by another. By 
the summer of 1830 it was estimated that there were 
between 300 and 400 inhabitants in the county, who 
had established the reputation of being prosperous. 
Of so much importance had it become that Peoria 
County deemed it expedient to send up an officer 
with the view of levying a tax for her benefit, she 
having previously establislied a judicial district 
here. The inhabitants of Warren, as long as they 



•Xl 



V 



4 ? > 



670 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



were not taxed and had a justice before whom they 
could transact their little legal business, and consum- 
mate their matrimonial alliances, did not care to what 
county they were attached or belonged. Marriage 
licenses were dispensed with in those days, and all 
that was required was the posting up of a notice for 
ten days, announcing the coming event. 

There was no road then from this county to Peoria, 
a distance of some 50 miles, and in going to and 
from, the Kickapoo and Spoon rivers had to be ford- 
ed, which was rather dangerous in high water time. 
So when a movement was made to put a tax on the 
people of Warren County for the small benefits they 
had received, they rebelled against it as much as the 
Boston Tea Party did against the tax of Great Brit- 
ain. 

In the Spring of 1830, therefore, having a desire to 
manage their own municipal affairs, and to have 
whatever taxes they might be called on to pay go in- 
to tiieir own exchequer; and believing, also, that they 

' had the requisite population for a full county organ- 
ization, they petitioned the Hon. Ricliard M. Young, 
Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, for an order to 

'hold an election for the purpose of forming a com- 
plete county government. About this period the 
census had been taken by a commissioner sent on 

' by the county court of Peoria County, wiio reported 
about 300 inhabitants, which was not sufficient for a 
county organization ; nor wa"; this report satisfactory 
to the people of Warren County, who claimed about 
400. Subsequently the U. S. Marshal passed through 
the county and reported 350. 

Daniel McNeil was selected to go with tlie petition 
and present it to Judge Young, who was then at Pe- 
oria. The Judge saw the justice of the petition, and 
at once granted the prayer of the citizens of Warren, 
and apix)inted Saturday, the third day of July, A.D. 
1830, for tlie election of three County Commission- 
ers, one Sheriff and one Coroner. The election was 
to be held at the house of Adam Ritchey, for the 
purpose of having this order carried into execution. 
He appointed John B. Talbot, Adam Ritchey, Jr., 
and Robert K. Hendricks, Judges of the said elec- 
tion. The election was to be held viva voce, between 
the hours of 9 o'clock in the forenoon, and 7 o'clock 
in the afternoon. 

The third day of July, 1830, was waited for with 
a good deal of anxiety by the voters of Warren. It 



came as all things do, in good time. It wa beau- 
tiful day. A lovely breeze was wafted over the prai- 
ries; a few clouds flitted above in the blue summer 
sky, the air was balmy and enlivened by the sweet 
songs of wild birds. After their morning's work was 
done, the voters wended their way from their several 
homes to the place of election to cast their first vote 
in their new settlement, to exercise the great gift of 
the freeman. What a precious boon is this ! The 
right of self-government ; the exercise of sufTrage, 
holding witliin ourselves the jjower to regulate and 
control our political affairs. And yet, how little is it 
appreciated by some, and to what extent are its 
grand and sacred rights abused! There was no pol- 
itics in this election, and the voters cast their tick- 
ets for the men they deemed most worthy. The elec- 
tion passed off harmoniously, and the hope was 
expressed that in all future elections there would be 
tlie same good feeling manifested, and the same in- 
tegrity of tlie ballot-box preserved. 1 

The election resulted in the choice of John Pence, •, \ 
John B. Talbot and Andrew Ritchey, Jr., for County | 
Commissioners; John Rust, Sheriff; and John Ritch- | , 
ev, Coroner. ^ 

The persons named in Judge Young's order for 
Judges of Election, declined to serve, and the peo- 
ple appointed Robert K. Hendricks, Sheldon Lock- 
wood and Peter Butler in tlieir places. For Clerks of 
Election, they appointed Stephen S. Piielps and 
Daniel McNeil. There were 37 votes polled at this 
election, three voters being absent. 

The county was organized, the Commissioners as- 
sumed their duties, and for many years the political 
government of the county was very nicely conducted 
in this way. For a brief season it was under the 
management of the County Court, but for over thirty 
years the public affairs of the county have been in 
the hands of the Board of Supervisors. After the 
organization of the county, theseltlers felt themselves 
of greater importance, and worked for the progress 
of their new homes with renewed zeal. It was many 
years, however, before the beautiful and fertile prai- 
ries were settled. In fact this was not done to any 
considerable extent until the advent of the "iron 
horse." The introduction of railroads stimulated 
emigration, and increased the activity in manufac- 
tures and agricultural pursuits. While the county 
through its generous aids to railroad enterprises has 



44- 



J^ 



r 



WARREN COUNTY. 



671 



%* 



encumbered itself with a large debt, yet it has been 
benefitted by the rise of property and the general 
development and increase of all branches of indus- 
try. 

From the advent of the Talbots, its first settlers, 
in 1827, it has moved steadily on, with few draw- 
backs, until it now has an estimated population of 
23,000, with an assessment value, as shown by the 
reports of 1885, of $4,928,755 on the improved lands; 
$68,655 o"^ unimproved lands ; town lots, $794,872 ; 
personal projierty, $1,583,087. Strictly speaking, 
there is no unimproved land in the county. For a gen- 
eral average of valuation of lands, the county ranks 
among the first in the State, and by no means would 
it appear insignificant if compared with the counties 
of any of the Eastern States, and if the editor who 
wrote tiie following stanza, in 1847, could pass over, 
this country now, and through its broad, cultivated 
fields and elegant homes, he would undoubtedly be 
ashamed of his verse : 

''Great western waste of bottom land. 
Flat as a pancake, rich as grease, 

AVliere gnats are full as big as toads, 
And skeeters are as big as geese. 



O, lonesome, windy, grassy place. 

Where buftalo and snakes prevail; 
The first with dreadful looking face. 

The last with dreadful sounding tail. 
I'd rather live on camel rump, 

And be a Yankee double beggar. 
Than where they never see a stump, 

And shake to death with fever'ii 'ager." 

The old log cabins have disappeared and in their 
places are fine dwellings ; ox teams as a means of 
travel and transportation are gone, and the steam 
car now rushes over the prairie; the mortar and 
corn-cracker live only in the memory of the pioneer, 
while the products of the roller mill are placed in his 
store room ; the dread of the savage no longer dis- 
turbs his slumbers, nor does the wolf come in the 
darkness of the night to destroy his flocks. With 
complacency he can take a retrospective view of the 
past and contemplate the transformations made dur- 
ing half a century. Yes, half a century ago, before 
the pioneer there was doubt and uncertainty, priva- 
tions and dangers; before him to-day, standing out 
in broad, radiant light, is a complete social and po- 
litical government, under American institutions and 
shining resplendent with American freedom. 




-SU^l 



r 



■ cT_i 



JU 



672 



WARREN COUNTY. 




liidiaii Hist 



f\ 





^^i^ 





wr^ 




HEN this Territory was first 
- occupied by tlie Aborigines 
;:i3j orliuli.ins, lias never been 
definitely ascertained. 
When Father Marquette, 
with his companions, sailed 
down the Mississippi in their 
frail bark canoes, they discovered a trail 
leading out from Illinois' beautiful shores 
and followmg it, came, after a journey of a 
ftw miles, to an Indian village. The 
inhabitants of this primitive village came 
forward to meet Father Marquette and 
party, and addressing them in a language 
that was familiar to Marquette, said, "^Ve 
are Illinois," whicli translated means, "we 
are men." This was in the summer of 1673. After 
remaining here awhile. Father Marquette and party 
sailed down the Mississippi River until he satisfied 
himself that this river emptied into the Oulf of Mex- 
ico. Then he returiied and entered the Illinois 
River and followed it to its source. Along its banks 
as well as at its source, he found Indian settlements. 
These Indians desired him to remain with ihemand 
make their liome his home, but desiring to pursue 
his explorations, he declined their- generous invita- 
tion and was conducted by some of their chiefs to 
the site now occupied by Chicago. At this place he 
also found an Indian settlement, the Miamis. 

When La Salle visited this territory, five years 
later, he found several Indian settlements along the 



large water courses, among which were the villages 
of Kaskaskia and Cahokia. The first peo|)le to set- 
tle among the Indians were the French, and they 
were most heartily welcomed, and lived together on 
the most friendly terms with these then very innocent 
and warm-hearted people. It is evident that had there 
been no coiifl ct between France and England, and, 
later on, none between England and America, there 
never would have been any trouble between the 
white and the red man. 

From the discovery of this country by Columbus, 
to the commencement of hostilities between the 
white inhabitants, all travelers and settlers to this 
country were received with the greatest cordiality. 
These innocent peo|)le were deluded and deceived, 
first by one white faction and then by another, until 
they did not know who to believe, nor who, if any, 
were their real friends. This much may be consist- 
ently said in palliation of the atrocities in after years 
committed by them. 

The Sac tribe of Indians, at the close of the long 
war between England and France over the Canadian 
Territory, which terminated in favor of the former, 
were driven from their village near Quebec, by the 
united efforts of the different tribes of Indians then 
inhabiting that country. They then settled at Mon- 
treal, from which place they were subsequently 
again driven by the combined strength of their ene- 
mies to Mackinac. Here they met the British troops, 
who gave them provisions and made them presents. 
They were not permitted to remain long here, for 



^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



■^^^r^ 



673 



their remorseless enemies still pursued them, driving 
tliem from one place to another, until they reached 
Green Bay, where they first mei the Fox Indians. 

They made a village near Green Bay on what was 
afterward named Sac River. They held a council 
with the Foxes and a national alliance was formed 
between them. Subsequently the Foxes abandoned 
their village and joined the Sacs, and as neither were 
sufficiently strong to meet their enemies with any 
hope of success, they soon became as one band or 
nation of people. They were still driven, liowever, 
by their enemies to the Wisconsin River, where they 
remained in peace for some time. While here a 
party of tlieir young men started out on an expedi- 
tion, and coming to Rock River, followed it to its 
mouth. Tliey then returned to the village and 
made a report of all they had seen of the beautiful 
country and large rivers below. Upon hearing the 
reports of the grand country south from the young 
men, these tribes gathered up tlieir little possessions, 
descended the Rock River, met the Kaskaskias, 
drove them away, and commenced the building up 
of a new village, which they resolved never to leave. 

This was the first settlement in the territory now 
embraced by Illinois, made by the Indians after the 
whites came in. With this settlement was Pyesa, 
father of Black Hawk ; and here Black Hawk, who 
was the great grandson of Nanamakee, was born, in 
1767 ; here, also, Black Hawk learned the first les- 
sons of war, going out with his father, who had 
joined the Muscows, against the Osages. During 
the war with the Osages, Black Hawk distinguished 
himself as a fighter. Finally this tribe became sat- 
isfied to live in their own country. After peace had 
been established with the Osages, a war with the 
Cherokees came on. In the war with this nation, 
Black Hawk's father was killed, and he became 
chief and fell heir to the great medicine bag of his 
forefathers. Black Hawk, after a long and arduous 
campaign with the Chippewas, Kaskaskias and 
Osages, delivered his hunting-grounds from these 
enemies. He then, with many of his braves, visited 
St. Louis, to pay his respects to his " Spanish father," 
as he termed him. It was while liere that he was 
informed that the Americans were coming to take 
charge of the country. This made Black Hawk sad, 
for he had been prejudiced against the Americans 
by the British. They soon arrived, and Black Hawk 
met them for the first time as he went to take leave 



of the Spaniards. As the Americans came in one 
door. Black Hawk with his followers went out the 
other and returned to their home on Rock River. 
On arriving home, they reported what they had seen 
and the new people they had met. 

Some time after, Lieut. Pike with some soldiers 
arrived at their village. This was the first time the 
Indians here met the Americans on their own hunt- 
ing grounds. Lieut. Pike found these Indians wav- 
ing the British colors, and he gave tliem an American 
flag, which they raised. 

During the War of the Revolution, between Great 
Britain and the Colonies, most of the Indian tribes 
took part with tlie former. In the treaty of peace 
between the two countries, the Indians had not been 
included. Several tribes, therefore, stimulated on 
by English gold, continued their hostilities, and in the 
Northwestern Territory several hundred whites had 
been killed, including men, women and children, be- 
fore the Government took active measures to stop 
the slaughter. This work was delegated to Gen. 
Arthur bt. Clair, former Governor of the Territory, 
which was in 17 91. The expedition of Gen. St. 
Clair, owing possibly to his feeble health, was dis- = 
astrous. The Americians were completed routed, a 
panic seized the army and they could not be brought 
to a standstill until they reached Fort Jefferson. 
Subsequently a new and larger force was sent out 
under the command of Gen. Wayne, one of the 
heroes of the Revolution, whicli proved more suc- 
cessful than the former ; the Indians were defeated 
at every point and sued for peace, wliich was con- 
cluded Aug. 7, 179^;. During these two conflicts, 
Little Turtle was the most skillful and indefatigable 
chief among them. Peace was restored once more 
and so remained for many years, the ivhites pursuing 
their occupations on soil once the favorite hunting 
ground of the Indians. 

Prior to the War of 1812, there rose in this coun- 
try an Indian of most extraordinary character, a 
great warrior and considerable of a statesman. His 
name was Tecumseh, chief of the Pawnees. He 
fought to unite all the Indian tribes in one grand ef- 
fort against the Americans to recover their lost hunt- 
ing grounds. As a preliminary step, he sought to 
educate his people, to improve their morals and in- 
still into their hearts a more ardent love of country. 
He had several interviews with Gov. Harrison, who 
was formerly the Governor of this. Territory and at 



•J\l 




-e-lU 



674 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^ 



this time was Governor of Indiana Territory, with 
a view of regaining this country for his people. At 
the last interview, the Governor i)lainly told him 
" that the President would put his warriors in petti- 
coats sooner than give up the country he had fairly 
acquired, or to suffer his people to be murdered 
with impunity." 

The opportunity finally came for which Tecumseh 
had so long waited, of avenging what he conceived 
to be the injury his people had sustained at the 
hands of the Americans. The war of 18 12 came on. 
Murders continued to be committed, and even Gov. 
Harrison's own soldiers were fired upon. Gov. Har- 
rison, indignant at these outrages, started out with 
a force of a thousand men, attacked their town, Tip- 
pecanoe, which had been well fortified, and after a 
bloody conflict, drove them into the swamp. Tecum- 
seh, who was away at this time, upon returning was 
greatly exasperated at this defeat. He, with his band, 
immediately departed to Canada, and offered his 
■ services to the British, not for any love he had for 
them, but because after the battle of Tippecanoe he 
felt that he could have no success against the Amer- 
=" icans, unless aided by British troops. Tecumseh 
was killed at the Tames, where he led some 1200 
Indians, bravely and desperately fighting for victory. 
Black Hawk was also in this battle. 

The loss of the battle and the defeat of the British 
on Lake Erie put an end to the war, and the Indians 
soon were brought to peaceful terms. There was no 
further trouble from them until about the time of the 
settlement of this county. There were several large 
villages in the territory, the largest being on Rock 
River, near its confluence with the Mississippi. This 
was Sac Village, the home of Black Hawk and his 
people, and at one time there was some 1 2,000 Indians 
here. The Indians were engaged in hunting, fish- 
ing, lead-mining and raising corn. 

The Black Hawk War. 



'HE Black Hawk War, as a military exhibi- 
tion, was not much of an affair. From first 
to last the forces of the Government, inclu- 
ding the Wisconsin Volunteers, the friendly 
Indians and the six Artillery companies, sent 
out by Gen. Scott, did not exceed 6,000 men. 
After the long peace the Indians again became trou- 




bleso;iie, in th; sum n^r of 1827. The Winnebagoes, 
Sac-i, Foxes and other tribes had been at war with 
each other for over a csntury, and although at times 
through the mediatioi of the United States peice 
was restored between the n, yet a bitter enmity ever 
existed. During this summer a war party of VVin- 
nebagoes surprised a party of the Cliippewas, and 
killed eight of their men. Foar of the Winneba.;oes 
were arrested by the commander of the United State-; 
troops, at St. Peters, and delivered to the Chippewas, 
by whom they were im uediately shot. This was the 
first irritation of the Winnebagoes, and they were 
further aggrieved at seeing the Americans occupying 
their country ; for many of them had penetrated it 
as far as the Wisconsin, in search of lead. Red 
Bird, in order to avenge himself, made an attack up- 
on the Chippewas and was defeated, but to satisfy 
his desire for vengeance he surprised and killed sev- 
eral whites. On hearing of this the miners, who 
were working the lead-mines at Galena, organized a 
company of volunteers, and being reinforced by a 
company of United States troops, marched against 
the Winnebagoes. To save his nation from war Red 
Bird, with six others of the most influential men of 
his nation, surrendered themselves as prisoners of 
war. Part of them were executed, and a part pined 
away in jail. From tiiis time to 1831, there were no 
further disturl)ances. 

But to return to the causes that brought on the 
Black Hawk War. In 1804 a treaty was formed be- 
tween the United States and the chiefs of the Sacs 
and Fox nations, by virtue of which the Government 
acquired, togetlier with other territory, the title to 
tiie Rock River country. Black Hawk, however, a 
chief of the Sacs and a noted warrior, claimed that 
this treaty was obtained through fraud, and that 
whatever had been done was without his knowledge 
or consent. Black Hawk's version of this treaty is 
this : One of the Sac Indians killed an American 
and was taken prisoner and confined in tlie prison at 
St. Louis. The council was held at the Sac Village 
to see what could be done, and it was determined to 
send Quasquame and other chiefs to St. Louis to 
get the offender released by paying for his crime, tiiis 
being the way of adjusting such affairs with the In- 
dians. The party started on their mission with the 
best wislies of the nation. They remained a long 
time, and when they returned they encamped near 
the village but remained away from it. They were 



r 



■ Yl 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^^^ 



675 



4 



dressed in fine clothes and had valuable medals and 
other ornaments. Early the next day Quasquame 
came into the Council Lodge and gave the following 
account : " On our arrival at St. Louis we met our 
American father and explained to him our business, 
urging the release of our friend. Tlie American chief 
told us he wanted land. We agreed to give him 
some on the west side of the Mississippi, likewise 
more on the Illinois side opposite Jefferson. When 
the business was all arranged, we expected to have 
our friend released to come home with us. About 
the time we were ready to start our brother was let 
out of the prison. He started to run a short distance 
when he was shot dead." Black Hawk said this was 
all they could remember, and it subsequently was as- 
certained that this party were all drunk during the 
greater part of the time they were at St. Louis. 
This was all his nation knew of the treaty of 1804. 
"It," says Black Hawk, " has since been explained 
to me. I find by that treaty that all of the country 
east of the Mississippi and south of Jefferson was 
ceded to the United States for $[,000 a year. I will 
leave it to the people of the United States to say 
whether our nation was properly represented in this 
treaty, or whether we received a fair compensation 
for the extent of country ceded by these four indi- 
viduals. I could say much more respecting this 
treaty with the whites, but I will not at this time. It 
has been the origin of all our serious difficulties with 
the whites." 

Whatever may be the real facts regarding this 
treaty, however. Black Hawk was not satisfied with 
it, and he was determined if possible to regain the 
territory which he claimed had been ceded away 
from his people without his knowledge. He pro- 
nounced the treaty a fraud and void, and gathering 
his chosen band of warriors about him, which num- 
bered about 300, he re-crossed the Mississippi, took 
possession of the disputed lands and ordered the 
whites to leave the country at once. The settlers 
reported the matter to Gov. Reynolds, and he dis- 
patched Gen. Gaines with a company of regulars and 
1,500 volunteers to the scene of action. Black Hawk 
was taken by surprise; the troops burned their vil- 
lages and forced them to submission. Another 
treaty of peace was concluded, by which the Indians 
ceded all right and title to the land east of the Mis- 
sissippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of 
the river and never re-cross it without permission 



from the President of the United States or Governor 
of the State of Illinois. 

Seeing such a large force arraigned against him, 
the proud spirit of Black Hawk was compelled to 
submit, though with a determination to seek the 
first opportunity to be avenged upon his enemies. 
In the spring of 1832, having rallied about him the 
braves of the Sac and Fox nations to the number 
of 650, he re-cro>sed the Mississippi and directed his 
march into the Winnebago and Pottawattamie coun- 
tries, hoping to make them their allies ; Gov. Rey- 
nolds upon being informed of the invasion, hastily 
collected a body of 1,800 volunteers, divided into 
four regiments, and a spy battallion under command 
of Col. James B. Henry, all under the command of 
Gen. Samuel Whiteside. This army marched to the 
Mississippi, reduced to ashes the Indian village of 
Prophetstown, the home of the Prophet, and then 
proceeded for several miles up the river to Dixon, to 
join the regular forces of Gen. Atkinson, and to 
await the arrival of provisions. 

It would seem at first glance that the force mus- 
tered by the Government against Black Hawk was 
needlessly large, but when it is remembered that it L^ 
was anticipated that Black Hawk might form an al- 
liance with some of the other tribes, it will be ad- 
mitted that the Government was wise in its precau- 
tionary movements. At Dixon, there were two full 
companies, then awaiting to achieve immortal fame 
in an encounter with the dusky warriors. These 
troops advanced under Maj. Stilhnan. They made 
their first encampment on Rock River near a creek 
which entered into it, which is now known in history 
as Stillman's Run. They had been sent to spy out 
the Indians. While here in camp they saw a party 
of them at a distance, and several of tlie command 
mounted their horses and charged after them, killing 
three of their number. But the main body of the 
band under Black Hawk returned the charge, which 
produced a panic among the volunteers, and in pre- 
cipitous flight they hurried back to Dixon. This was 
the first engagement of the Black Hawk war, which 
occurred May 12th, and there was not much in it 
for the white soldiers to boast of. Had it occurred 
during the rebellion, it would have been called a 
"skedaddle." 

After calling the roll, 11 men were found missing. 
A council of war was convoked by Gen. Whiteside, 
when it was agreed to march back the next day to 



LAn 



r 



4 



676 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



the battle-field. Arriving there they were surprised 
at not finding any Indians, but they found the poor 
dead soldiers, and after burying tlieni and erecting a 
rude monument to their memory, they returned to 
Dixon, where they were joined by Gen. Atkinson 
with his regulars. 

After this engagement, the Indians committed many 
depredations, massacred the inhabitants, burned 
their houses, and neglected nothing known to the 
peculiar mode of Indian warfare. By June isth, 
about 4,000 volunteers had been organized. This 
made a formidable array against the small Indian 
force, and it kept in check other tribes, who were 
friendly to Black Hawk and were much inclined to 
join him. About this lime. Black Hawk with a part 
of his force attacked Apple River Fort, near Galena. 
This was a mere palisade of logs in the form of a 
square. This little garrison of 25 men resisted the 
attack from their savage enemy for 15 long hours, 
when they withdrew with great loss. There were 
several small engagements and skirmishes, when the 
battle at Kellogg's Grove under Maj. Dement came 
off. The latter had fortified himself here in the 
midst of the Indian country. From iiere iliey sallied 
out to reconnoitre, when they found themselves sud- 
denly confronted by some 300 Indians under Black 
Hawk, and it was with difficulty they regained their 
camp. The Indians undertook to storm it, but they 
were repulsed with great loss, and finally retreated, 
carrying their dead with them. Upon hearing of 
this engagement, Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment 
to overtake the flying Indians, while he marciied 
Northward into the territory of the Winnebagoes to 
meet the Indians that were concentrating there. 

There was some dissatisfaction among the volun- 
teers about this time, who had not anticipated the 
hardships and fatigues of an Indian war. They had 
also been wasteful of provisions, and it became 
necessary to send out troops to replenish their stores. 
Reaching the Winnebago country, Black Hawk for- 
tified himself there near the four lakes, with the de- 
termination to decide the fate of war by a general 
battle. The troops marched very slowly and cau- 
tiously through the country, passing through Turtle 
Village and up along Rock River to Burnt Village. 
Here they were delayed for a wiiile, following out 
false trails and waiting for provisions, when hearing 
that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock River, 
some 35 miles distant, they started in pursuit. They 



overtook the Indians at the bluffs of the Wisconsin 
River, in the afternoon of July 21st, and unable any 
longer to escape the hot pursuit of the Government 
forces, the Indians turned and fought until they 
were completely routed. Night having set in, the 
battle for the day ended. This engagement was led 
by Gen. Henry. Escaping during the night across 
the river, the Indians made for the Mississippi, 
hoping to be able to cross to the western side. They 
reached the Mississippi before the troops came up, 
but were prevented from crossing by the steamboat 
" Warrior," which happened just at this time to come 
along. The Warrior greeted them with canister 
shot and a brisk fire of musketry, causing them se- 
vere losses. Pending this conflict, tiie forces under 
(ien. .Atkinson and Gen. Henry arrived. Atkinson 
was decoyed off by a ruse of the wily Indians, and 
Gen. Henry perceiving this and discovering the main 
body of the enemy endeavoring to make their es- 
cape, advanced on them, when a line of battle was 
formed and the engagement became general. The 
Indians, who fought with desperate valor, were 
furiously met at every point by volunteer forces, 
slaughtering them with their bayonets and driving 
them into the river. Hearing the general engage- 
ment. Gen. Atkinson returned from his pursuit of 
Black Hawk and with his force of 20 men joined in 
the fight, which terminal, d in a complete victory for 
the Government. There were some 300 Indians 
killed and drowned and 50 taken prisoners. Black 
Hawk, with 20 of his followers, made his escape up 
the Wisconsin River. 

Thus ended the Black Hawk War, the decisive 
and last battle of which was fought Aug. 2, 1832, 
near the mouth of Bad Axe River. And thus ended 
the last conflict with the red man on the east side of 
the Mississippi. Black Hawk and his party were 
pursued by the Winnebagoes and captured at the 
Delles of the Wisconsin, and .turned over to Gen. 
.Street, the United States Indian Agent. Among 
tiie prisoners were Black Hawk, his son and the 
Prophet, who had been largely instrumental in bring- 
ing about this war, and who was his strong right arm 
to its close. They were taken to Jefferson Barracks, 
when a treaty was concluded, by which the Indians 
ceded to the United States their lands on the Mis- 
sissippi between the Des Moines and Turkey Rivers. 
They were afterwards taken to Washington and 
from there made a tour of the United States. 



'^ 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



677 






In his interview with the President, Black Hawk, 
in extenuation of his action in going into battle with 
the whites, said: " I am a man and you are another. 
I took up the hatchet to revenge the injuries which 
could no longer be borne. Had I borne them longer, 
my people would have said, ' Black Hawk is a 
squaw; he is too old to be a chief. He is no Sac' 
This caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no 
more about if, all is known to you. Keokuk once 
was here. You took him by the hand and when lie 
wanted to return, you sent him back to his nation. 
Black Hawk e.xpects that like Keokuk, he will be 
permitted to return." 

By order of the President, Black Hawk and the 
other prisoners were set free June 4, 1833. On the 
3d of October, 1838, Black Hawk passed away to 
the happy hunting grounds of the future, at the age 
of 71 years, at his home in Iowa, surroinided by his 
wife and family. He had taken cold on his way to 
Rock Island to receive his annuity. He was buried 
near his home on the southwest quarter of section 2, 
Township 70, range 12, Davis Co., Iowa. He was 
1 dressed in a suit of military clothes given to him in 
"Washington by President Jackson. 

The overthrow of Black Hawk and his band of 
followers, the successful terminaton of the war, and 
the capture of Black Hawk was important in this, 
that it quenched forever the last germ of Indian hos- 
tilies between the red man in the Northwestern Ter- 
ritory and his acknowledged master, and extinguished 
all claims of the Indians to this part of the country. 

Engaged in this war there were quite a number of 
persons who in after years played a very important 
and distinguished part in American history. Fore- 
most among these was Abraham Lincoln. At the 
first call of Gov. Reynolds, he enlisted in a company 
of volunteers and was chosen Captain. This com- 
pany, with the first levy, was disbanded. He re- 
enlisted as a private and served to the end of the 
war. He was mustered in at Dixon into Capt. He's 
Company under Zachary Taylor, then Lieutenant 
Colonel, by Lieut. Robert And;,-rson, who so gal- 
lantly defended Fort Sumter at the opening of the 
Rebellion. At this place, too, and among the Gov- 
ernment soldiers, was one also noted in after life, 
although not to his credit, Jefferson Davis, then a 
Lieutenant. 

After Maj. Anderson evacuated Fort Sumter, he 



called on President Lincoln and received his thanks 
for his gallant defense of the fort. Mr. Lincoln 
asked the Major if he remembered ever having met 
him before, who replied that he did not. " My mem- 
ory is better than yours," said President Lincoln ; 
" you mustered me into the United States service as 
a high private of the Illinois Volunteers, at Dixon's 
Ferry, in the Black Hawk War." Another incident 
connected with this war is of some interest : When 
Black Hawk was captured he was turned over to 
Lieut. Jefferson Davis, with instructions to deliver 
him at Jefferson Barracks. Black Hawk was subse- 
quently for a while confined in Fortress Monroe, 
where, a generation later, Davis was confined as a 
traitor. Both made war against the United States, 
and were the cause of the shedding of much blood ; 
but if any extenuation should be given to either of 
these men for their crime, it should be given to the 
distinguished Indian warrior. 

Great consternation was felt during the trying days 
of the Black Hawk war, by the few pioneers then liv- 
ing in the county. The winter of 1831-32 was a 
rather mild one, and spring opened with a fair and 
prosperous outlook for the settlers. The spring daysi 
however, had not half passed away before a cloud 
arose which darkened all their hopes, and sent dis- 
may into every heart. Black Hawk was threatening, 
with his band, to re-cross the Mississippi River to 
recover his hunting grounds, and another Indian 
war, with its nameless terrors, was imminent. The 
signs were too true ; war was again to be inaugurated. 
About the first of May Gov. Reynolds was at Yellow 
Banks with quite a large number of volunteers to 
meet and keep back the Indians. Warren County 
was deficient in war material, and had no war lead- 
ers. It was feared that when the troops left Yel- 
low Banks the Indians would sweep over the entire 
country. 

When the Governor and his troops withdrew, the 
citizens became greatly alarmed. A petition was 
forwarded to him representing their exposed condi- 
tion, and praying for aid. Upon receiving the peti- 
tion the Governor issued the following order : 

I do hereby appoint Daniel McNeil, Jr., to give 
notice that an election for Major of the Militia Com- 
pany and an odd Battalion in Warren County, will 
be held in Monmouth at some convenient tin, e within 
ten days from the date of this order, and I further 
authorize the said McNeil to conduct said election 
according to law, and to give the person elected a Ma- 



V 



A 



678 



WARREN COUNTY. 



jor's certificate of the election, which will authorize 
said Major to cause elections to he held for company 
officers, so that Militia be organized with speed to 
defend their lives from Indian depredation ; and in 
case of necessity the said McNeil is authorized to 
call one or more companies to range the frontier for 
its defense. John Reynolds, 

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of 
the Illinois Militia. 

Notice was given in accordance with the above or- 
der, an election was held, and Peter Butler was cho- 
cen as Major of the odd Battalion. Maj. Butler 
forthwith ordered an election for company officers in 
the different districts of the county, which completed 
the organization of the Militia. 

After Gov. Reynolds withdrew his troops and 
passed on towards Rock River, the citizens became 
greatly alarmed for their safety and felt that they 
ought to have a patrol, or a body of rangers. A pe- 
tition was accordingly presented to McNeil, asking 
that volunteers be called in accordance with the 
Governor's order. A call was made May 31, 1832, 
to meet at Monmouth June 4th. At this time the 
requisite number volunteered, elected their officers, 
were mustered into service and reported for duty at 
the war department at Washington, and to the Gov- 
ernor of the Stale. 

For the benefit of the readers, a copy of the mus- 
ter-roll is here given : Peter Butler, Captain ; James 
McCammon, ist Lieutenant; Solomon Purkins, 2d 
Lieutenant; Isaac Walton, 1st Sergeant; Benj. 
Tucker, 2d Sergeant; M. I). Ritchey, 3d Sergeant, 
and Adam Ritchey, 4th. Privates, John Van Atta ; 
James C. Caldwell, John Quinn, Thomas Ritchey, 
Andrew Gilson, George Gilson, William Stark, W. H. 
Dennison, Isaiah Osborn, John Armstrong, D. B. 



Cartwright, G. Van Atta, Elijah Hilton, James Rea- 
son, Win. Laswell, P. Vancanean, John D. Richey, 
S. L. Hogue, David Russell, C. A. Smith, John 
Findley, Amos Williams, Gabriel Short, Jolin McCoy, 
R. S. Dennison, John Maley, R. S. Stice, John Hen- 
dricks, William Patton and Ezra A. Allen. Tiiese 
troops were subsequently disbanded in consequence 
of the Governor's orders calling upon the counties of 
Warren and McDonough to furnish a company to 
serve as mounted rangers. This company was 
quickly raised and largely made up of the volunteers 
mentioned. Maj. Butler was elected Captain, with 
James McCallon 1st Lieutenant. These war prepa- 
rations, however, proved unnecessary. The Indian 
hostilities were not carried into this county. Antic- 
ipating, however, that the Indians would invade the 
county, the families throughout had resorted to the 
forts for safety, and many had left. There were no 
depredations committed in the county until the war 
was over, and Black Hawk was captured, which was 
in the early part of August. After the war was over 
the murder of William Martin, in Sumner Township, 
was committed by some straggling Indians of Black 
Hawk's band, an account of which will be found in ' 
the history of that township, also in the legal his- 
tory of the county. 

This event threw the people again into consterna- • 
tion. When full particulars of this murder was 
known, and they were assured that there was no 
further trouble with the Indians, the inhabitants re- 
paired to their several homes and to their peaceful 
walks again. Following this peaceful condition of 
things, came emigration, settling in all parts of the 
country, and the future once more looked bright and 
prosperous. 




^iiA- 



rp 



^ 



. •)(■ . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



679 1 






,..sv-,„ 




■is.^-^);arOTjv~ ^ jirif 



•/<s$<ii!>^'i^ 




: N Friday, July g, the first term 
of the County Commissioners' 
Court was held at the house 
of Alexis Phelps. Daniel 
r^'x^'it ^j^d^^jga rys'V McNeil, Jr., was appointed 
S^i }'? /-. ^"Hi'^<^ Clerk of the Court, this Ijeing 
the first appointment of the 
The first order made was that 
McNeil should file his bond. The first 
account approved and ordered to be 
paid was that of Adam Ritchey, John B. 
Talbot and John Pence, for amounts 
respectively, $3.00, S3. 00 and $1.50. 
The first road viewers were appointed 
on Sept. 7, 1830, upon the petition 
of William McCuUough, for a road from Lower 
Yellow Banks to the southeast corner of section 36, 
in town 12, north of range i west, Kelly Township. 
Stephen S. Phelps, David Findley and Allen G. An- 
drews were appointed viewers. 

Jacob Rust was licensed to keep a grocery or inn 
Oct. ist, 183 r, at Monmouth. Wm. Causland was 
licensed to keep an inn at Yellow Banks, June 11, 
1831. Stephen S. Phelps was licensed to keep a store 
at the same time and at the same place. On Dec. 5, 
1831, Elijah Davidson was licensed to keep a gro- 
cery at Monmouth. The order of the County Com- 
missioner's Court that the Circuit Court hold its next 
term at Monmouth, tlie permanent seat of justice, 
was made April 12, 1831. 

Daniel McNeil, Jr., took an oath to faithfully and 
impartially discharge all the duties of his office, ac- 
cording to the best of his ability and understanding. 



and to support the Constitution of the United States 
and State, presented his bo id to the Commissioners' 
Court, which was accepted, and then entered upon 
the duties of his oflfice. 

It was ordered by the County Commissioners' 
Court that a temporary seat of justice or place for 
holding the County Commissioners' and Circuit 
Courts for the county, be held at the house of Mr. 
Alexander Phelps, at the Yellow Banks, on fractional 
section 15, in town 11 north, of range 5 west. The 
Court appointed Stephen S. Phelps Treasurer for 
the County, and required of him a bond of $r,ooo 
for the faithful discharge of his duties, which bond 
was presented and approved. They also authorized 
him to purchase a small "blank book," for the pur- 
pose of entering county orders and keeping the said 
Treasurer's account with said County of Warren. 

At this time the Court divided the County into 
two election precincts, to be known as precinct num- 
ber one and precinct number two. Number one was 
laid out as follows : Commencing at the northeast 
corner of township 12 north, of range 4 west (Kelly), 
thence west to the Mississippi River, thence down 
said river to the township line, between 7 and 8 
north, thence east to the southeast corner of town- 
ship 8 north and range 4 west, thence north to the 
place of beginning. 

The place for holding the election was ordered to 
be at the Court House, or the place of holding Courts, 
and Jeremiah Smith, James Jamison and Thomas D. 
Wells were appointed Judges of the Election to be 
held in this precinct. 

Precinct number 2 was laid out as follows : Com- 



nAj 



h 



A- 



6So 



.V. . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



mencing at the northeast corner of township 12, 
north of range i west (Kelly), thence west to the 
northwest corner of township 12, north of range 3 
west (Sumner), tlience south to the southwest corner 
of township 8 north, of range 3 west (Point Pleasant), 
thence east to the southeast corner of township 8, 
north of range i west (Greenbush) and thence north 
to the place of beginning. The place of election 
was located at the house of James Hodgins, and 
Thomas C. Jennings, James Hindley and James 
Hodgins were appointed Judges of the Election. 

For the purpose of electing Justices of the Peace 
and Constables, the county was divided into two 
districts — tlie Mississippi and Cedar Creek districts. 
The Mississi|jpi district comprised what is now Hen- 
derson County. The place of election was fixed at 
the place of lidding courts in this district, and Jere- 
miah Smith, James Jamison and Thomas D. Wells 
were appointed Judges of the Election. Cedar Creek 
District included Warren County. The place of 
holding the elections for Justices of tlie Peace and 
Constables were fixed at James Hodgins', and John 
Findley, Thomas C. Jennings and James Hodgins 
were ap[)ointed Judges of Election for this district. 

An election was ordered by the County Commis- 
sioners' Court, to be held the first Monday in August, 
which was the day for the general election through- 
out the State. It was also ordered that in addition 
to the State officers to be elected, there should be 
chosen three County Commissioners, one Sheriff, 
one Coroner, two Justices of the Peace and two Con- 
stables for each precinct. 

Anticipating this election and the full organization 
of the county. Judge Young, on the 5tli day of July, 
1830, issued the following order : 

State of Illinois, | 
Fifth Judicial District. ) 

'I'o all whom these jiresents may concern. Greet- 
ing : Know ye. that I, Richard M. Young, Judge of 
the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, 
north of the Illinois River, and presiding Judge of 
the Circuit ("ouit, in and for the county of Warren, 
and State aforesaid, in pursuance of the power vested 
in me, by virtue of the loth section of the act enti- 
tled " an act supplementary to an act regulating the 
Supreme and Circuit Courts," ajiproved Jan. 19, 
1829, do hereby order and appoint that Circuit Court 
be held in and for the said county of Warren, at 
such places as m;iy be sel<:cted and ])rovided by the 
County Commissioner's Court of said county, on the 



fourth Monday in June and the first Monday in Oc- 
tober, until I shall make another order to the con- 
trary. Richard M. Young, 

Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. 

The Judge gave the above order while holding 
court at Galena. Subsequently he made an order 
appointing Daniel McNeil, Jr., Clerk pro tern, for 
the Circuit Court. 

At this general election 47 votes were cast, being 
within three of the entire vote of the county. John 
B. Talbot, Peter Butler and John Pence were elected 
County Commissioners; Stephens. Phelps, Sheriflf; 
and John Ritchey, Coroner. At the Yellow Banks 
District, John Pence and Daniel McNeil, Jr., were 
elected Justices of the Peace, and James Ryerson 
and William Causland, Constables. John B. Talbot 
and Adam Ritchey, Jr., were elected Justices of the 
Peace for Hodgin's Grove District, and David Find- 
ley and James Hodgins Constables. 

The first regular term of the County Commission- 
ers' Court 1: et on the second Monday in August, 
1830. At this meeting John Pence and Peter But- 
ler only were present, John B. Talbot, the other 
Commissioner being absent. At this session the 
Court ordered to be summoned a grand and a petit 
jury for a term of Circuit Court to be holden the first 
Monday in October. This term of court was not 
held, and consequently the men who were summoned 
for jurors were not wanted. The Judge and Clerk 
met, transacted some formulatory business and then 
returned to their homes. 

After the organization of the county, the people 
were a little anxious to place themselves on good 
terms with Uncle Sam, as will be seen from the fol- 
lowing order, which was indicted by the County 
Commissioners : 
State of Illinois, Warren County 

The Clerk of the Warren County Commissioners' 
Court will certify to the Postmaster-General of the 
United States, at Washington city, that the county of 
\V:irren was organized on the 3d day of July, 1830, 
and that the temporary seat of Justice is and was 
located at Lower Yellow Banks (Oijuawka), on the 
Mississip|)i River, on the gth day of July, and about 
half way between the Des Moines and Rock River 
Rapids, and request the Postmaster-General to es- 
tablish a Postotfice at said County seat, to be called 
Warren Court House Postoffice; and further request 
the Postmaster-General to forward the mail immedi- 
ately to said oflfice, either from Fulton and Schuyler 
Counties, or from Venus, Hancock County. 



*t 



■c T -!- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



?^^^^M- 



68i 



Given under our hands in vacation of Court, this 
loth day of September, A. D. 1830. 

John Pence, 
John B. Talbot, 
County Commissioners. 

The county having been fully organized, the ques- 
tion of the permanent seat of Justice came up for 
their action. Not being able to settle this matter 
among themselves, the citizens petitioned the Legis- 
lature to make the location. Upon receiving the pe- 
tition, the Legislature took action at once by special 
act, approved Jan. 27, 1831, and appointed Hazen 
Bedell, of Hancock County; John G. Sanborn, of 
Knox County ; John McNeil, Fulton County, Special 
Commissioners to select the site. Having duly 
qualified themselves, they met at the house of Ste- 
phen S. Phelps, on the first Monday in April, and at 
once proceeded to the work in hand. There were 
several contestants for thelocation, among which were 
Hodgins' Point, Center Grove, Yellow Banks, Ellison 
Creek, Monmouth, and some other names were put 
in. From these each County Commissioner drew 
one name. The names drawn were Isabella, Kosci- 
usco and Monmouth. They were put together and 
the drawing again commenced, the agreement being 
that the first name drawn should be the one selected. 
Kosciusko was the lucky name. When this name 
appeared before them in all its un-Saxon orthogra- 
phy, they were in doubt. They felt sure that not 
one fourth of the inhabitants could ever learn to 
spell that name. Finally, they decided to draw 
again, and this time the name of Monmouth came 
out, which was accepted. They completed their 
work on the 7th of April, sealed up their report, ad- 
dressed it to the County Commissioners' Court, and 
returned to their homes. 

On the 1 1 th of April, a special meeting of the Court 
was called. The sealed package was opened and 
the following report was found : 

"To the Honorable County Commissioners' Court 
of Warren County : The undersigned Commission- 
ers, appointed by an act of the General Assembly of 
the State of Illinois, entitled an " act to establish a 
permanent seat of Justice for Warren County,'' ap- 
proved Jan. 27, 1831, respectfully report that they 
located the seat of Justice for said county on the 
southwest quarter of section 29, in township 11 
north, of range 2 west (Monmouth Township) of the 
4th principal meridian, which said quarter section is 
repotted, and we believe to be, Congress land, and 



they have given the said seat of Justice the name of 

Monmouth. 

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our 

hands and seal this 7ih day of April, A. D. 1831. 

John G. Sanborn. 
Hazen Bedell, 
John McNeil. 

This report was accepted by the County Commis- 
sioners, though with some reluctance, as stated in 
the history of Monmouth, and was ordered to be 
placed on record. 

After the organization of the county, Mercer 
County was attached to it for Judicial and other pur- 
poses, until it should be organized as provided by 
law. 

In the spring of 183 r, the matter of laying out the 
county seat was taken up by the County Commis- 
sioners. Plans were carefully prepared and furn- 
ished and the survey given to Peter Butler, April 25, 
1831, who received 2 1 j4 cents per lot for the same. 
On the 26ih the Court located the public square. 
On the 6th of June, the lots were put up at public 
sale. There were 46 lots sold, amounting in all to 
$965.62^. 

At the April term, 1831, the Commissioners' CourtS 
ordered that proposals be received and contracts 
be entered into for the purpose of building a Court- 
House from plans to be furnished by the Court. 
From the plans presented, it would appear that these 
pioneers did not think that expensive halls or build- 
ings were necessary for the seat of Justice. The 
following were the specifications: "To be 20x22 
feet on the ground, 9 feet between sleepers and the 
joists, and to be built of logs hewn down inside and 
out, and finished as the County Commissioners shall 
direct." The construction of this building was let at 
public vendue to Francis Kendall at $57. It was 
located on the west side of Main Street, about a 
block below the square. 

Those early Commissioners were statesmen as 
well as economists, and the duties that they felt 
called upon to discharge were manifold. At their 
June term 1831, we find them licensing Wm. Caus- 
land to keep an inn at the Yellow Banks, which was 
then temporarily the seat of Justice, under some 
very commendable restrictions and provisions, to 
wit : " On his producing to the Clerk of this Court, 
the Treasurer's receipt for $2.50, and paying the 
Clerk his fee ; and that the following rates be al- 






•JKl 



^ 



-e4U: 



:?^^rW- 



682 



WARREN COUNTY. 



lowed in said tavern : Horse keeping per night, 25 
cents: single feed ])er night 12^^ cents; for each 
meal of victuals, 25 cents; lodging per night, per 
bed, 12}^ cents, but if two persons lodge in one bed, 
6j^ cents; for each half pint of brandy, 25 cents; 
for eacli half pint of rum or wine, 18^ cents; for 
each half pint of whisky, i2j^ cents. If any person 
shall call for a less quantity than a half pint of either 
of said liquors, the same price as per half pint." If 
liquors could be had at the present day at the above 
rates, it is not probable that the good people of Mon- 
mouth could enforce their prohibition laws. 

This inn was the first opened in the county. At 
the same time a license was given to Stephen S. 
Phelps to sell merchandise. Viewers were appointed 
at this term to lay out a road from Broadway, in 
Monmouth, to Yellow Banks, now known as 
Oquawka. 

The first regular term of the Circuit Court was 
called to meet at Monmouth, June, 1831. On ac- 
count of threatened Indian troubles, no term was 
held. It was the same in October. In October of 
the following year, the first session of the Court was 
held. Judge Richard M. Young presiding. For the 
proceedings of this Court, the reader is referred to 
the legal history. The August elections of 1832 re- 
sulted in the choice of Peter Butler, Sheriff; John 
Ritchey, Coroner ; Jeremiah Smith, John B.Talbot 
and James McCallon, County Commissioners; Wm. 
Edmundson, Representative of the District em- 
bracing the counties of Calhoun, McDonough and 
Warren; Wm. McCreery, Senator of the District 
embracing the cou.ities of Schuyler, Kno.x, Fulton, 
Calhoun, McDonough and Warren; Joseph Duncan 
for Congress, for all Northern Illinois. 

During the year 1833, the laws for the collection of 
taxes were passed and tlie land in the Military Tract 
was no longer exempt. The Clerks of the County 
Commissioners' Court were made the collectors from 
September to March, and if the taxes were not then 
paid the non-resident lands were sold by the Clerks 
instead of the Auditor as heretofore. This gave the 
citizens an opportunity to become bidders without 
going to Vandalia, then the seat of Government. 

In 1837, under the act of the General Assemby 
passed in 1837, a Probate Court was established. 

The residents of the territory now embraced by 
Henderson County, were not satisfied with the loca- 



tion of the county seat at Monmouth, and made an 
effort to have it changed to a more central location. 
Failing in this, they seceded and organized them- 
selves into a county which was called Henderson. 

From about the beginning of the organization of 
the county, the County Commissioners, ardently 
sustained by the people, commenced the laying out 
and improvement of roads, which under an organ- 
ized system they have continued until the present 
day. The result of this has been that to-day the 
public roads of tlie county are unexceptional. 

The municipal affairs of the county continued un- 
der the government of the County Commissioners 
until 1849, when they were turned over to the 
County Court. They remained in charge of this 
Court until June, 1850, when they were for a brief 
period in the hands of tlie Board of Supervisors; 
then the county matters were again placed in the 
hands of the County Court. (See County Court 
history). In 1854 the government of the county 
was again placed in the hands of the Board of Sup-' 
ervisors. 

The last session of the County Commissioners' 
Court was held Nov. 12, 1849. Under the Constitu-<' 
tion of 1848, the County Judge and two associates 
had been chosen at the general election, in 1849, 
who were to supersede the Commissioners' Court 
and take charge of the municipal affairs of the 
county. These officers were commissioned by the 
Governor of the State, and after taking the oath of 
office, duly entered on the discharge of their duties. 
The first session of tliis Court was held Dec. 3, 1849. 
At this session, the Court appointed three Commis- 
sioners, Joseph Paddox, John C. Bond and Ira F. 
M. Butler, to divide the county of Warren into town- 
ships in accordance with the township organization 
laws. 

Board of Supervisors. 

li^T the election held in November, 1849, the 
peoi)le had declared themselves in favor 
of townsliip organization. The commis- 
sioners met and proceeded in the discharge 
of their duties, completing their work and 
making their report to the Court. The Board 
of Supervisors chosen at the spring elections, on the 
8th day of April, 1850, organized and proceeded to 
the transaction of county business. They adjourned 




*4^ 



LAJ 



r 



WARREN COUNTY. 



±^4^ 



683 



r 



on the 5th of June, to meet on the second Monday 
of November following, but this Board never met 
again. The Supreme Court had decided the elec- 
tions illegal on account of the insufficiency of votes 
cast. Accordingly the municipal affairs of the 
county reverted back again to the County Court. 
This Court continued to transact the county business 
until 1854, holding their last regular session on April 
ist of this year. 

A petition was presented to the County Court, in 
session Sept. 12, 1853, signed by James McCoy and 
50 legal voters of the county, praying that the town- 
ship organization be submitted again to the people 
at the ne.xt general election, to be holden on Tuesday 
after the first Monday in November next, which pe- 
tition was duly granted by the Court, and the Clerk 
was ordered to give the notice of same for the next 
general election. An election was accordingly held 
on the 8th of November, 1853, for township organi- 
zation. The whole number of votes cast was 1,396, 
for organization 768, being a majority of all the votes 
cast at said election. The County Court at its De- 
cember Term, 1853, again appointed Commissioners 



to divide the county into townships. John C. Bond, 
Samuel Holland and Robert Gilmore were the 
appointees. 

On June 5th following the Board of Supervisors 
were elected. On April 4, they met, organized and 
assumed control of the county affairs. A vote had 
been taken for and against township organization at 
the regular fall election of 1851 and 1852, and at 
each of these elections, township organization had 
been voted on and had been defeated. The people 
seemed to be very much adverse to it at this time. 
At the November election of 1853, a vote was taken, 
as stated above, for township organization, which 
proved successful. 

Since then the affairs of the county have been 
conducted by the Board of Supervisors, and in the 
main with unusual satisfaction. The different town- 
ships have generally sent able and honest members 
to represent their interests and to legislate for the 
county. During the war the Board did much toward 
aiding the cause of the Union. The names of the . 
men comprising tlie Board since 1853 are given in 
sketches of the various townships. 




4 



LAjr 



"t^ 



-8-^^^ 



684 



L 



ir 



— : v^=i; — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



J^ 







^a^^pCjgraphic'i^L 



5^(®>(5)(G).^f6) 






-'^ir'- 




() country in the world is more 
fertile than tliat known as the 
MiHtary Tract. Warren 
County is situated in this 
%2<^ district, near the Western 
.: border of the State, and 
■^ contanis an area of 540 
square miles, divided up into 15 full 
townships. It has no large water 
courses flowing through its territory, 
cutting deep channels, but several 
small streams. In the Northern 
part it is intersected from East to 
West by Middle Henderfon and 
Cedar Creeks. About the middle 
of the county is South Henderson 
branch, which rises in township 
10, range 2, section 10, and runs 
nearly due West. In the southern part is a small 
stream called Ellison Creek, which with its little 
tributaries rises in Ellison Township and runs west- 
ward. In the northern part of Lenox Township, is 
Slug Run, which runs nearly south, forming a con- 
fluence with Cedar Fork, near the eastern line of the 
county. Cedar Fork rises near the western bound- 
ary at Roseville Township, and meanders southeast- 
erly. Southeast of this is Nigger Creek and its 
branches, Little Nigger and Swan Creek, which run 
in an easterly direction. With these and some 
smaller streams the couniy is pretty well watered, 
and very good facilities afforded for drainage. 

Warren County presents to the eye no scenes of 
rugged grandeur, but rather the quiet beauty of 
rounded outlines, of surface clothed with green and 
far-reaching prairies and beuitiful little groves. It 



has no mountain chains within its borders. The 
mean elevation of tlie county is 600 feet above the 
level of the ocean. Springs are not abundant 
but good wells can be obtained from a depth varying 
from 10 to 60 feet. It is seldom necessary to go to 
the latter depth ; but if so, water is reached after 
passing through a strata of blue clay. 

The county is largely undulating prairie, inter- 
spersed with groves of fine timber. The soil is a 
dark vegetable, rich loam, uniform in its general char- 
acter, beneath which is a subsoil of yellow clay. ^ 
Along the water courses there was originally a liberal 
growth of timber, consisting of the oak varieties, 
elm, ash, hickory, black walnut and the maples. In 
addition to these can be found along the slope and 
the bottom lands, the sycamore, box elder, linden, 
Cottonwood, locust, coffee tree, wild cherry, wild 
plum, thorn, crab apple, dogwood, red bud, hackberry 
and mulberry. 

The alluvial deposits are principally on the bor- 
ders of the water courses, and rarely exceed a half 
mile in width. It is claimed that coal measures un- 
derlie the greater portion of the county, but it has 
not been found profitable to mine it simply for the 
coal only. In Roseville Township, near the village, 
the coal seam crops out, and so along Swan and Lit- 
tle Nigger Creeks. East of Monmouth, on the site 
of the Monmouth Mining and Manufacturing Co., 
coal was found at a depth of about 70 feet. In min- 
ing for clay for the tile factory, coal was taken out for 
awhile, but this company has long ceased to mine 
for coal, and finds it cheaper to purchase elsewhere. 

The soil in the county is remarkable fertile, with 
scarcely an acre of [joor ground, and is adapted for 
the production of all the cereals grown in this latitude. 



t^ 



t 



=?=4^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



68s 





^^gal ^iptoF^. 





4 



;HE legal profession occupies 
a most important place in 
our political, as well as in 
our social system. It is con- 
nected with the closest of 
family ties, and is often 
called upon to settle the 
sputes most vital to domestic 
hap|jiness. To this profession are 
we indebted for our constitutions 
and our laws, and in a great mea- 
sure the management of our polit- 
ical system. To it also inust we 
look for the enforcement of our laws, 
the punishment of its violators and 
the maintenance of good order in 
society. The Judicial system of 
Warren County, as at present constituted, maybe di- 
vided into four parts: The Justice Court, County 
Court, Circuit Court and the Supreme Court. John B. 
Talbot was the first Justice of the Peace, receiving liis 
appointment when tlie county was attached to Peo- 
ria County, and Daniel McNeil, Jr., was the first ap- 
pointed after the county was organized. The first 
elected, which was at the election held the first Mon- 
day in August, 1830, was John Pence, and Daniel 
McNeil, Jr., for the Yellow Banks district, and John 
B. Talbot and Andrew (Sandy) Ritchey,for Hodgin's 
Grove district. 

When the county was organized it was in the fifth 



lA: 



judicial circuit, with Judge Richard M. Young pre- 
siding. At the time the Judge issued his order for 
an election for county organization, he fixed the 
terms of holding the Circuit Court for the fourth 
Monday in June, and the first Monday in October, 
which was to be held at such places as the County 
Commissioners' Court might select. The Commis- 
sioners, however, for reasons not known, failed to 
make any provision for an October term of court, and 
there was none held. The first term of this court 
subsequently was called for June, 1831. There were 
two cases docketed for this term, to wit : John Pence, 
vs. Joshua Vandruff, an appeal case from the Justice 
Court, and Charles Collins vs. Thomas S. Sublett, an 
action for debt. 

The docket reports that no court was held on ac- 
count of Indian disturbances. It was the same with 
the October term following. In October, 1832, the 
Indian troubles having been settled, a term of court 
was held, which was the first regular term in 
the county. Hon. Richard M. Young presided, 
with Thomas Ford, states attorney, Daniel Mc- 
Neil, Jr., clerk, and Stephen S. Phelps, sheriff. 
The first case tried was an action for an assault and 
battery ; the People vs. William Dennison. The de- 
fendant was found guilty and fined $14 and cost. The 
two first cases docketed were then tried. The judg- 
ment in the Justice Court was affirmed, and the 
other case was non-suited at plaintiff's cost. The 
Grand Jurors for this term were .Me.xander Davidson, 
William Russell, Thomas S. Sublett, James Ritchey, 



T 



■A 



686 



WARREN COUNTY. 



John Caldwell, Peter Smith, Thomas Caldwell, Field 
Jarvis, John Smith, John G. Haley, Elijah Hanan, 
John Vanaton, John E. Murphy, \Vm. R. Jamison, 
Elijah Davidson, Jacob Rust, Robert M. Black and 
Wm. Whitman. Davidson was appointed foreman. 
After a few days of session the Grand Jury came into 
court and reported that they had not found any cause 
for indictment, and there being no further business 
before them they were discharged. The first petit 
jury sworn in for the trial of causes were : Sheldon 
Lockwood, Elijah Davidson, Sr., Henry Meadows, 
John C. Jamison, Abner Short, Lewis Vertrees, Sam- 
uel Gibson, Robert Wallace, George Peckempaugh, 
James Gibson, Joseph W. Kendall and Thomas Gib- 
son, Sr. They tried the assault and battery case 
above mentioned. 

The members of the Bar were fond of having tlieir 
little fun in those days, probably more so than now. 
They had more t.me then for recreation and frolic, 
and never failed to embrace the opportunity. John 

' Porter had been admitted to the Bar at one of the 
sessions of the Court during this term. He was for- 
tunate in securing a trial case, in which he made his 

' first plea or maiden speech, which is reported to have 
been a very fair one. On the motion docket is the 
following order: "Members of the Bar vs. John 

'Porter: — Now, come the plaintiffs and move the 
Court for an order on defendant to ' wet ' his maiden 
speech." This order was allowed. The records do 
not inform us however, whether the young attorney's 
fees in this case were sufficient to defray the ex- 
penses necessary to carry out the Court's order. 

-5 #.#. ^ 



Trial of the Murderers of William Martin. 

£% ..... 

W VERY novel case m tlie history of cnmi- 

^-,.|r, nal practice came up in the June term of 
41^^ 1833. This is a case in which it was pro- 
posed to try persons for the crime of murder 
by proxy, and in which Indian law was to be 
introduced into the state Courts. It was none 
other than tiie case of the trial of the Indians turned 
over as substitutes for the real murderers of William 
Martin. This was the first indictment for murder, 
and the first criminal case docketed. The grand 
jury were John Humphrey, who was the foreman, 




IS,) 



ss. 



Jesse W. Bond, James Ryason, David Maurice, Wm. 
McCoy, Thos. C. Jennings, Alex. Davidson, James 
Brown, William Russell, R. Black, Robvrt Wallace, 
Sr., James Jenkins, John Vanaton, Roland Simmons, 
Solomon Perkins, Emmons Williams, Wm. Baty, 
Jonathan Tipton and Peter Scoit. The indictment 
of the Indians is given below, witiiout comment : 

At the June term of the Warren County Circuit 
Court, in the year A. D. 1833 : 

State of Illinois, 
Warren County, 

The Grand Jurors chosen, elected and sworn in for 
the county of Warren, in the name and by authority 
of the people of the State of Illinois, upon their oaths 
present: That Shash-quaw-a-shi, a/w.f Neesh-wak- 
que, Muck-que-che-qua, Muck-qua-po-la-shah, and 
Was-a-wan-a-quot, being Indians, lateof said county, 
not having the fear of God before their eyes, but be- 
ing moved and seduced by the instigations of the 
devil, on the gth day of August, A. D. 1832, with 
force and arms, at and within the county of Warren 
aforesaid, in and upon William Martin, against the 
peace of God and the people of the State of Illinois, 
then and there, being unlawfully, wilfully, felon- 
iously and of their malice aforethought, d.d make an 
assault, and that the said Shashquaw-a-shi, alias 
Neesh-wakciue, a certain gun, of the value of $10, 
then and there loaded and charged with gun powder, 
one leaden bullet, which gun he, the said Shash- 
quaw-a-shi, alias Neesh-wakque, in his right hand, 
then and there in hand, and held to, against and 
upon the said William Martin, then and there, and 
unlawt'ully, wilfully, feloniously and with malice 
aforethought, did shoot and discharge, and that the 
said Sliash quaw-a-shi, rt//(W Neesh-wakque, with the 
leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the gun aforesaid, then 
and there by force of the gun powder shot, and sent 
forth as aforesaid, against the aforesaid William Mar- 
tin, in and upon the left side of the back 
of him, a little below the left shoulder blade, the 
said William Martin, then and there, unlawfully, 
wilfully, feloniously, and of his malice aforethought, 
did strike, penetrate and wound, giving to the said 
William Martin one morial wound, of the depth of 
six inches and of the breadth of one inch, of which 
said mortal wound the aforesaid William Martin then 
and there instantly died. And that the aforesaid 
Muck-que-che-qua, Muck-qua-jio-la shah and Was- 
a-wan-a-quot, then and there, unlawfully, wilfully 
and feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, 
were present, helping, aiding and abetting, and com- 
forting, assisting and maintaining the said Shash- 
(iuaw-a-shi,(7//aj Neesh-wakque, the felony and mur- 
der aforesaid, in manner and form aforesaid, to do 
and to commit; and so the jurors aforesaid, upon 
their oaths aforesaid, do say that the said Shash- 



-^ 



_AJ 



4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



%* 



687 



A 



quaw-a-shi, alias Neesh-wakque, Muck-que-che-qua 
and Muck-qua-po-la-sliah and Was-a-wan-a-quot, 
then and there, in manner and form aforesaid, the 
said William Martin, and unlawfully, wilfully and fe- 
loniously, and of their malice aforethought, did kill 
and murder, contrary to the form of the statute in 
such cases made and provided, and against the 
peace and dignity of the people of the State of Illi- 
nois. Thomas Ford, 

State's Attorney. 

This indictment was forwarded to the Governor, 
with the request that the same be forwarded to the 
President of the United States, requesting him to 
make a demand, through the Indian Agent of the 
band of Indians for the murderers. The particulars 
of the murder are as follows : On the afternoon of 
the 9th day of August, 1832, VViihani Martin was out 
in the fields cutting some grass for his horses, when 
five Indians rushed out from the timber near by, ran 
up to Martin, shot and killed him, and then as 
quickly disappeared into the woods again. This field 
was a short distance south of the block-house or fort. 
The fort was east of Little York or between Little 
York and where Hugh Martin's brick house now 
stands. Mrs. Osborn was living in this block-house 
with two sinall children at the time and heard the 
shots. She, with the two children, rushed out 
through acorn field into a buckwheat field and laid 
down on the ground. The McCoy girls are reported 
to have seen the shooting. One of the murderers 
was arrested and confined for a time in the fort at 
Rock Island, then called Fort Armstrong, from 
which he made his escape. The Indians, who at 
this time desired to be on friendly terms with the 
whites, according to their custom, delivered up 
the next of kin to the real murderers, and these were 
the ones which were indicted and brought into the 
Court for trial. The Sheriff of the county, Peter 
Butler, was notified to be at the Yellow Banks and 
receive the prisoners, the i-eported murderers of Mar- 
tin. At the appointed time, March 20, 1833, he was 
at the Yellow Banks, was there met by Col. Daven- 
port, the Indian Agent, Keokuk, and a number of 
other Indians, who had in custody four young Indian 
warriors, who had been divested of their weapons, 
and who were turned over to the Sheriff as substi- 
tutes for the real murderers, and by the Sheriff taken 
to Monmouth and there confined in jail to await 
their trial. Their names were J-o-nah, Ka-ke-mo, 
Wau-pe-sho-kon and S-sa-fe-mo. While the prison- 



ers were in jail, they afforded the people of Mon- 
mouth considerable amusement in various ways. 

The case came up for trial at the June term and 
created a good deal of excitement. Col. Davenport, 
LeClair, interpreter, Keokuk, and some 50 chiefs 
and warriors came from the Yellow Banks and en- 
camped near the place of trial with the United 
States flag waving over their encampment. They 
had, at the suggestion of Col. Davenport, employed 
Messrs. Field, Galewood & Hempstead to defend 
them, for which they received large fees. The pris- 
oners were brought into court under a writ of habeas 
corpus, and there being no indictment against them 
for the supposed crime of murder, they were, on mo- 
tion of the attorneys, ordered to be discharged from 
their imprisonment and to go hence without delay. 

With this order the Court took occasion to repri- 
mand Keokuk and his chiefs for delivering innocent 
persons to be tried for the guilty. Keokuk responded 
through his interpreter, that one guilty of the crime 
had been turned over to the Government for the 
murder, but had made his escape, and with the other 
four had gone beyond the Rocky Mountains; that 
he had, in accordance with the Indian custom, turned 
over the next of kin. 

The prisoners were very joyful at their deliver- 
ance, and with the rest of the Indians returned to 
their hunting grounds beyond the Mississippi. 



Trial of Joe Smith. 



'^^ggrtf 




'HE next important case to come before the 
Court was that of Joe Smith, the Mormon 
"^ prophet, who, with several other Mormons, 
had been arrested for ofTenses against the 
peace and dignity of the State of Missouri. In 
the autumn of 1841, the Governor of Missouri 
made the demand on Gov. Carlin, of Illinois, to de- 
liver up to him Joe Smith for these oflTenses. Gov. 
Carlin issued his executive order to this effect, and 
its process was being carried out when the attorneys 
of Joe Smith sued out a writ of habeas corpus and 
the case came up for hearing before Judge Stephen 
A. Douglas, who was then on the Circuit, and hold- 
ing Court at Monmouth. 

The warrant of the Governor had been returned 



zia: 



^ 



688 



V . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



f 






once before its execution. Joe Smith was under in- 
dictment for murder and at the lime of his arrest was 
at Nauvoo, which was in this Judicial Circuit. 

At the trial Smiili had many of his Mormon 
friends with him and was backed by plenty of money 
which was used very freely. He had secured the 
best legal talent in the State to defend him, such 
men as O. H. Browning, Walker, Archibald, Liiile 
and Williams ; for the State was B. Knowlton, Pros- 
ecuting Attorney, Aoraham Lincoln and Joim H. 
Mitchell. Lincoln, however, was not present at the 
trial. The Court House was packed to its utmost 
capacity. Able aguments were made on both sides 
and the excitement became intense. When the case 
was submitted, the Court granted the motion and 
quashed the writ, on the ground that the writ, hav- 
ing been once returned before its execution, was 
functus officio. Thus ended one of the notable cases 
before Warren County Court. 

In 1843, Gov. Carlin issued another writ against 
Joe Smith, under which he was arrested again, but 
discharged by his own municipal court at Nauvoo, 
under a writ of habeas corpus. 

The Common Council at Nauvoo, of which Smith 
was the presiding member, had passed an ordinance 
empowering the municipal court of that town with 
jurisdiction in all cases of arrests made in tliat city, 
by any process whatever, notwithstanding ihecliarter 
granted to the municipal court gave jurisdiction only 
in cases of arrests for breach of some ordinance. 



John Baxter. 

fNF; of the most exciting murder trials in this 
county was that of John Baxter, as acces- 
sory before tiie fact of the murder of Col. 
M George Davenport, July 4, 1845. Young Bax- 
ter had been almost raised in the family of 
Davenport, and had been always treated witii 
£;reat kindness and was regarded as one of the fam- 
ily. Col. Davenport, who was Indian Agent, had 
received a large amount of silver from the Govern- 
ment, a part of which was for the Indians, and the 
gang of robbers called the " Banditti of the Prairies" 
were anxious to get hold of it. Baxter, being aware 
of the reception of this silver, furnished information. 




it was claimed, about this money, and it was for this 
that Baxter was indicted and tried. 

The case was brought to Warren County under a 
change of venue, for trial at the June term of 1846. 
Baxter had been tried for this crime at Rock Island 
and was sentenced to be hung. A stay of execution 
had been granted and finally a new trial with a 
change of venue. Judge N. H. Purple was then the 
presiding Justice, 'and William Elliott, the State's 
Attorney. He was assisted in the case by Joseph 
Knox, an able lawyer. Messrs. Wells, Wilkenson, 
Manning, Davidson and Ralston were for the de- 
fense. The case was continued until the November 
term. The jail of Warren County not being a very 
safe place for the confinement of prisoners, Baxter 
was committed by order of the Court to the jail of 
Adams County, and to the custody of the Sheriff of 
that county for safe keeping. He was tried at the 
November term, 1846. Some of the ablest jurists in 
the State were in this case, especially in the defense, 
and every point was contested with marked ability. 
.'\.fter the arguments were closed, the Judge charged 
the jury. His charge was able, clear, emphatic and 
imiressive, causing many persons in the court-room 
to shed tears ; even His Honor himself was seen to 
weep. 

The jury retired with the case late Saturday night. 
On Sunday morning they sent word that they had 
arrived at a decision. The Judge came in and the 
jury was brought into Court, when they rendered a 
verdict of " guilty." On being polled, one of the 
jurors stated he did not believe the prisoner guilty 
as charged under the indictment. They were di- 
rected by the Court to again retire. In a short time 
they again came into Court and rendered the follow- 
ing verdict : " VVe the jury find the defendant guilty 
in manner and form as charged in the indictment." 
A motion was made for a new trial and arrest of 
judgment, which was overruled. The Court then 
pronounced the sentence, whicii was that the ])ris- 
oner be hanged on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1846. 

The case was taken to the Supreme Court and 
came back in due course, with the sentence of the 
lower court affirmed, together with the instructions 
that the sentence be pronounced on "any day but 
Sunday, and that the prisoner be executed as a mur- 
derer. Pending the delivery of the second sentence, 
he Legislature had passed an Act for Baxter's indi- 



< 



V 



4 



■ r . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



4H- 



689 



L 






vidual benefit, commuting the sentence lo life im- 
prisonment or making optional with the defendant, 
the choice between imprisonment and hanging. This 
Act also made it obligatory on the Judge to request 
in open Court the prisoner's wishes in the matter; thus 
was presented in Court the anomly of a prisoner be- 
coming the Judge in his own case. This was virtu- 
ally introducing an ex-post-facto law, or making an 
act punishable in a manner which was not provided 
for at the time it was committed. The case was 
brought into Court, May 5, 1847, and the Court- 
room was packed to its utmost. The prisoner for 
the third time was called to the Bar, to receive the 
sentence of death. The Act of the Legislature was 
read to him and then the Judge pronounced the sen- 
tence of death, fixing the day of the execution. May 
28th. He explained to the prisoner that although 
the law required him to pronounce the sentence of 
death for the crime of which he had been found 
guilty, yet he was not to be executed unless he pre- 
ferred execution to a life in the State Penitentiary. 
The prisoner was then asked in open court, which 
mode of punishment he would prefer, the Legislative 
^ provision or the decision of the Supreme Court. He 
eagerly replied, that he would prefer the Legislative 
provision. 

As the sentence of the Judge is rather a remark- 
able document and may be of interest to the new 
generation of people in Warren County, it is given 
in full. The sentence is as follows : 

" John Baxter, a jury of the country has found you 
guilty of murder, the highest and most aggravated 
offense known to the laws, and in your case ingrati- 
tude, and the ties of friendship severed and confi- 
dence betrayed, have tinged your guilt with a deeper 
and darker strain. The murdered man had been 
your friend and patron. You had once been an in- 
mate of his family, and but a short period of time 
before liis melancholy and tragical end, you had en- 
joyed the lio^pitality of his house, and under the pre- 
tence of the partiality of a friend had wound and 
wound yoiirself into his confidence and affection. 
The time also wliich was selected for tlie commission 
of your purpose marks its commission with more than 
ordinary turpitude. You had no cause of hatred, or 
even complaint against the deceased. Money ap- 
peared to have been your only incentive. No sud- 
den impulse, no injury inflicted at the moment, noin- 
, ward, long concealed and pent up malignity of heart 
arising from wrongs and injustice inflicted and often 
repeated, impels you to the commission of the crime. 
But without any apparent motive other than that of 



gain, on the fourth day of July — a day hallowed and 
sacred to National devotion and festivity — while a 
race of freemen rejoicing and rendering thanks to 
heaven for the blessings of free Government, and the 
fancied security of their property and persons under 
the benign and salutary influences of just laws and 
equal rights, you and your confederates in crime, in- 
vaded the sanctuary of home, and coolly, relentlessly, 
slaughtered an aged and venerable man, without one 
emotion of compunction or remorse. 

A just and righteous retribution for blood thus 
shed demands the life of the offender. Not alone by 
way of punishment for the offense or expiation of the 
crime, but also as a salutary example to those who 
may come after. 

Remember then, that although the law demands 
your death, that death is no atonement for your 
crime ; nor does it subtract one tithe from the over- 
whelming amount of moral guilt which rests upon 
your soul. When the penalties of the law shall have 
consigned you to a premature and untimely death, 
there is a higher power to which you must answer 
for this act as well as for the conduct of your whole 
life. Let then the short space of time allotted to 
you here be spent in deep contrition and repentance. . 
Prepare yourself to die! Your time of life is short 
and much remains 10 be accomplished. Expect not, 
hope not, for the interference of the Executive in 
your behalf, or that chance or accident may aid you = 
to escape from your impending doom. Such hopes 
and expectations will be idle and visionary, and will 
only tend to retard the work of repentance and re- 
form which is so indispensable to your future and " 
eternal state of being. 

Your life is forfeited to the laws of your country, 
and you must die a disgraceful and ignominious 
death. It was not in tiie power of an impartial jury, 
or of able or zealous counsel who have stood up 
most manfully in your defense ; it is not in the 
power of the court to avert the sentence of the law 
and save you from your impending fate. To Heaven 
alone, you must address your prayers for mercy and 
forgiveness. As 5'ou must die, die penitent and like 
a Christian, and though the forgivene^^s of the world 
cannot restore you to life and the endearments of 
society and friends, yet the tears of sympathy will 
sometimes be shed over your early and ignoble doom ; 
and those who have known you here may not wholly 
curse your memory. 

Black and unmitigated as your crime may be, how- 
ever much you may have scoffed and derided the 
laws of God and man, you may, if sincerely penitent 
and humble, still hope for pardon and salvation 
through the redeeming power and stainless purity of 
the Redeemer's blood. 

To that Beneficent Power and Mercy, with the 
deepest emotions of pity and compassion, I com- 
mend you and your eternal destiny. The sentence 
of the law and the sentence of the court is, that you 



"T^ 



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JU 



690 



WARREN COUNTY. 



should be taken from this place to the jail of the 
County of Warren, and from thence to the ])lace of 
execution ; and that on Wednesday, tlie gth day of 
December, next, (1S47), between the hours of i and 
4 o'clock p. m. of said day, you be lianged by the 
neck until you be dead, and may God Almighty have 
mercy on your soul." 

As the act of the Legislature above referred to 
stands out alone and almost unprecedented in the 
annals of Legislation, it is made a part of this his- 
tory, and is as follows : Whereas, John Baxter, late 
of the county of Rock Island, was convicted of the 
murder of George Davenport, at the November term 
of the Circuit Court of Warren County, 1846, and is 
now confined in the jail of said county of Warren, 
to await the sentence of death to be pronounced upon 
him at the next term of Circuit Court of said county: 
Section i, Be it enacted by the people of the State 
of Illinois, represented in the general assembly, 
That the punisliment of John Baxter be, and the same 
is hereby commuted from that of death to imprison- 
ment in the Illinois Penitentiary during the term of 
his natural life, and the Sheriff or other officer, after 
the sentence of death shall be j)ronounced against 
said Baxter, instead of executing said sentence of 
death, shall, within 20 days after sucii sentence, re- 
move said Baxter to the Penitentiary at Alton, and 
, the Warden or keeper of said I'enitentiary shall re- 
ceive said Baxter, and detain him in his custody, and 
subject him to the same rules and regulations as 
other convicts are, who are sentenced to said Pen- 
itentiary for life. 

Section 2. The Secretary of State shall furnish a 
certified copy of this act to tlie Siieriff of Warren 
County or other proper legal officer, upon whom de- 
volves the duty by law of executing said sentence 
upon said Baxter, and also shall furnish a certified 
copy of the act to the Warden or keeper of said Pen- 
itentiary; Provided, this act shall not be enforced 
unless said Baxter shall at the time his sentence is 
pronounced, consent or agree in open court, to the 
provisions of this act. 

John Baxter remained in prison for many years ; 
becoming so weak and emaciated that i)is longer con- 
finement in the penitentiary would be certain death, 
he was pardoned out by the Governor and died a 
short time afterward, in the Northern part of the 
State. 

Joseph Knox, the prosecuting attorney, admitted 
to Col. Davidson, of the defense, some years after 
the trial, that he believed the State had hung two in- 
nocent men, and sent to the penitentiary a third. He 
said he believed that Fox and Birch were the guilty 
parties in the murder of Col. Davenport, and that 
the LiOngs were innocent, 





Brockner and McMahill. 

glESaBNOTHER exciting murder trial was held in 
Ijfj^^a Monmouth just before the war. In this 
>mJP^ case Ferdinand Brockner and Pickney H. Mc- 
'Jl" Mahill, were indicted and brought to trial 
for the murder of Thomas Traylor, at his home 
in Greenbush Township. Mr. Traylor was sitting in 
his house reading one evening, when a shot was fired 
through the window, inflicting upon him a mortal 
wound. The persons mentioned above, being sus- 
pected, were arrested, indicted and finally brought to 
trial. The prosecuting attorney was James A. Mc- 
Kenzie, and they were defended by that distinguished 
criminal lawyer, the late W. W. O'Brien, and one of 
Monmouth's not less distinguished attorneys. Col. J. 
W. Davidson. The prisoners were acquitted. 

In early days there was a good deal of land litiga- 
tion in Monmoiitii, and some of the ablest lawyers in 
the state were before the Monmouth bar; and on this 
bench some of the ablest judges of the stale have 
presided, men who have been distinguished in polit- 
ical life and in the halls of the Legislature. 

This County was first in the Fifth Judicial District, 
then in the Tenth and the Eighth, and under reorgan- 
ization it was again placed in the Tenth. 

Probate Court. 

'HE Probate Court was established in 1837, 
which provides for a Probate Justice of the 
Peace, who shall have charge of all Pro- 
bate matters, and be also vested with the same 
])ower and jurisdiction in civil cases as were 
given to Justices of the Peace. VV. F. Smith 
was the first Probate Justice. This law remained in 
force until 1849, when a County Court was estab- 
lished. 

County Court. 

N 1849 the General Assembly, under the 
constitution of 1848, passed an act approved 
Feb. 1 2th, providing for a Court of Record 
to be styled the County Court, and to be pre- 
sided over by a County Judge. Under this 
act the County Court was vested with all the 
powers and jurisdiction heretofore resting in the Pro- 



-^ 



■*i^ 



-t4— 



WARREN COUNTY. 



-^^^ 



691 



bate Court. In addition thereto it was further pro- 
vided that the County Judge, with two Justices of 
the Peace, to be known as Associate Justices, should 
sit as a County Court and have all the powers that 
were vested in the Commissioners' Court, the latter, 
under this act, being abolished. The first session of 
this Court was held Dec. 3, 1849, with Judge Ivory 
Quinby presiding. 

This Court had charge of County matters until 
the township-organization system was adopted, and 
the power was vested in the Board of Supervisors, 
which was permanently done in 1854. In 1872 the 
General Assembly passed an act giving it concurrent 
jurisdiction with the Circuit Court in all civil cases 
where the value of property in controversy should 
not exceed $5°°' ^"d in criminal cases, where the 
punishment was not imprisonment in the peniten- 
tiary or death. The names of the officers of the 
Courts will be found in the list of County officials. 



* -^^- ^ 

Judges and Members of the Bar 




^N this connection only a brief history of the 
Judges that have presided at Monmouth 
can be given. Hon. Richard M. Young, 
who presided at Galena, was the first Judge 
to preside in the Circuit who had jurisdiction 
here from the organization of the County un- 
til 1837, when he resigned to take his seat in the 
United States Senate, to wliich place he had been 
elected. Judge Young was born in Kentucky, and 
was among the first settlers in Northern Illinois. He 
was of unimpeachable character, a good jurist and 
did much to give tone and dignity to the Bench and 
Bar in the Circuit over which he presided. 

He was of a social nature; gentle, courteous, en- 
tertaining, and refined in his manner. Though in 
the Senate during its palmiest days, when the most 
noted men of the country were members, yet he dis- 
tinguished liimself for his ability, and was brought 
into general notice. After serving out his term in 
the United States Senate, he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Polk, Commissioner of the General Land Of- 
fice. He has been dead many years. 

Hon. James H. Ralston succeeded Judge Young, 
filling out an unexpired term, Mr. Ralston was orig- 



inally from Kentucky. His health being poor, he 
resigned after remaining on the bench about a year. 
In 1840, he was elected to the State Senate. In 1846, 
President Polk appointed him Assistant Quartermas- 
ter of the United States Army, and he was ordered 
to report for duty to the Commander of the Illinois 
Volunteers, then en route for Mexico. He served 
in this capacity until the close of the Mexican war. 
After the Mexican war, he emigrated to California, 
where he died. 

Hon. Peter Lott, formerly of New York, was the 
next to serve on this bench. Mr. Lott, before his 
promotion to the Bench, had practiced at this Bar. 
He was only a fair lawyer, but quite a politician, and 
after leaving the Bench was appointed Circui' Clerk 
of Adams County. In 1852, he went to California, 
having been appointed by President Pierce, Super- 
intendent of the United States Mint at San Fran- 
cisco. He was removed by President Buchanan, and 
subsequently went to Kansas, where he died. 

Hon. Stephen A. Douglas served in this Circuit, 
from 1841 to 1843. The life and career of this dis- 
tinguished American is too well known to need an 
extensive notice here. He resigned to take his seat 
in the United States Congress, from the Fifth Con- 
gressional District. 

Judge Douglas' familiarity with cases and author- 
ities, the readiness with which he dispatched busi- 
ness, his acute and judicial mind, were the astonish- 
ment of all. There had been cases on the docket 
for years, and it was loaded down with unfinished 
business, but Judge Douglas cleaned out the docket 
and when he left the Bench there were only new 
cases for his successor. The ability which he showed 
as a Judge, and his popularity on the Bench, were 
accessories to his political elevation. His sociability 
also made him popular ; while a suit was pending, 
he watched every point of law, kept track of all the 
proceedings, while at the same time he would leave 
the Bench, go back among the spectators — "the 
boys," as he would call them — and talk familiarly 
with Tom, Dick or Bill, take or give a cigar, enjoy a 
social smoke with them, and often sitting on their 
lap, while at the same time he would closely follow 
the case on trial. 

Stephen A. Douglas served in the House of Rep- 
resentatives, until 1847, when he was elected to the 
United States Senate. In i860, he was nominated 



^ 



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:?HH- 



692 



WARREN COUNTY. 



4 



by a faction of the Democratic party for the Presi- 
dency. Upon the election of President Lincoln and 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, he, true to his 
country, visited President Lincoln before leaving 
Washington for the camps of Illinois, and gave him 
his heartiest sui)port. 

Arriving at Springfield, he was publicly received 
by Gov. Yates, to whom he gave the same assurance 
of his entire co-operation in putting down the Re- 
bellion. Springfield and the camps were full of 
volunteers for the war. He was asked by the Leg- 
islature and the leading citizens to give a public 
address. Here he made one of the greatest and 
most noted speeches of his life, denouncing the se- 
cession movement as a wide-spread conspiracy to 
overthrow the best Government that the sun ever 
shone on. The next day lie rode through the can.p 
with his beautiful and accomplished wife, making 
short speeches to the soldiers. His action at this 
particular time was a great service to the Union. It 
was lieralded throughout the country that "Douglas 
sustains Lincoln." From Springfield he hastened to 
Chicago, where he delivered in the "Wigwam" his 
great and last speech, pleading, even at the threshold 
of death, for the cause of the Republic. 

His exhaustive labors, together with tiie severe 
cold already contracted, were too much for his over- 
taxed constitution, and after the s])eech, he returned 
to the Tremont House and laid down to rise no more 
in this life. 

Hon. Jesse B. Thomas was the next on the Bench 
following the lamented Douglas. He had a very 
difficult position to fill. He had, however, a judicial 
mind, and made an excellent Judge, discharging the 
duties of the office with credit to himself and satis- 
faction to the people. He was subsequently appointed 
to another district, and soon after he died. 

Hon. Norman H. Purple served from 1840; 101849, 
when he resigned. He was distinguished for his 
legal attainments and executive ability, and retired 
shedding lustre over the ermine. He was a good 
criminal lawyer and a fine advocate, and had the 
reputation of being one of the best attorneys at tliis 
Bar; with this he had also the reputation of being a 
great wag. He died at Peoria years ago. 

Hon. William A. Minchall, formerly from Tennes- 
see, and at this time from Rushville, succeeded Mr. 
Purple, serving from 1849 to 185 i. He had been 



prominent in politics before he was elected to the 
Bench. 

He was a good lawyer and an excellent Judge. His 
S|)ecialty as a lawyer was on the trial of land cases. 
He was trying an important case at one time, when 
Judge Purple was presiding, and was making a long 
and exhaustive argument for his client. Finally, 
the Judge asked him which side of the case he was 
on, anyway. Minchall stop[)ed and looked around 
for some moments, and then turning to the Clerk, 
said, "Mr. Clerk, will you please tell me which side 
of the case I am on?" He has been dead some 
years. 

Hon. William Kellogg, from Canton, served after 
Minchall. He was a good lawyer and had an ex- 
tensive practice before his elevation to the Bench. 
As a Judge he gave general satisfaction. He has 
been dead some years. 

Hon. H. M. Weed, presided from 1852 to 1855. 
He was a fair lawyer, but did not achieve much of a 
reputation as a «Judge. He died in Peoria many 
years ago. 

Hon. John S. Thompson, from Mercer County, 
served five years from 1855 to i860. He was not 
brilliant, but a careful Judge, and gave general sat- 
isfaction. After leaving the Bench, he went to Cali- 
fornia, where he accumulated a large fortune. He 
is now living in Soutliern California. 

Hon. Aaron Tyler, of Knoxville, was the next 
Judge to preside, only one year. He was only a 
medium lawyer, but a conscientious man. He died 
at Knoxville. 

Hon. Charles B. Lawrence, was the presiding 
Judge here, from 1S61 to 1864. As a lawyer he was 
good in all branches of the profession except crim- 
inal, and was an ornament to the Bench. He was 
one of the ablest jurists that ever i)resided in this 
Circuit. From the Circuit he was promoted to the 
Su|)reme Court of the State, where he remained 
several years adding new laurels to his judicial fame. 
His health giving away, he made a trip south in 
1884, with the hope that change of air and rest 
would restore his pliysical power and renew his vital 
energies. But it was too late. He died before he 
reached home, and his remains were brought back 
and interred in the Galesburg Cemetery. 

Hon. John J. Glenn was elected, in 1877, and is 
still presiding. He had, distinguished himself as a 



•f4" 



WARREN COUNTY. 



±* 



693 



S= 



lawyer and advocate before his promotion to the 
Bench. He is a man of fine executive ability, very 
quick and clear in his solution of law points, sound 
in his judicial decisions, and irreproachable in char- 
acter. He is distinguished also for tiie large amount 
of judicial business which lie dispatches during his 
term of court. During his long incumbency lie has 
added new lustre to the Monmouth Bench. (.See 
Biography). 

Hon. Arthur A. Smith. In the fall of 1867, 
Arthur A. .Smith assumed the ermine, and is still one 
of the Judges of this Circuit, residing at Galesburg. 
He is a good sound lawyer, a man of strict integrity, 
and during his long service has reflected credit upon 
the legal profession. 

Hon. George W. Pleasants was elected to this 
Circuit in 1879, but seldom presides at Monmouth. 
He is well read in his profession, a man of fine 
ability, and is a good presiding officer, and conscien- 
tious in the discharge of his judicial duties. 

In 1877, this Circuit was changed from the Eighth 
to the Tenth, the Eighth Circuit comprising Kno,x, 
Warren and Henderson Counties was consolidated 
with the Circuit North, consisting of the counties of 
Mercer, Henry and Rock Island, and is now called 
the Tenth Judicial District. There are three Judges 
elected represented at present, as follows: Arthur 
A. Smith, of Galesburg; John J. Glenn, of Mon- 
mouth ; and George W. Pleasants, of Rock Island. 
These Judges arrange their work usually so as to en- 
able them to preside in their respective counties. 



State's Attorneys. 

|ON. THOMAS FORD, was the first gen- 
tleman to hold this position for this county, 
and was in this office when the Indians 
were brought up for trial. He was a man of 
considerable learning, of noble manhood, strict 
integrity, a good lawyer, and very prepossessing. 
As a Prosecuting Attorney, he was thorough, forci- 
ble, and very successful. He served until 1835, 
when he was elected Judge four terms by the Legis- 
lature, twice a Circuit Judge, once a Judge in Chi- 
cago, and an Associated Justice of the Supreme 
Court. He was assigned to the Ninth Judicial Dis- 




trict, and while holding this office was nominated by 
the Democrats for Governor, and elected by a large 
nnjority. He died at Peoria, Nov. 2, 1850. 

Hon. William A. Richardson succeeded Gov. Ford, 
serving until 183/. He was a man of great moral 
courage and strong will power. He was a good law- 
yer and a successful Prosecuting Attorney. When 
the Mexican War broke out he enlisted and was as- 
signed to the command of a regiment, and served 
with distinction. Returning home aficr the termin- 
ation of the war, he received the nomination by the 
Democrats for Congress,' and was elected five times 
serving until i860. During the latter part of Presi- 
dent Buchanan's term he was appointed Governor of 
Nebraska, which position he resigned after a service 
of a few months. 

Hon. Henry L. Bryant, served from 1837 until 
1839. He was a good lawyer and made a fair Pros- 
ecuting Attorney. 

Hon. William Elliott followed Mr. Bryant, serving 
from 1839 to 1848. He was an excellent lawyer and ' 
also a good fighter, serving with distinction in the 
Black Hawk War, where he was wounded in a hand- 
to-hand encounter with one of the red braves whom 
he killed. He also served in the Mexican War. He 
died soon after the close of this war, at his home in 
Louisville. 

Hon. R. S. Blackwell, from Rushville, filled the 
office from 1848 to 1852, and was one of the most 
brilliant and successful Prosecuting Attorneys that 
ever presided in this Circuit. He was a splendid 
criminal lawyer, a good advocate and very forcible 
before a jury. He was also a thorough law student, 
well versed in all the intricacies of the profession. 
Subsequently he located in Chicago, where he prac- 
ticed many years and distinguished himself before 
the Chicago Bar. He was a lecturer at one time be- 
fore one of the law colleges. He has been dead sev- 
eral years. 

Hon. H. G. Reynolds from Rock Island, was 
Prosecuting Attorney from 1850 to 1854. He was a 
good attorney and a successful prosecutor. He was 
also an active man in all public enterprises and (juite 
a politician. While in this office he moved to Knox- 
ville. After the expiration of his term, he moved to 
Springfield, where at one time he was Grand Secre- 
tary of the Masonic Order. From Springfield he 
emigrated to Kansas. 



*+ 



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694 



. ,- X . . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



n 



■^* 



Hon. William C. Gowdy succeeded Mr. Reynolds 
from 1854 to 1855. Before assuming this office, he 
had built up an extensive practice and had estab- 
lished a fair reputation as a lawyer; also as a politi- 
cian, being very active in the Democratic Conventions. 
He moved to Chicago in 1859, where lie is still en- 
gaged in the profession. 

Hon. A. M. Craig served from 1855 to '56. 

James H. Stewart succeeded Mr. Craig, serving 
about nine years. He was a good lawyer and a 
careful and painstaking Prosecuting Attorney. There 
were very few escaped punishment while he held the 
office. His long service showed that he was appre- 
ciated by the people he served. (See biography). 

Hon. James A. McKinzie, of Galesburg, served 
from 1864 to 1872, succeeding Mr. Stewart. He 
made a good Prosecuting Attorney and filled the of- 
fice with credit to himself and the people who elected 
him. His specialty was in the criminal practice. 

Hon. William Marshall succeeded Mr. McKinzie 
serving four years and with marked ability. He 
studied his cases well and was a good prosecutor. 

Hon. George Snyder succeeded Mr. Marshall, 
holding the office from 1876 to 1880, discharging his 
duties in an able manner. 

Hon. John \V. Matthews, of Monmouth, the pres- 
ent incumbent, entered upon the discharge of his 
duties in 1880, and was re-elected in 1884. Mr. 
Matthews is a good lawyer and is very zealous in his 
application to the duties of the office. He lias been 
successful as a prosecutor and is very popular. He 
is yet young and bids fair to achieve distinction in 
the profession. (See biography, on page 357.) 

Members of the Bar. 

|L''(jJl MOXG the lawyers who have practiced at 
i ^M3i ''^s Monmouth Bar and who have died 
ifjl,^ ' ^"^ nioved away, may be mentioned the fol- 
lowing : O. H. Browning, of Quincy, 111., was 
a fine orator and a good advocate, and proba- 
bly one of the best land lawyers that ever 
pleaded at tliis Bar. He was a member of the Leg- 



islature several years and was also elected to a seat in 
the United States Senate. His reputation as an at- 
torney extended throughout the State. 

Ivory Quinby was one of the first lawyers to locate 
at Monmoutli. He was also the first County Judge 
under the act of 1849. Judge Quinby was a sound 
lawyer and active in all matters that tended to de- 
veloj) and improve the county, and was ever ready 
to aid the deserving and needy. He died Oct. 23, 
1869. (See biography, page 375.) 

Julius Manning, who resided at Knoxville, was 
one of the finest pleaders at this Bar. He was an 
eloquent speaker and almost unrivaled before a jury. 
He was very methodical in his work, was a close 
student, and would never accept office, though he 
took a deep interest in politics. He was a man of 
social habits and fond of good society. He died July 
4, 1862. 

Cyrus Walker, from Macomb, practiced at this 
Bar. He was a fine criminal lawyer and one of the 
best that ever appeared before the Warren County ^ 
Bar. He died a few years ago. 

J. H. Mitchell was an ornament to the profession. \ 
He is reported to have been a man of extraordinary -^ 
memory and of remarkable character. He was a ' 
fine counsellor and good in all branches of the pro- 
fession. 

A. C. Harding was one of the prominent members 
of tliis Bar, and a very successful practitioner. He 
had an extensive practice up to the time of his de- 
mise. (See biography, page 541.) 

Wyatt B. Stapp was for a long ti.ne a member of 
this Bar and a good general lawyer and successful 
practitioner. He took a prominent part in the pub- 
lic affairs of the county and was a much esteemed 
citizen. He died some years ago. 

The Bar of Warren County is still ably represented 
by J. W. Davidson, who is now the oldest represent- 
ative of the profession in the county ; also by James 
H. Stewart, an old timer ; and others, whose names 
will be found in the biographical department of 
this work. 



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(3UNT Y Commissioners' 
Court, the April term, 1831. 
It was ordered that propos- 
als should be received and 
contracts be entered into for 
the buildingof aCourt House, 
on plans to be furnished by 
f^*&|^^ the Court. The plans were not intri- 
■^€^?ls5J cate, nor did they require in carrying 
them out much architectural skill. A 
marble or frescoed hall was not needed 
in those days for the dispensation of 
Justice. The building was to be 20 x 
22 feet on the ground, 9 feet between 
floors, and to be built of logs, hewn on 
the outside and inside. The construction of this 
building, within the walls of which Justice was to be 
meted out to the people of Warren County, was let 
at public venue to' Francis Kendall, at $57. It was 
located on Main Street, a little north of Garden 
Street. This crude building served the purpose for 
which it was erected for several years, and after it 
was superseded by a new one was sold for $21, to 
James Hodgin, September, 1835. 

At the March term of the Court, in 1835, it was 
decided to have a new Court House, and a commit- 
tee of three was appointed to prepare plans for the 
same. It was decided to have a frame building, the 
dimensions of which were to be 20 x 30 feet on the 
ground and one story and a half high. The contracts 
were let separately, to different persons, the entire 
cost to be $773. It was located on block 2,Z' ^"ts 5 
and eight. Daniel McNeil, junior, was appointed to 
superintend its construction. It was never fully 



completed, and was only used about two years, or 
only until another building was erected. In June, 
1837, the County Commissioners made an order for 
a new Court House, had plans and specifications 
made, and closed the contract for its erection to 
Cornelius Tunnicliff, for $8,998, who was the lowest 
bidder. It was located in the Court-House block. 
Tunnicliff, after commencing the work, drew $1,000 
as his first installment, and then absconded. The 
contract was turned over to his sureties, Daniel Mc- 
Neil, Jr., Justus Woodworth, Mordica McBride and 
George H. Wright, who completed the work. It was 
received from their hands March 14, i84r, when 
they were relieved from their bonds. This building 
is still ,used by the county. Its dimensions are 40 
X 50 feet, two stories high, with a stone foundation 
and brick walls. A large vault has been added to 
tlie building since it was completed, for the deposi- 
tory of records. The buildmg is inadequate to meet 
the demands of the county and the advanced condi- 
tion of the people ,and it is expected that in a few 
years it will give place to a large, handsome and 
modern structure. 



County Jail. 

N the 5th day of September, 1832, the 
Ji County Commissioners made an order ap- 
propriating lot No. 15, Block 6, for the 
r purpose of having constructed upon it a 
jail. Some crude plans were drawn containing 
the size and material for the jail, and bids 
were called for. The construction was let to Jacob 




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696 



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1 

4 



WARREN COUNTY. 



Rust, the lowest bidder, for $300. It was completed 
and accepted by the Commissioners, March 4, 1833, 
and the 'I'reasiirerof the county was directed to pay 
Mr. Rust the money. This jail was rather remarka- 
ble for its construction, and its builder received much 
praise for the ingenuity of his work. It was thought 
in those days that once a prisoner was inside its 
walls, there was but one way for him to get out, and 
that was through the door, with the aid of the jailer's 
key. In the first place an excavation of two feet 
was made in the ground, and floor laid at the bot- 
tom. This floor was composed of two layers of hewn 
logs, one foot square, one layer crossing the other. 
The walls of the first floor were of the same thick- 
ness, and constructed of the same material, the ends 
of which were dove tailed into each other. The 
upper story was l)uilt of one thickness of logs, closely 
joined and fastened with bolts. In the center 
was a heavy trap-door, which was secured by strong 
iron hinges and a padlock. A substantial solid roof 
was built over this. A window 6x12 inches was 
cut in the lower story, which was crossed by iron 
bars laid between the logs. A stairway led up from 
the outside into the upper floor, through a heavy 
oaken door The prisoner was conducted througii a 
trap-door into the room below by a portable stairway, 
which was drawn up after his descent. This jail, 
though strong in its capacity for holding prisoners, 
was not large enougli to meet the demands of the 
rapidly increasing population of the county, and on 
Marcli 2?, 1839, the County Commissioners decided 
to build a new one. Specifications and plans were 
made out and submitted, and the contract was let 
to the lowest bidders, Messrs. Woodworth & Mer- 
rill, July 19, 1839, for $8,495. ^' ^^'*s ''""' °" 'o' ^' 
block 10, and was completed and accepted l)y the 
County Commissioners, March 27, 1841. The foun- 
dation was of stone, and the superstructure of brick. 
It was two stories high, containing four cells and two 
dungeons, and for those days was regarded as a good 
building for jail |)urposes. At the December term, 
1856, of the Board of Supervisors, the jail question 
was again brought up. The building upon which 
so much money had been expended had not proved 
satisfactory as it was expected. A committee was 
appointed to investigate the matter, who reported the 
nsiifificien cy of the jail facilities, and the inferior 
structure of the building, but stated also that the 
county finances would not warrant the building of a 



new one. At a subsequent meeting of the Board of 
Supervisors another committee was appointed to in- 
vestigate the jail matter, and vested with the power 
to sell the old jiil. It was decided at this time to 
repair and enlarge the jail. This was done at an ex- 
pense of something over $2,000. The great increase 
of population in the county, of latter years, brought 
with it also an increase in the criminal list. With 
the advancement of civilization and science, came 
also an advancement in the skill and devices of the 
burglar and jail breaker, and a new, larger and safer 
place for the confinement of criminals was demanded. 
At the June term of 1882, the Board of Supervisors 
apuointed a coininiitee, consisting of C. A. Dunn, 
J. T. Hartman and T. A. Dilley, to examine into 
the matter of construction of the new jail, and to 
devise plans for the same. They were also empow- 
ered to visit other counties, if necessrry, in order to 
post themselves in regard to the construction of 
places of confinement, 'i'he committee received 
specifications and plans from P. J. Pauly & Bro., of 
St. Louis, among others, which they upon examina- 
tion found to be advisable, and reported that they be 
adopted. The committee was further authorized to.<J 
investigate the matter, to receive bids and to re- 
port at the next meeting of the Board, December 
term. 

P. J. Pauly & Bro.'s proposition was to put in the 
steel cell work for $12,500, or to build the jail com- 
plete for $25,000. The committee made the report 
at the December term, recommending the adoption 
of the Pauly proposition, so far, at least, as the cell 
work. This report was accepted by the Board, and 
the committee were authorized to contract with Pauly 
& Bro., according to the plans, specifications and 
proi)Ositions submitted by them, providing the cost 
did not exceed $25,000. 

The site selected for the jail was the north part 
of the Court House block. 'I'he committee finally 
closed the contract with William F. Hayden for the 
construction of the jail (omplete for $12,437, and 
with P. J. Pauly & Bio. for the cell work, at $12,500. 
The building was completed in the fall of 1883, and 
was accepted by the Board of Supervisors. 

The foundation of the entire building is of stone; 
the walls of the superstructure of brick, trimmed 
with stone. In front is the SherilT's residence, which 
is two stories high, with a hall extending through the 
center. There are four rooms below and four rooms 



-e4r^ 



. Y ■ 
WARREN COUNTY. 



--X4- 



697 



above, and all are well finished. Opening from the 
residence part is a large vestibule, at one side of which 
there are four cells, two below and two above, for 
female prisoners or for the insane. From the vesti- 
bule you enter the jail proper. In this there are six 
cells, 7x11 feet, three on the first floor and three on 
the second, with batlirooms at the end. Around 
these Cells is a corrider. In front of them is a hall 
for the prisoners to walk. The whole is constructed 
of iron and chilled steel, upon the Pauly patent sys- 
tem. Canvas hammocks are furnished for the pris- 
oners, which are attached to the sides of the cells 
by strong iron hooks. .The jail is light, airy and well 
ventilated. It is warm in winter, and cool in sum- 
mer. The entire building is heated by steam, and 
was occupied Oct. 12, 1883. 

In the spring of 1884, the old jail, the second one 
built in the county, was sold to Andrew Hickman for 
$125. The first jail built in the county was sold lo 
C. L. Woodvvorth in June, 1840, for $62.50. 



County Poor Farm. 

..ii«~„,j,.p ij^^ June term of the County Court, 1853, 

|r| a petition was presented by A. C. Harding, 

,oj) o-B gig,.|g(j ijy many of the citizens of the 




county, praying that the Court purchase lands 
and establish a farm for the poor of the county. 
This petition was favorably received and in 
relation thereto the Court made the following order: 
" And it is no.v ordered by the Court, that proposi- 
tions be received until the first Monday in Septem- 
ber next, for the sale to the county of Warren of one 
quarter section or more of land, either improved or 
unimproved, to be used as a County Poor-house 
Farm, and the Clerk is ordered to advertise for pro- 
posals for six successive weeks in the Monmouth 
Atlas." Nothing was further done until Dec. 10, 
1856, when the Board of Supervisors appointed from 
its members Messrs. Bond, Brovvnlee and Lewis, a 
committee, who were authorized to purchase a suit- 
able piece of ground for the farm. 

Another order was made at the June term. 1857, 
in the same direction, and Messrs. Norcross, Brown 
and Phelps were appointed a committee, with au- 



thority to purchase land for a poor-farm. At the 
September term, the committee on purchase reported 
that they had purchased 120 acres of land located 
on sections 29 and 30, township 10 north of range 2 
west, for which they had agreed to pay $3,360. This 
report was accepted. In December the Board set 
aside $1,000 toward the building of a poor-house, 
and appointed Albert Mitchell superintendent of its 
construction. 

In March, 1858, $r,ooo more were appropriated 
toward the com|jletion of the building, and Mr. 
Mitchell appointed Overseer of the Poor-farm for 
one year. In June following an additional $t,ooo was 
appropriated by the Board for the building, which 
was completed by fall and ready for occupancy. 

The land here is rich and productive and has 
been put under good cultivation. It is located about 
five miles south of Monmouth on the county road. 
The farm house is a long, low, story and a half frame 
building, about 45 feet long and 16 feet wide. The 
insane building stands in the rear of the ir.ain de- 
partment about 20 feet. It is a small, story and a 
half frame building, containing six cells, four above 
and two below, with a small passage-way. Back of =^ 
this building is a pen, enclosed by a high board 
fence, for the use of the insane during the daytime 
when desirable. In tlie main building, on the fam- . 
ily side, there is a parlor, sitting-room, two bedrooms, 
a kitchen and pantry. On the inmate side, a sitting- 
room, kitchen and two bedrooms. The second floor 
contains eight bedrooms. The building is poor, old 
and shaky, and in the winter time especially it must 
of necessity be poorly ventilated. For a county hav- 
ing the wealth, culture and civilization that is 
clamied by this county, and which it really has, we 
are constrained to say that the County Poor-farm 
building is not at all a creditable one. The inmates, 
however, are well and kindly treated and say they 
are well fed. They speak in praise of the family 
who have charge of them. There were 27 inmates 
last summer at the farm, 12 males and 15 females, 
several of whom were not rational. Most of them 
were quite old and feeble. One of the insane in- 
mates has been here 20 years. The farm has a 
good large barn, which is the best part of the im- 
provements. It is well fenced with hedges and rails 
and is well cultivated. They inilk four cows and 
are raising about 50 pigs. 



"T^ 



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698 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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LAVERY was undoubtedly the 
prime cause of the Rebellion 
and ir.ost of the dissension pre- 
ceding it. Conseiiuenily, as a 
suitable preface to the Warren 
County war record, a very brief 
recital of the events and imme- 
diate causes leading to and culmi- 
nating in the late Civil War, are 
necessary. The introduclion of slav- 
ery into this country followed the 
first settlements. It grew with the 
Colonial development and became an 
important factor in its government. 
Almost fro'm the first, its poisonous 
fangs were fastened on the political 
fabric, and clung there with the ten- 
acity of death's grip, and it is not at all to be won- 
dered at. Slavery had its peculiar fascinations; it 
appealed to the indolence and cupidity of the peo- 
ple. Then as now, a large percentage of mankind 
preferred to live by other men's labors than by the 
sweat of their own brow. It is safe to say that in all 
ages and climes mankind does not materially differ. 
An axiom stated to-day without fear of contradic- 
tion, could with the same degree of assurance have 
been proclaimed wlien Solomon reigned in all his 
glory. 
The great cardinal mistake made by the founders 



of this Government was when they had, by a long 
and terrible war, released themselves from the 
bondage of Great Britain, to establish a Government 
for themselves and their posterity, the very corner- 
stone of which they in turn violated by the en- .' 
slavement of another race. \Vhile this was done, 
these patriots of the Revolution, these founders of 
the greatest Government the world has ever known, 
gave immortality to their convictions in the declara- 
tion "That all men were created equal, with certain 
inalienable rights, among which were life, liberty and 
tlie pursuit of happiness." 

It was expected, however, by the founders of the 
Government, many of whom held slaves, that the 
institution of slavery would gradually fade away and 
finally cease to exist. The contrary to this, however, 
was the result. Encroachments after encroach- 
ments were made by the slave power, until it vir- 
tually had possession of the Government. For 
nearly half a century it was the dominant power in 
the politics of our country. Not satisfied with slavery 
in the cotton and sugar growing States of the South, 
its advocates wanted it to extend its territory. 

Some of the greatest minds, the brightest statemen 
in the country — and as great and bright as were ever 
produced in any country — in endeavoring to placate 
tliis power, hoping thereby to prevent disruption, be- 
came the victims of its deadly power, and were brought 
to untimely political death, while this car of Jug- 



"*i^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



699 



4 



gernaut rolled triumphantly over their political 
graves. 

The Missouri Compromise was made, then came 
the Kansas-Nebraska bill with its agitation and strug- 
gle over the right to introduce slavery into the Terri- 
tories, and then the Fugitive-Slave Law. 

In 1856 the Whig party broke up, and its members, 
with a portion of the Democrats, formed a new 
party, known throughout the world since as the Re- 
publican party. This was the initiatory movement 
which presaged the downfall of the slave power. A 
Presidential campaign was made this year by the 
new party, but it was defeated. In i860 it made an- 
other campaign and won, with Abraham Lincoln at 
the head. 

The South, believing that in the Union they had 
lost their political power forever, yet knowing (the 
political leaders at least) that the Government under 
any party could not interfere with slavery wliere it 
already existed, nevertheless set up this false issue 
and consummated the secession of the Southern 
States on the strength of it, proclaiming to their de- 
luded followers that the Government, Abraham Lin- 
coln at least, would take their slaves from tliem. 

Before the inauguration of the new administration 
most of the Slave States liad seceded ; the United 
States Mint, the forts and the arsenals had been 
seized and the American flag had been torn down, 
and soon after the inauguration of President Lincoln, 
April 12, 1861, they opened fire on Fort Sumter and 
demanded of its commander, Maj. Anderson, its sur- 
render. Had the incumbent of the White House 
been a man of firmness and patriotism, had he even 
been a shadow of that sterling patriot and President, 
Andrew Jackson, these outrages to the country would 
never have been committed, nor secession allowed, 
and the war tliat followed would have been averted. 
But President Buchanan was weak, imbecife, and in 
the hands of the Soutliern leaders. He held that he 
had no power to prevent secession and protect the 
forts and property of the Government — in other 
words, tliat the Government was powerless for its 
own preservation. 

The firing on Fort Sumter sent a thrill of indigna- 
tion through the entire North, and through every pa- 
triotic heart in the country. A new President was 
now at the head of the Government, and a man in 
whom the Nation had confidence. There was no 



law authorizing the President to raise an army, and 
Congress had as yet passed no bill investing him 
with the authority to call for troops ; but President 
Lincoln believed that a Government liad within it- 
self the power of self-preservation. Upon this 
belief, with his great, patriotic heart, he acted. A 
call was made for 75,000 volunteers to protect the 
Government. This call was made on the i6th of 
April, 1 86 1. Gov. Yates responded, issuing a call 
on Illinois for lier quota. It was met with great en- 
thusiasm. Within two weeks Illinois had over dou- 
ble her quota enlisted and in camps. The people 
had confidence in " Honest Abe," as he was affec- 
tionately called, and also in their brilliant and noble 
Governor, Richard Yates; and so it was throughout 
the entire Northern states. Volunteers poured into 
the camps from every department of life; from the 
farm, the manufactories, the offices, the bar, the 
bench, the pulpit and the school room. Political 
differences were obliterated ; angry words that had 
been given in that heated and memorable canvass 
but a few short months before, were forgiven; party 
distinctions vanished as mist before the morning suni 
and party platforms were swept as a morning dream 
from the minds of men. All were joined with one 
common bond of sympathy and united in one effort, 
the saving of the American Union. 

The writer was at Camp Yates by the first of May, 
enrolled for the cause. The camp was then nearly 
full, and it was by strategy that his company got 
inside, and when in it was near being expelled. Vol- 
unteers continued to pour in from all parts of the 
State, but there was no longer any i-oom in the camp, 
and arrangements were made outside for some. 
Word was sent out all over the State ordering volun- 
teers to stay at home, but still they came. One full 
company of as fine looking men as ever carried 
arms, well dressed, uniformed and thoroughly equip- 
ped with arms, arrived. They were told there was 
no place for them, that the State did not want them, 
and that they could not be used or provided for. 
They were so well uniformed — the only volunteers 
then out of a camp of 10,000 that had any other 
dress than the one they wore at home — so noble 
looking, so patriotic and so importunate in their en- 
treaties to be let in, that the gates were thrown open 
and they were admitted. They spent the day in 
camp mingling with the boys, the raw recruits, and 



^(^^ 



V 



-«^ 



700 



WARREN COUNTY. 



-^-^ 



were happy, poor fellows, until their fate was made 
known to them. 

Just before night they were told that the Govern- 
ment did not need them, could not place tliem, and 
that they must go home. A cloud of sadness over- 
spread their brave countenances as they turned and 
walked slowly away to where their arms were stacked. 
They were l)rout;ht up in double line facing tlie out- 
ward gate, and the order to march was given. It 
was a solemn and pathetic scene, and one not to be 
forgotten. The evening was calm and clear; the 
sun had just gone down beyond the western horizon, 
throwing back its mellow rays upon the crowded 
camp. A long open line was made for the company 
to pass out, which was densely packed each side, 
and far back to the rear. These patriots who had 
left the sacred home, and all the lies so dear, to give 
their life's blood for their country, marched slowly 
out with great tears coursing down their cheeks. All 
heads were uncovered as they [lassed by, and many 
were the tears that were dropped by those they left 
behind. 

It was but a short time, however, before they were 
wanted; another call for volunteers was soon made. 
The members of tliis company undoubtedly all re- 
sponded, and many of them probably breathed their 
last on the battle field. Such is war. 

The third call, July, 1861, was for 500,000 men, 
and for a period of three years. After this, call suc- 
ceeded call, until the grand total reached the enor- 
mous figures of 3.339,748. Of this number, Illinois 
furnished altogether about 290,000 men, of which 
Warren County is credited with 2,277. So gener- 
ously did Illinois respond in sending out volunteers, 
without stopping to figure, that her quota was found 
to be largely in excess of any other State. When 
President Lincoln's attention was called to this fact, 
he replied : " The country needs the sacrifice ; we 
must put the whip on the free horse." Wiiiieall the 
States did well, Illinois more especially distinguished 
herself by tlie number and quality of her service. 

Aside from furnishing the President, wlio was Com- 
mander-in-chief of the army, she gave to the country 
that foremost captain of the world, Ulysses S. Grant, 
whose recent death has left a mourning Nation. She 
also gave to the service that distinguished General, 
John A. Logan, who now represents her in the Uni- 
ted States Senate. Tlie soldiers brought home with 



them 300 battle flags, the product of their numerous 
victories. The first fla.g that waved in triumph over 
Riclimond after the surrender was an Illinois flag, 
which was there unfurled to the Southern breeze by 
Illinois soldiers. 

During the dark days of the struggle, when re- 
verses met our army, when apparently there seemed 
to be no ground to rest our hopes upon, when ominous 
clouds hung over the face of the Republic, when the 
hearts of the patriots grew sick with dispa'r, they 
would turn to that great President and to that great 
Captain and say, with a just cause, and with them at 
the head of the Government, backed by the brave 
and patriotic soldiers in the field, " we cannot but 
win, we cannot fail in our efforts to preserve the Na- 
tion. " 

Illinois had, also, to keep her inspired with hope, 
the noble Yates, the great war Governor, who with a 
father's care looked after the wants of the soldiei's 
froin his State, and give his whole attention to the 
cause. 

This struggle brought out the true greatness of the 
American people and produced some of the greatest 
men of history. The great wisdom, practical and 
far-seeing statesmanship, the radiant virtues, the 
Christian-like character of Lincoln made him the 
wonder of the civilized world. No less known and 
distinguished was the modest, silent, patriot-soldier, 
Ulysses S. Grant, wiio, after the surrender of the 
greatest rebellion the world ever beheld, gave the 
most noble exhibition of Christian charity, by refus- 
ing to march with his army into the captured city, 
that the brave soldiers and people, who had so long 
resisted his forces and defied the power of his mili- 
tary genius, might not be humiliated ; that they 
might return to peaceful pursuits with spirits unbro- 
ken. No less immortal was that act, which breathed 
a sentiment very close to the Divine heart, " let the 
soldiers have their horses, they will need them for 
making their crops. " 

Warren County was among tlie first to respond to 
the call for troops. No county in the State did bet- 
ter or responded more nobly, either in furnishing 
soldiers or means to defray the expenses of the war. 
Such was the patriotism and enthusiasm with which 
they responded to the call of the Government, that 
when the last draft was ordered, there was hardly a 
man in the county subject to its provision. 



-^ 



*+ 



V 



< 6 _jL 



. -n . ' 

WARREN COUNTY. 



Ju 



701 



For the Infantry rervice there went forth from this 
county, in the 83d regiment, 630 volunteers ; in the 
138th regiment, 222 ; in the io2d regiment, 107 ; in 
the 14th regiment, 42 ; in the 47th, 78: in the i7lh, 
124; in the 36th, 16 ; in the 61st, 73 ; in the 15th, 
106; in the 59th, 67 ; in the s8th, 23; miscellane- 
ous, 128. In the Cavalry Service, the enlistment was 
as follows : First Cavalry, 165 ; Eleventh Cavalry, 
185; Twelfth Cavalry, 66; Nmth Cavalry, 17; Sev- 
enth, 23; miscellaneous, 59. 

The 83d Regiment of Infantry was made up 
mostly of volunteers from Warren County, and was 
organized from Monmouth, in August, 1862, A. C. 
Harding being elected Colonel. It was mustered 
into service Aug. 21st, arrived at Cairo the 29th and 
reported to Brigadier-General Tuttle, who com- 
manded the post there. About the 5th of Septem- 
ber, the regiment arrived at Fort Henry, where it 
was divided up, a part remaining there and at Fort 
Heiman, the balance moving to Fort Donelson, 
where they had their headquarters during the year. 
The companies left at Forts Henry and Heiman sub- 
sequently re-joined the regiment at Fort Donelson, 
where it remained until Sept. 20, 1863, and then 
moved to Clarkson, Tenn. Here it had almost daily 
skirmishes with the enemy, some of them being al- 
most engagements, and also had very heavy guard 
duty to perform. It was engaged in several expedi- 
tions, under the command ol Maj. -General Rosseau, 
in pursuit of Gens. Forrest and Wheeler, who were 
trying to cut off Gen. Sherman's communications. 

This regiment, with Co. C, Second Illinois Light Ar- 
tillery, successfully resisted the attack of Forrest and 
Wheeler to re -capture Fort Donelson. The engage- 
ment lasted about seven hours, when Forrest and 
Wheeler were compelled to retire, with a loss of 800 
killed and wounded, while there were only 13 killed 
and 51 wounded of the Union forces. For this gal- 
lar.t defense of the fort. Col. Harding was promoted 
to Brigadier-General, and Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. 
Smith to Colonel. (See biography of Gen. Harding, 
page 541.) 



In r864 this regiment was largely engaged in the 
defense of extensive communications and heavy 
patrol duty. In the ever-memorable winter of 1864- 
5, it was on provost duty at Nashville, where it was 
mastered out, after the surrender of the rebels, June 
26, 1865. 

The 138th regiment was organized in Quincy, III, 
by Col. John W. Goodwin, and was mustered in for 
100 days service, June 21, 1864. On July 26, it was 
assigned to duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., Col. 
Goodwin commanding. It was mustered out of ser- 
vice at Springfield, Oct. 14, 1864. 

The volunteers from Warren County, in these as 
well as in the other regiments, served with distinc- 
tion during the war on various battle-fields, where 
many of them gave up tlieir lives to perpetuate the 
Union. 

The glorious triumph of the cause of the Union 
was darkened by the tragic death of President Lin- 
coln, who was stricken down by the bloody hand of 
the assassin, Booth, April 14, 1865. But in the i 
midst of this great sorrow and that caused by the 
sacrifice made for liberty on a thousand battle-fields, 
with mourning hearts at every fireside, the Nation 
began the work of cementing together, closer than 
ever, the bonds of union. How well this work has 
been performed is evident by the close commercial 
relations between the two sections of the country, 
by the interchange of the social courtesies, by the 
reunions of the " boys in blue " with the " boys in 
gray," and by friendly discussions over the reminis- 
cences of the " tented field." 

Warren County, like all the other counties in the 
United States, mourns its friends and kindred, who 
rest in soldier's graves ; around its firesides there are 
many vacant seats. The absent ones, though years 
have rolled away, are not forgotten. The same con- 
dition of things exists in the South. Time has soft- 
ened if, not obliterated, the bitterness engendered by 
the war; the two sections have mingled their sor- 
rows together, and the great conflict is remembered 
only as a lesson for our future guidance. 






■^ 



^, 



yo3 



WARREN COUNTY. 



f 




^ ■ " '^^?i^^: ^^^- - " |w> 



Warren County Library, 




NK of the most beneficial in- 
stitutions of tlie county is 
the Warren County Library, 
located at Monmouth, and 
'.■^^.^ which deserves more than a 
-^ brief mention. There were 
^iJX^" several attempts made, from time to 
f'li Ll^O time, by Church societies, and by citi- 
zens to establish a public library, but 
there was nothing done by tliem more 
than to secure a reading room until 
W. P. Pressly, one of Monmouth's 
benefactors took hold of the enter- 
prise and made it a success. The 
following is a brief account of the ori- 
gin of the library. The need for a public reading 
room, well supplied with books had been long felt, 
and in 1867, an effort was made to raise funds for 
this purpose through the meeting of a joint stock 
company, which was a failure. During the follow- 
ing year, the Evangelical Union, composed of repre- 
sentatives from the difTcrent cluirches of Monmouth, 
took hold of the matter. After consultation with 
the citizens of the town, it was determined to have 
an organization independent of the union, which 
was done by 25 persons becoming resironsible for 
the means to sustain a reading room for two years. 
Judge Ivory Quinby took a prominent part in this 
matter. He drew up articles of association and by- 
laws, and'furnislied a room, rent free, for two years. 
During this period it was demonstrated that a pub- 



i: 



lie library would be an institution of great useful- 
ness and one which would be extensively patronized. 
A reading room was supplied with pajiers and pop- 
ular periodicals, and on the ist day of June, 1868, 1 
it was opened as the Monmouth Reading Room and 
Library. As there were no funds for the purchase 
of any books, none were obtained. The reading ^ 
room, however, was constantly visited by the young 
and the old, and the papers and periodicals were 
eagerly looked for and zealously read. During this . 
time a citizen of Monmouth was quietly but earn- 
estly watching the result of this first step in a public 
library direction to determine its usefulness, and to 
see to what extent a larger institution would be ap- 
preciated and patronized, and the proportionate 
benefits that would accrue; a citizen who believed 
that money was placed in the hands of man for 
other and more noble purposes than to hoard and 
pile up in combination time-lock vaults, or increase 
his acreage. This citizen was Mr. \V. P. Pressly. 
In 1870 he erected a two-story brick building 42 X7S 
feet, and donated it to the association for a public 
library and reading room. The provisions of the 
donation were that the upper floor should be used 
for a library hall and reading room, and the store 
rooms on the first floor to be rented, the proceeds 
thereof to be used in |)urchasing books. He also 
expressed a wish that the Constitution and By-Laws 
should be changed so as to benefit the country as 
well as the city. After this action of Mr. Pressly, 
the association was incorporated as the " Warren 
County Library and Reading Room Association." 



r 



I 



WARREN COUNTY. 



loi 



z^ 



Subsequently the Board of Supervisors passed an 
order granting " all the rents, profits and issues 
hereafter accruing from the Seminary Block;" and 
reserving the privilege by provision in the constitu- 
tion of the association to appoint one of the trustees. 
It was provided that the proceeds from this county 
grant should go to the purchase of books in the de- 
partment of agriculture and practical arts. The 
system of extending the library was successful and 
highly beneficial. As it was started by its founder 
for the use and benefit of all classes of people, both 
in the town and country, so it has been patronized 
and sustained by all. 

Since the foundation of the Library, generous do- 
nations have been made from some of the citizens, 
prominent among whom was the lamented and noble 
William Laferty. The founder has never ceased to 
remember his pel project, but has from time to time 
increased his benefactions. To meet the demands 
of the large additions and the increasing patronage, 
Mr. Pressly, in 1884, built an addition to tlie hall, 
22 .\ 60, two stories high, constructed of brick and 
connecting with the former building on the west. 
This gives a capacity for 20,000 volumes without en- 
cioaching on the Reading Room. During this year 
(1885) a generous citizen who desired his name not 
to be known, increased the endowment fund by a 
donation of $5,000. Mr. Pressly also added another 
source of revenue to the Association by the donation 
of a fine dwelling house in the rear of the building 
facing the opposite house, the rents of which are 
used for the benefit of the Association. 

The selection of reading matter is entrusted to a 



committee. A cataloguing committee is also one of 
the features of the institution, and a very excellent 
system has been adopted. 

A small charge is made for books which are taken 
out of the Library. 

The endowment fund now amounts to over 
$r 3,000, which is loaned out at 8 percent. The 
contents of the Library may be summed up as fol- 
lows : Books loaned for house use, 11,988; used in 
room, per Librarian, 9,587 ; magazines loaned out, 
1,985; reference books used from the open book- 
cases, 8,000. In addition there are 11 daily papers, 
55 weeklies, 2 semi-weeklies, 76 monthlies and quar- 
terlies. 

The average daily attendance at the reading room 
is estimated at 162. The reading room is well furn- 
islied, large and well lighted. Great care has been 
taken since its foundation in the purchase of books, 
the result of which has been that this Association 
has an exceedingly well-selected library, the credit^ 
of which is largely due to Prof. Thomas H 
Rogers. 

Too much praise cannot be given to the founder;!, 
of this Library, who has given it may be truly said, 
his all to this institution, and some missionary work. 
In order that he might increase his fund for benefi- 
cent purposes, he has deprived himself not only of 
the luxuries, but the actual comforts of life. With 
the snows of three score and ten winters whitening 
his head, he is still toiling on, still saving and labor- 
ing, that he may have more to give, and more with 
which to bless. 




*ir 



V 



^ 



J 04 



wakr&n county. 



-^^r^ 





Railroads, ^ 






► I 4 o^a-<||»-^o — » I< " - 



?(f?f*.^AILROADS Iiave now become 
ib'^ necessary adjuncts to the 
development of a country, and 
no community of any propor- 
tions is content to exist without 
^. them. The State, through its 
_^ Legislature, was very mag- 
^ nanimous in its support and 
donations to railroad enterprises, the 
result of which is that Illinois is 
more tlioroughly connected with 
railroad lines than any other State in 
the Union. The people of Warren 
County have ever been exceptionally 
generous in their donations to rail- 
road enterprises, as the followingfacts 
will show. In Warren County there are really now but 
two lines, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,and the 
Central Iowa. 

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. 

t 

HE first railroad meeting in this county 
was held in Monmouth, the 27 th day of 
Februry, 1851. At this meeting J. W. Da- 
vidson, A. C. Harding, W. 15. Stapp and 
James G. Madden were appointed a Commit- 
tee to wait on the County Court asking for a 
call for a special election, to vote for or against the 
county of Warren subscribing $50,000, to be ex- 




pended on the construction of the Peoria & Oquawka 
Railroad, with a lateral branch to Burlington. The 
matter was presented to the County Court, which re- , 
suited in the following order being made : The 
County Court now being sufficiently advised in re- 
gard to the premises, it is ordered tliat an election , 
be held on the 12th day of April next, at the usual ' 
places of voting for the voters of Warren County, to ' 
vote for or against the subscription of said county of 
$50,000 of the capital stock in the Peoria & Oquawka 
Railroad, the bonds to be issued for said stock to run 
20 years from their date, at 7 percent, interest, paya- 
ble annually ; and the clerk is ordered to issue elec- 
tion notices in accordance with this order." 

The election having been favorable to the stock 
subscription, to the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad, the 
County Court, at the September term, made an order 
authorizing Ivory Quinby to subscribe for Warren 
County $50,000 of the capital stock of said road, so 
soon as the company shall have had subscribed to 
its capital stock $450,000. IvoryQuinby, who was the 
Presiding Justice, upon examination found that the 
$450,000 had been subscribed, and thereupon, in 
accordance with his instructions, subscribed for the 
County of Warren, $50,000 of the capital stock of 
the company. 

This was the beginning of railroad enterprises in 
this county, and the starting of the Peoria & 
Oquawka Railroad. The ideas of railroads was at 
this time somewhat limited. Col. Davidson drew 
up a charter for this road, and presented it to one of 



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4 






IVAHREN COUA2 Y. 



7°S 



the leading members of the Legislature, to be placed 
before that body for its approval. This member 
asked him if he ever expected to build a railroad 80 
miles long. The Colonel replied, "Give us the char- 
ter, and I will build the road." The charter was 
granted, and subsequently the road was built. The 
people of Oquawka refused to subscribe or aid the 
enterprise, but the people of Burlington came for- 
ward with the necessary aid, and the route was 
changed to that place, and Oquawka was left out in 
the cold. 

Railroads were not built in those days as rapidly 
as now. On March 5, 1855, the last rail was laid 
and the first passenger train came to Monmouth 
from the West. The side track at the depot had not 
been completed, so as to allow the passenger train to 
pass the construction train. The passengers were 
taken on board the latter and carried on to Gales- 
burg. Next morning on its return from Galesburg 
it was saluted from an old brass field piece which had 
been takes from the walls of Vera Cruz during the 
Mexican War. This field piece was handled by 
Capt. Wyatt B. Stapp. After the salutes were given, 
the train moved on toward the great " father of 
waters." This was probably the most important 
event to the people of the county, since its organi- 
zation. 

The Northern Cross Ry. Co. had about this time 
completed their track to Galesburg. It secured the 
privilege of running its trains over the Peoria & 
Oquawka R. R. to Burlington. 

About 1856, the Chicago & Aurora, the Northern 
Cross, the Peoria & Oquawka and the Central Mili- 
tary Tract Companies were all consolidated under 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- 
pany. This name was derived from the terminal 
points. J. W. Brooks was elected President of the 
new road. This road opened up one of the most 
magnificent sections of the United States, known as 
the Military Tract, the northern line of which passed 
through the middle of Henry County. Upon the 
building of this road settlers began to pour in, and 
within five or six years every quarter-section of land 
was taken, and to-day it is one of the highest culti- 
vated sections in the country. 

It was thought at first that this road would hardly 
pay. Before the completion of the road the tri- 
weekly stage line to Peoria carried all the traveling 



X 



people and the coaches were seldom more than half 
full. Not long after the completion of the road, 
however, it crowded the company to do all the freight 
business brought to Monmouth for shipping. 



-*3- 



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^cx 



St. Louis Division, C. B. & Q. R. R. 

N 1856, another railroad project was pre- 
sented to the county for its support. This 
was the Alton & Rock Island Road. A 
proposition to subscribe to the capital stock of 

fthis enterprise, $r 00,000, was voted on and 
carried, and the Board of Supervisors at tlieir 
December term subscribed that amount. Nothing, 
however, came of this project. The provisions were 
that the road should come through Monmouth. 

Warren County was very liberal in aiding railroad 
projects. The next railroad scheme presented to thern 
for aid, was the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis 
road. At a special meeting in August, 1869, the 
Board of Supervisors decided to submit the question 
of the county subscribing $200,000 to the capital 
stock of the Rock Island road. An election was or- 
dered for September 23, 1S69. On the question of , 
subscription to the capital stock of this road, there 
were 1,775 votes cast for, and 975 against. Having 
received the support of the people, the stock was 
duly taken ; the condition was that it should pass 
through Monmouth. David Turnbull, one of the 
members of the Board from Hale, was appointed 
agent of the County to subscribe to the stock, for 
which bonds of the company were issued running 
20 years and bearing eight percent, interest. Besides 
the $200,000 subscribed by the county, the several 
townships contributed their aid, their subscription 
amounting to $84,000. 

The bonds of the county still outstanding to rail- 
roads amount to $171,000. 

The first passenger train of this road was run into 
Monmouth, tlie 22d day of August, 1870, making the 
connection tlirough to St. Louis. A large gathering 
vi^as at the depot to welcome it, and a salute fron the 
old Mexican field piece was given. There was no 
celebration or excitement ; it was received as one of 
the matter-of-course events of the day. This road 
was completed through to Rock Island Nov. it, 



I 



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±=hH- 



706 



WARREN COUNTY. 



1870. The remainder of its line it was never able 
to complete. This road was sold under a foreclosure 
of mortgage to the St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago 
Railroad Company, which was incorporated April 21, 
1876. It was soon afterward leased by the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, who now 
operate it as its St. Louis Division. This road was 
sold for $1,600,000, and it is said that it cost %\\- 
000,000. The bond holders, who live in Germany, 
were the losers of about six-sevenths of their invest- 
ment. 



^3- 



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Central Iowa Railway Company. 



• NE of the most important enterprises for 
Warren County of late years, is the above 
S/S^*^ named railroad. The more important and 
(3?y creditable to the county in this, that the en- 
terprise owes its conception and completion to 
the indomitable energy, nerve and will of two 
of Monmouth's worthy citizens, Delos P. Phelps and 
William Hanna. 

The construction of tliis road at the time, with all 
the other lines in full operation and backed by an 
almost inexhaustible capital, was no holiday task, 
and one that few men would haVe the courage and 
nerve to undertake. 

In 1875, a company was organized at Monmouth, 
called the Burlington, Monmouth & Illinois River 
Railroad Company, the object of which was to con- 
struct a narrow gauge road, with a view of compet- 
ing with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad 
for'the Warren County traffic. 

Some few subscriptions were obtained, but not 
enough to warrant the breaking of ground. A small 
amount of grading was done in 1878. In 1879, 
Messrs. Hanna and Phelps were placed upon tiie 
E.xecutive Committee, and immediately went to 
Peoria for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions, 
and to concentrate all their efforts to secure the grad- 
ing of the road as far west as possible. They also 
assumed the responsibility of buying up the old 
grade and franchises of the Peoria & FarniinL;t()n 
Railroad Company, and changing the enterprise from 
a narrow to a standard gauge line. They let contracts 



upon the faitli of subscriptions made, which in many 
instances were not honored, and they found them- 
selves involved to the amount of about $40,000. At 
this critical period they offered -to donate their per- 
sonal subscriptions, and all they had done, to any 
person or company that would complete the road 
from Peoria to Farmington, or to l)e two of twelve 
persons to advance a sufficient sum for that purpose. 
Meeting with no acceptance to either of these propo- 
sitions, they offered to buy out a majority of the 
stock at twenty-five cents on the dollar, which pro- 
posal was accepted. 

After this they made an effort to interest other 
persons in the work, and in a measure were success- 
ful. The road was finished from Peoria to Farming- 
ton in October, rSSr, and operated until October, 
1882, when building west was begun, and the track 
completed to Keithsburg, on the Mississippi River. 
About a million and a-half of dollars in hard cash 
were expended in securing the completion of this road. 
Friends and enemies had predicted financial ruin for 
Messrs. Hanna and Phelps, and a defeat of the en- 
terprise. 

The task they undertook was a Herculean one, 
and one to shake the nerve of the most resolute, 
but after many days and nights of sleepless anxiety, 
the work was accomplished, and will forever remain 
as an enduring monument of what perseverance, 
energy, sagacity, and an indomitable will can accom- 
plish. 

The Central Iowa, which owned a railroad from 
Albia to Manly Junction, in Iowa, having a road 
leading from Oskaloosa, Iowa, east to the Missis- 
sippi River, opposite to Keithsburg, a consolidation 
was effected with the Illinois line, or the Burlington, 
Monmouth & Illinoi^ River Railroad, which had 
been prosecuted under the name of the Peoria & 
Farmington, after the franchises of the latter were 
secured, under the name of the Central Iowa Rail- 
way Company, which embraced the entire system. 
Since the consolidation a magnificent iron iiridge has 
been built across the Mississippi at Keithsburg, a 
road built from Manly Junction to St. Paul, and 
tlirough trains without break are now running from 
St. Paul to Peoria ; and this road which had so un- 
l)ropitious a lieginning, is now one of the great and im- 
portant transportation lines of the country. William 
Hanna is President of the Company, and Delos P. 



*^ 



A 



■ y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



/' • 



707 



h 



Phelps has the management of the Illinois Division 
To these men too much credit cannot be given for 
the consummation of this grand project. After pass- 
ing through the struggles, and what appeared almost 



insurmountable barriers to accomplish their project, 
they now, in the hey-day of success, can have the 
luxury of that condition that comes from a success- 
ful achievement of a noble purpose. 





4 



County Officials. 

ROM its first organization to the present 
, time; from Daniel McNeil, Jr., and Ivory 
'>^ Quinby down, the officials of Warren 
County, with hardly an exception, have been 
'^ of unexceptional character; men of integrity, 
ability and usefulness. Very few counties can 
present a better list than the one appended below, 
some of whom have not only achieved State but Na- 
tional distinction, who have been identified with 
the organization of the State, the framing of its laws, 
and the perfecting of its political and legal system. 

County Commissioners. 

John B. Talbot, Adam Ritchey and John Pence, 
1830, under a special election. John Pence, John 
B. Talbot and Peter Butler, 1830-32, under a regular 
election ; Jeremiah Smith, John B. Talbot and James 
McCallon, 1832-34; Robert Gilmore, William Whit- 
man and W. S. Jamison, 1834-36; Samuel G. Morse, 
Alexander TurnbuU and John B. Talbot, 1836-38; 
Alexander TurnbuU, Samuel G. Morse, James C. 
Hutchinson, 1838 ; Samuel G. Morse, John C. Bond 
and J. C. Rutchinson, 1838-39; James C. Hutchin- 
son, John C. Bond and James P. Hogue, 1839-40; 
John C. Bond, James P. Hogue and Peter Butler, 



1840-42; James P. Hogue, Peter Butler and James 
Tucker, 1842-43; Peter Butler, James Tucker and 
H. Bromlee, 1843-44; Alexander TurnbuU, Thomas 
Griffee and James Tucker, 1844-45 ; Alexander 
TurnbuU, Thomas Griffee and James Drain, 1845- 
46; H. E. Haley, James Drain and John B. Jenkin, 
1846-47 ; James Drain, John B. Jenkin and Josiah 
Whitman, 1847-48; John B. Jenkin, John W. Gid- 
dings and Josiah Whitman, 1848-49. 

County Clerk. 
Daniel McNeil, Jr., 1830 ; Elijah Davidson, 1838- 
43; Daniel McNeil, Jr., 1843-48; William F. Smith, 
1849; Ephraim S. Swinney, 1849-61 ; W. J. Thomp- 
son, 1861-65; W. G. Bond, 1865-73; W. H. Sex- 
ton, 1S73-86. 

Recorder. 

Daniel McNeil, Jr., 1830-43; Ephraim S. Swin- 
ney, 1843-48. 

Circuit Clerk. 

Daniel McNeil, Jr., 1830-41; Ira F. M. Butler, 
1841-48. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder. 

W. B. Stapp, 1848-49: R. S. Monroe, 1849-50; 
H. S. Hascall, 1850-51 ; William Killings, 1851-56; 
William Laferty, 1856-64; T. M. Luter, 1864-68 : 



'=< 



V 



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7o8 



WARREN COUNTY. 



J. L. Dryden, 1868-80; George C. Rankin, 1880-S4, 
re-elected. 

Probate Judge. 
Daniel McNeil, Jr., 1831-37. 

Probate Justice. 
W. F. Smith, 1837-39; Geo. C. Lamphere, 1839- 
43 ; Erastus Rice, 1843-49. 

CouNTV Judge. 
Ivory Quinby, 1849-55 ; James Thompson, 1855- 
57; John Porter, 1857-65 ; Joseph K. Ripley, 1865- 
73; Elias Willets, 1873-81; James H. Stewart, 
1881-85, re-elected. 

County Court. 
Ivory Quinby, Judge; John Riggs and Joseph Ho- 
gan, Associates, 1849-53, under the Constitution of 
1848. Ivory Quinby, Justice ; John Riggs and Wm. 
Lair, Associates, 1853-54. 

County School Commissioners. 
Alelander Phelps, 1837-39; W. S. Berry, 1839- 
43; Samuel Wood, 1843-47 ; A. C. Harding, 1847- 
49; James G. Madden, 1849-51; W. B. Jenks, 
1851-53; VV. F. Smith, 1853-55; A. H. Tracy, 
1855-61 ; A. B. Cox, 1861-65. 

County School Superintendents. 
James I. Wilson, 1865-69; James B. Donnell, 
1869-77; W. E. Watt, 1877-81; J. P. Higgins, 
1881-82, Maggie L. Wiley, 1882-84, re-elected. 

Coroners. 

John Ritchcy, 1830-35; Alexander TurnbuU, 
1835-36; George H. Wright, 1836-40; H. C. George, 
1840-42; David Smitli, 1842-46 ; Joseph McCoy, 
1846-50; Robert Thompson, 1850-52 ; \Vm. Talbot, 
1852-54, Robert Grant, 1854-60; Samuel Douglas, 
1860-64; John B. Webster, 1864-68; W. L. Cuth- 
bert, 1868-70; R. B. McCleary, 1870-78; Henry B. 
Young, 1878-80; George H. Breed, 1880-82; Wm. 
S. Holliday, 1882-84, re-elected. 

County Treasurer and Assessor. 

James Jamison, 1830-31 ; Tiios. C. Jennings, 
1831 ; Elijah Davidson, 1831-36; Gilbert Turnbull, 
1836-43; R. N. Allen, 1S43-49; George Babcock, 
'849-53; James W. Butler, 1853-55. 
Treasurer. 

R. S. Thompson, 1855-61; Draper Babcock, 



1861-65 ; Wm. Shores, 1865-67 : D. D. Parry, 1867- 
75; James Hurdman, 1875-79; John F. Wallace, 
1879-82; Robert S. Patton, 1882-84, re-elected. 

Surveyor. 

Peter Butler, 1831-35; Wm. C. Butler, 1835-39; 
Benjamin Thompson, 1839-43; Joseph Paddocks, 
1843-55 ; E- E- Wallace, 1855-59; Thos. S. Mc- 
Clanahan, 1859-65 ; Albert S. Crawford, 1865-69; 
John A. Gordon, 1869-71; John B. McCulloch, 
1871-75; Thos. S. McClanahan, 1875-79; John F. 
Wallace, 1879-82; Thos. S. McClanahan, 1882-84, 
re-elected. 

Sheriff. 

Stephens. Phelps. 1830-32; Peter Butler, 1832- 
34; John G. Haley, 1834-36; Ira F. M. Butler, 
1836-40; Samuel L. Hogue, 1840-41 ; John Brown, 
1841-50; R. N. Allen, 1850-52; C. L. Armsby, 
1852-54; James McCoy, 1854-56; C. M. Mills, 
1S56-58; Seth Smith, 1858-60; David Turnljull, 
1860-62; David C. Riggs, 1862-64; David Turn- 
bull, 1864-66; Wm. Armstrong, 1866-67 ; W. L. 
Cuthbert, 1867-68: Cyrus Bute, 1868-70; J. A. J^ 
Boynton, 1870-72 ; W. L. Cuthbert, 1872-74; J. A. 
Boynton, 1874-76; Wm. G. Bond, 1876-82 ; John 
W. Bolon, 1882-84, re-elected. 

State's Attorney. 

Thomas Ford, 1832-34; W. A. Richardson, 1834- 
36; Henry L. Bryant, 1836-38; Wm. Elliott, 1838- 
50; H. G. Reynolds, 1850-54; Wm. C. Goudy, 
1854-55 ; A. M. Craig, 1855-56; James H. Stewart, 
1856-64; James A. McKinzie, 1864-72 ; Wm. Mar- 
shall, 1872-76; George Snyder, 1876-80; John W. 
Matthews, 1880-84, re-elected. 

Circuit Judges. 

Richard M. Young, 1830-36; James H. Ralston, 
1S36-39; Peter Lott, 1S39-40; Stephen A. Douglas, 
1841-43; Jesse B. Thomas, 1843-45 ; N. H. Pur- 
ple, 1845-49; Wm. A. Minchall, 1849-50; Wm. 
Kellogg, 1850-53; H. M. Weed, 1853-55; John S. 
Thompson, 1855-60: Aaron Tyler, 1860-61; Chas. 
B. Lawrence, 1861-64; John S. Thompson, 1864- 
67 ; Arthur A. Smith, 1867-85 ; John J. Glenn, 
1877-85; George VV. Pleasants, 1879-85; the three 
last named Judges preside in this Circuit and their 
terms expire in 1891. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



^09 



OOP 



— — o25o" 



Educational Matters. 




:HERE are 134 school districts in Warren 
County, 8 graded schools and 134 ungraded 

~^^ schools. The total value of school prop- 
erty is $111,185, ^^'t'' 7 Isi'ick and 131 frame 
buildings. Of scholastic age, there are io,66g 
pupils, the entire enrollment is 5,494, and the 
total ta.x levy $53,168.94. 

Miss Maggie Wiley is the County Superintendent, 
who gives her whole time to the school interests of 
the county. All the schools have good teachers and 
they are well conducted, having the most approved 
text books and all the modern adjuncts to education. 
They have a County Teachers' Association, which 
holds annual sessions, of two days, during the latter 
part of November, at Monmouth. 

Local associations are held at Monmouth, Kirk- 
wood, Roseville, Alexis, Cameron, Berwick, Little 
York, Greenbush and Hale. 

The Annual Summer's Institute of two weeks, 
which is held under section 5, of the School Act, 
meets at Monmouth. At tliese sessions, exercises 
and drills are had and a complete review of the 
modes of teaching is gone through. A journal de- 
voted to the educational interests of the county, 
called the School Chronicle, is published by this In- 



stitute. 



--€; 







Old Settlers' Association. 

' HE matter of perpetuating the memory of 
pioneer life, its incidents, with its joys and 
S^ sorrows, its hopes and fears, had been dis- 
cussed among the early settlers of this and 
Henderson County for some time. Finally 
a call was made through the press for the old 
settlers to meet at Young America, now Kirkwood, 
Saturday afternoon, Jan. 27, 1872, for the purpose of 
maturing some plan for an organization to meet the 
objects in view. At the appointed time a large 




number of the early settlers met at Young America 
and the meeting was called to order by Samuel 
Hutchinson, wlio stated the objects of the meeting. 
T. S. Lowther was nominated as Chairman and Jud- 
son Graves was chosen Secretary. It was decided 
at this meeting to form an old settlers' organization, 
and to admit all persons as members who had set- 
tled in either of the counties of Henderson or War- 
ren prior to the formation of Henderson County. 

This meeting adjourned to meet again Feb 22. At 
this meeting the officers of the Association were de- 
cided upon and a committee appointed to draft a 
constitution and by-laws to be submitted at the next 
meeting. First officers elected : President, S. S. 
Phelps; Vice-Presidents, R. W. Ritchie, A. C. 
Harding and John Carts; Secretaries, Judson Graves 
and E. H. N. Patterson ; Treasurer, N. A. Chapin. 
The meeting adjourned to meet for their first annual 
reunion, which was fixed for the first Wednesday in 
June, and was to be held at Young America (now 
Kirkwood). At the day appointed there was a grand 
gathering of old pioneers, and a very enjoyable time 
was had. They all came with their lunch-baskets 
laden with those choice eatables that tend so much 
to enhance the pleasures of such gatherings. 

Speeches were made, songs were sung, stories were 
told, and the incidents and reminiscenses connected 
with the early settlement, its privations and hard- 
ships, were freely discussed. Before the reunion 
broke up, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, 
and the time was changed for the meeting to the 
first Wednesday in September. 

The association has held its reunion ever since, 
and its membership now embraces nearly all the old 
settlers. The constitution has been amended so as 
to admit all persons who have been in the county 30 
years. They met the last season at Mineral Springs, 
near Kirkwood, which has become the favorite resort 
of the people of the county, and had a grand time. 
It is said that there were more people there than 
ever before at any of their reunions. Before adjourn- 
ment the following officers were elected : Samuel 
Hutchinson, President (since deceased) ; Benjamin 
Tinkham, Vice-President; N. A. Chapin, Secretary; 
Mrs. Wm. Hanna, Treasurer. Executive Commit- 
tee— O. S. Barnum, D. Babcock, W. C. Tubbs. Wm. 
Boden and G. R. Graham. Corresponding Secre- 
tary, A. H. Swain. There are at present 221 mem- 
bers belonging to this organization. 



J 



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V 



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Jid 



WARREN COUNTY. 




Agricultural Fair. 

^m^ agricultural society was organized Aug. 7, 
. ^...^ "852, at a iiublic meeting held at the 
^^^ Court-House, Monmouth. Following are 
names of the temporary officers : Samuel 
Hallan, President; G. W. Palmer, Vice-Pres- 
ident; J. G. Madden, Secretary; and F. B. 
Weakley, Treasurer. Their first annual election was 
held Sept. 4, 1852, with the following results : Sam- 
uel Hallan, President; Robeit Gibson, Vice-Presi- 
dent; J. G. Madden, Secretary; and VVm. Billings, 
Treasurer. Their first annual fair was held at the 
Court-House, Oct. 15, 1852. It was regarded as a 
great success. Tliere were many entries made and 
over 1,000 persons in attendance. As there was not 
much money about in those days, the premiums 
only consisted in certificates. Since that period, the 
society has progressed, and it has now a very fair 
standing ; is out of debt and is in a prosperous con- 
dition. The grounds enclose about 30 acres, in 
which there is a good half-mile track, exhibition 
buildings, stalls, pens, etc., all valued at $6,500. 

In 1884 there were 2,099 entries. At this meet- 
ing a saddle-horse was entered which had taken the 



first premium in 1859, then ten years old. Generally, 
the annual receipts are about $5,000. For this year 
the premiums offered amounted to $4,000. A good 
deal of interest is manifested in this fair, and some 
as fine stock as there is in the State is annually ex- 
hibited here. Present officers: J. T. Reichard, 
President; Thos. W. Beers, Vice-President; Geo. 
Rankin, Secretary; and W. B. Young, Treasurer. 
Executive Committee — L. H. Gilmore, J. N. Mc- 
Kelvey, S. C. Hogue, Peyton Roberts, H. C. Gid- 
dings, J. R. Harnett, \V. B. Porter, R. S. Patton, N. 
S. Woodward. 

The fall meeting of thi.s association was attended 
with success, although the attendance was limited 
for the first two days on account of the rains. The 
exhibition of stock was exceedingly good. A finer 
exhibition of high-bred Percherons and Clydesdales 
has rarely been seen so also with the Red Jersey 
pig. Some fine cows were also on exhibition. The 
races were fair and some very good time was made. 
It is a pity, however, in laying out the grounds that' 
the society did not arrange for a mile track. In the 
exhibition hall there was an excellent display of art 
work, showing fine taste and skill. The soil pro- 
ducts on exhibition demonstrated the fact that 
the soil of Warren County is unsurpassed in rich- 
ness and that its farmers are skilled in the science 
of agriculture. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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ppWNSHIP history is an es- 
sential and prominent part 
of the county history. The 
various parts of Warren 
County were settled by men 
most of whom have repre- 
sentatives now living in the 
5unty, or are still living here 
3mselves. A careful reading of 
the incidents relating to the earl)' 
settlement of the several town- 
ships will repay the reader, as each 
;5j ^Si^Q, I?' o'""^ contains the names of the first 
-i^i G=V i\-^^ settlers, and many other items 
which are required to make the 
history complete. The township 
histories are given in their alpha- 
betical order, and the sketches of 
the villages are included in their respective town- 
ships. The city of Monmouth follows the town- 
ships. 

BERWICK TOWNSHIP. 



|g^«i|;ERWICK was among the earliest town- 
^p^ ships to be settled, and in this Solomon 
Kaisey was the pioneer, casting his for- 
tunes here as early as the spring of 1829. 
He located on section 7. With him came his 
family, and his brother-in-law, Solomon Per- 
kins, and family. Mr. Perkins located on section 4 



These men, with their strong and true-hearted life 
partners, after securing their lands, settled down to 
construct for themselves and children, homes for the 
future. In the midst of plenty, surrounded with all 
the comforts of civilization, with all our wants sup- 
plied, we are too apt to forget the pioneer to whom 
we are indebted for all these comforts. Soon 
after the above named settlers, came Peter Scott, 
Mr. Smith and Jonathan Tipton, who located in the 
neighborhood. In 1832, Isaac, Daniel and Elisha, 
brothers of Solomon Perkins, the two latter with their 
families, moved in and located near the settlement. 
Isaac went to the Black Hawk war, and was killed. 
Robert and George Ray came in 1831-2, locating in 
the timber, on section 6. With these men came 
their families. They and their wives are dead. H. 
M. Lewis, W. H. Cable and E. W. Allen came into 
the township in 1835, and were followed soon after 
by many others. These early settlers formed a nu- 
cleus, around which gathered in a few years an ex- 
tensive settlement. 

Miss Jane Allen taught the first school in tiie 
township, in 1835, in a log school house built by 
Thomas Pearce, near where the village of Berwick 
now is. This school house had no doors or win- 
dows, or what these are understood to be in modern 
times. There were holes in the wall to admit light 
and air, and one also for egress and exit, and this 
was all. And here in this rudely constructed cabin 
the first children of Berwick Township, with the 
ruddy glow on their cheeks, with the bright sparkle in 



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V — ^ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



f 



their eye, with innocence and hope in their young 
hearts, conimenced their education, directed by their 
devoted teacher, Jane Allen. Here they commenced 
to learn lessons in books and lessons in life, and fit 
themselves for the duties which in after years were 
to be imposed upon them. What hopes and aspira- 
tions may have filled these young hearts just enter- 
ing upon this world's stage! What ties formed here, 
that may have been stronger in after years than 
chains of brass or steel! What a contrast between 
this rude cabin and the finished school-house of to- 
day ! And yet with all our improvements and w'hat we 
call our advanced civilization, with our Female Sem- 
inaries and Boarding Schools, and all our modern ad- 
juncts to study, is there anyone prepared to say that 
the pupil of to-day learns better than those did 
then? 

Miss Jane Allen was married to Judge Ivory 
Quinby, March 14, 1839. She died Feb. 7, 1847. 
The second school taught in the township was by 
Miss Sarah Cable, in 1837. 

Berwick was organized as a township, April 4, 
1854. The proceedings of this election either were 
not recorded or have since been lost, and hence the 
first officers under the new organization cannot be 
given. It is numbered 7 north, of range i west, of 
the fourth principal meridian, and has for its north- 
ern line Floyd Township. On the east lies Knox 
County, on the soutii Greenbush, and the west Rose- 
ville Township. The streams, Nigger Creek, Cedar 
Creek and Cedar Fork meander southwesterly 
through the township, which afford good opportunity 
for drainage. Along and adjacent to those streams 
the land is somewhat broken and liberally timbered. 
The remaining portion of the township is rolling 
prairie. It is a good farming country; the farms are 
well cultivated and mostly owned by those wlio 
work them ; the dwelling houses are well built and 
comfortable. 

The Iowa Central runs through the township, en- 
tering at the northwest corner and running along 
through the northern tier of sections. It was com- 
pleted through here in January, 1883. In 1880, 
Bersvick had a population of 1,003 souls, and this is 
about the number of inhabitants at the present 
time. 

The following statistics are given regarding the 
schools in the township, which were taken from the 



County Superintendent's annual report, ending June 
30th, 1885. There were eight school districts in the 
township, with a valuation of school property 
amounting to $3,500, and the buddings are con- 
structed, one of brick, the rest of wood. Of persons 
under 2t years of age, there were 451, of whom 257 
were of scholastic age, 272 being enrolled. The 
highest wages paid to teachers was $45, the lowest 
$30 per month. The tax levy for this year was 
$1,925. 

From the Assessor's report of 1885, the following; 
items are obtained : 

Number of acres of improved land, 22,572; num- • 
ber of acres of unimproved land, 160; value of im- 
proved lands, $294,770 ; value of unimproved land, 
$1,330; total value of lots, $7,002; number of 
horses, 775; number of cattle, 1,484; asses and 
mules, 55 ; sheep, 429; hogs, 2,824 ; steam engines, 
I ; carriages and wagons, 225 ; watches and clocks, 
159; sewing and knitting machines, 106, pianos, 4 ; 
melodcons and organs, 27. Total value of personal 
property, $30,430. 

Below we give the names of the citizens who have 
represented this township as Supervisors: E. Q.pe- 
Lewis, 1854-64; S. B. Crane, 1865; H. M. Lewis, 
1866-78; W. D. Miller, 1879-85. 

CHURCHES. 

Berwick was very early in establishing church or- 
ganizations, which indicates that the early settlers 
were zealous in matters of religion. 

Baptist Church. — This society was organized July 
28, 1833, at John Smith's house. Sheldon Lockwood 
and wife, John Smith and wife and Elizabeth Hanon 
constituted the first membership. Revs. John Clark 
and John Logan presided at this organization. Rev. 
G. Bartlet was the first Pastor, taking charge Aug. 
I, 1833, and serving until December, 1834; then 
they were without a pastor for over a year, when Rev. 
R. M. Wilbur assumed charge, serving until Septem- 
ber, 1844. He was followed by Rev. Isaac Matteson, 
who served the church until June, 1845, giving place 
then to Erastus Minor, who remained until June, 
1 847. Rev. Joel Sweet was the next pastor in charge, 
serving the Society until February, 1850. Rev. Jo- 
se[)h Elliott came in December, and remained until 
May, 185 1. Following Mr. Elliott was Rev. Wm. 
T. Bly, who served his flock until 1853, when Rev. 
G. D. Simmons took charge, remaining until October 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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1854. Rev. Truman Gregory accepted a call March, 

1855, and remained until June, 1856, when he was 
succeeded by Rev. H. S. P. Warren, who took charge 
in March. Mr. Warren served until 1859, and was 
followed by Rev. C. E. Bailey, who remained until 
January, 1861. Rev. P. P. Shirley took charge in 
September, the same year, and was with the church 
until May, 1864, when Rev. R. L. Caldwell assumed 
the pastorate, remaining until July, 1866. He was 
succeeded in September by Rev. J. B. Congers, who 
served until October, 1868. Rev. Cary Telsberry 
became pastor March, i86g, remaining until Febru- 
ary, 1870, and was followed in June by Rev. Homer 
E. Norton, who remained until November, 1874. He 
was succeeded by Rev. D. G. Zaak, who took charge 
in June, 1875, and served the congregation until 
death took him home. Sept 25, 1S76. Rev. George 
Gray was the next to accept the call, Jan. i, 1877, 
and remained until Jan. i, 1881. Rev. J. F. Cald- 
well followed in August, remaining until 1884, when 

' he was succeeded by the present pastor, J. F. Mer- 
riam. The congregation has a membership at pres- 
ent of 115; total membership since its organization 
541. The first building was erected in 1840, and 
was located a little north of the present edifice. It 
is occupied now as a dwelling house by R. A. Beck. 
The present church building was erected in i8'56, at 
a cost of $3,000, and was dedicated in 1857. A good 
parsonage is attached to the church, costing $1,400. 
A good Sabbath School is one of the interesting fea- 
tures of this organization, having a membership of 
r4S. It is a large commodious building, and well 
furnished. The society is prosperous and the mem- 
bers active. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
1832, in the early part of the year. Rev. Mr. Cordier 
was the first preacher to hold service about this neigh- 
borhood, which was at Thomas Pearce's house. Rev. 
Barton Randall organized the first clas?, in the spring 
of 1833. This class was composed of Thomas Pearce 
and wife. Barton H. Cartwright and wife and Robert 
Ray and wife. This was the beginning of the Meth- 
odist Church at Berwick. They held their first meet- 
ing at Thomas Pearce's house and other private 
houses until 1837, when tlie organization was perma- 
nently located at Berwick Village. After it was lo- 
cated at this village the society was served by Revs. 
Thomas Hobart and Thomas Kirkpatrick. In 1852 
they erected the first church building. This is now 



used for a store by Mr. Beck. In 1868 they erected 
a new edifice at a cost of $4,000. It is of Gothic 
architecture, and is an attractive building, or was 
when it was new. It is now sadly out of repair, and 
if not attended to soon, will be worthless. With the 
church is a good parsonage. Present membership is 
about 30. Rev. G. B. Snedaker has charge, holding 
service every two weeks. Mr. Snedaker also serves 
the Cameron Church. 

BERWICK CEMETERY. 

This cemetery was laid out in 1840, and was 
among the earliest located in the county. It con- 
tains four acres of ground, and is a very pretty rest- 
ing place for the departed. The first person buried 
here was the son of Franklin Ogden, in 1840. It is 
under a trustee's government. In this cemetery are 
some very neat little tombstones, and the grounds 
are well cared for. 

Berwick Village. 

N 1836 Thomas Pearce and Samuel G. 
Morse thought that the township was of 
sufficient importance, in population at least, 
to warrant them in founding a village. Ac- 
cordingly they laid out their plat. It was lo- 
cated on the west half of the northwest quarter 
of section 5, and the east half of the northeast quar- 
ter of section 6, and contained fifty and five-eighths 
acres. It was first called Bowling Green, but was 
subsequently changed to Berwick. It was surveyed 
by Peter Butler, and the plat was recorded July 14, 
of the same year. 

This little village is nicely located and has a fine 
agricultural country surrounding it. At one time 
there was quite a trade carried on here, and it is yet 
a good shipping point for stock and grain. The ship- 
ping is done by the Iowa Central Railroad, which 
has a station here. Its population numbers about 
175 persons. The village is laid out with a plaza or 
square in the center, after the Southern or Mexican 
style of laying out towns. 

Miss Sarah Cable taught the first school here, in 
1837. They have at present a good school in the 
village, with an average attendance of 35 pupils. 

R. A. Beck is the present Postmaster, and has had 
a tenure of office for some 16 years. 

Its business is represented by Beck & Lewis, and 




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WAF.KEN COUNTY. 



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Dement & Sheldon, wlio have general merchandise 
stores. Dr. F. K. Morse keeps a drug store, and is 
also a practicing physician. C. Oseran has a boot 
and shoe store, and Tliomas Brown does the black- 
smithing for the village. J. L. Stormct supplies the 
people with a market. 

The people of this village have provided for the 
education of their children by erecting a good school 
building, and securing the services of a good teacher. 
They have an average attendance at the school of 
about 30 pupils. 



COLD BROOK TOWNSHIP. 



l|30LD BROOK TOWNSHIP, or the terri- 
^ tory that is now embraced by it, was 
among the earliest that was settled in 
th>i county. As early as 1828, Peter Pecken- 
paugh, from Indiana, found his way up into 
this locality, and put down his stake for a 
home, on section 30. Peter did not have long to 
I wait, for Peter Butler and Jeremiah McFarland came 
on soon, seeking homes for themselves and their 
families. The former located on section 31, and the 
latter on section 25. These pioneers were from 
Kentucky. They all had their families to brighten 
their pioneer firesides, and this gave them hope, 
courage and strength to put the axe into the timber, 
the plow-share into the virgin soil, and carve out 
homes for themselves and families. 

If there is any one position in life more lonely than 
another, it is that of a man starting out in a new 
country all alone to make his fortune, without wife or 
children to assist him in building up a home; it 
would seem that his condition must be something 
akin to "Coleridge's Ancient Mariner" — 

"Alone, alono. all, all alone 
Alone on a wido, wido sea. 
So lonely "twas, that God himselt, 
Scarce:sccmed there to be." 

Peter Peckenpaugh died but a few years ago. His 
wife died in 1850. Mr. McFarland has only been 
dead a few years. Peter Butler, who figured quite 
extensively in the early history of the county, moved 
to Oregon, in 1853, where, after an active life, he 
died. He was one of the first County Commission- 



ers. William Whitman and family, and Josiah 
Whitman, his brother, were the next to settle in 
the township, whicli was in the spring of 1829. 
They came from Kentucky and made claims upon 
section 32. William was a preacher of the Christian 
Church, and in those early days, charmed his hear- 
ers with his eloquence. He died at his home in 
1838. Josiah Whitman was married to Han- 
nah Davidson. He died near Monmouth in 
1865. His widow is still living in this city. Wil- 
liam Whitman's widow married Rev. Richard John- 
son, who was also a minister of the Christian 
Church. They are both dead. Richard H. Rag- 
land and family, of Kentucky, moved into the town- 
ship at an early day, locating in the timber near 
Cedar Fork. This pioneer did not live long in his 
Western home,but passed on to the eternal one, dying 
in 1839. His widow survived him, nearly half a 
century, dying in 1885, at the old homestead. 
Their cliildren are residing in the townsnip. In 1830, 
Aaron Hardin, from Schuyler Co., 111., came in and 
located on section ^^. He left the county at an 
early day. John G. Haley, witli liis wife, Elizabeth, 
came in this year, and located their home on section 
29. He was a very active and influential man, and 
an Rider in the Christian Church. He was quite 
prominent in the early days in county matters, and 
was at one time Sheriff of the county. He moved to 
Missouri in the fall of 1870, and died there some 
years later. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1847, ^' 
the old homestead. They had a family of seven 
children, three boys and four girls — Mary Jane, 
Henry, Edward, Eliza, Cynthia Ann and Thomas. 
Of these children three are living — Jane and Eliza 
in Warren County, and Thomas in California. 

Mr. Haley married for his second wife, Mrs. Mar- 
tha Whitman, "Aunt Paisey," who came from Ken- 
tucky, in 1831, locating on section 7. Her 
seven children were William C, S. Squire, Sally, 
C, John C.,Lucy A., Huldy A. and Christina J. They 
are all living except Huldy A. and William C, and 
all in the county except S. Squire. Aunt Patsey is liv- 
ing with her daughter, Mrs. Hascall, on section 7, in 
Floyd Township, in her 89th year. She is still 
strong and hearty, and bids far to live many more 
years. 

Of those who came after the pioneers above men- 
tioned up to 1837, there were Phillip Horney, H. S. 
Hascall, Max Haley, P. R. Haley, Alva Gordon 



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WARKEJS/ COUNTY. 



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7'S 



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David R. Shelton, Sr., with a family of 13 children, 
Edward Grounds, William Harper, Sr., Seth C. Mur- 
phy, Jacob Rust, David Morro\v,\Villiam Fraynieyer, 
and Mrs. Claycomb and children, Henry and Wil- 
liam Bruner, Thomas Wallace, Sr., William and Jo- 
seph Murphy, William Wallace, Alexander Moore, 
Nelson E. Hills, Thomas Griffee, Jesse Cleveland, 
Henry Landers, William and John Davidson, John 
Undenvood, John P. Cone, S. S. Wallace and John E. 
Murphy. Thus a goodstart was made toward settling 
the township. They were an industrious, intelligent 
class of pioneers, and went to work with energy and 
perseverance to build up homes, develop the town- 
ship and improve the country. 

Seth C. Murphy taught the first school in the 
township, in a small log house on section 30, or in 
the "Neck." This was in 1832. Mr, Murphy died 
in the fall of 1836. Rev. William Whitman was the 
first preacher to entertain these pioneers with gospel 
eloquence, which was in the old town of Cold Brook, 

■in 1831, the services being held in Peter Pecken- 
paugh's house. Alma Arasmith and Elizabeth 
Peckenpaugh led off in this township in the first 
bamatrimonial venture. This very interesting event, 
which created quite a sensation in this neighborhood, 
was duly solemnized on Christmas day, 183 1, by 

, Rev. William Whitman. Jacob Rust was the first 
man to embark in the mercantile business, which he 
did by opening a store in a log cabin in the town of 
Cold Brook. Jacob did not have an elaborate assort- 
ment of goods, nor was there much capital invested, 
but his little cabin store, as humble as it appeared, 
was a pleasing sight to those pioneers. A postoffice 
was opened at Cold Brook, in 1832, and Alva Gordon 
was the favorite son who held Uncle Sam's commis- 
sion. 

Tliomas Wallace started the first saw mill in the 
township, about a mile north of Cold Brook, on Ce- 
dar Creek. This was one of the first mills in the 
county, and was started in the summer of 1832. 
Subsequently he put in a stone for grinding corn. 
Cold Brook received its name from some cold springs 
which were located near there. It was platted by 
I John G. Haley. 

In 1832, Mr. Haggett and John Bundy started a 
blacksmith shop here, which was the first in the 
township. At one time. Cold Brook was quite a 
town, and a thriving trade carried on. The Brink 
& Walker stage line passed through the town. It 



was twelve miles fiom here to Knoxville and eight 
miles to Monmouth. Mr. Gordon served as Post- 
master until 1840, when H. E. Haley was appointed. 
A. D. Hawkins succeeded him and was the last 
Postmaster in the town. Upon the completion of 
the railroad, Mr. Hawkins moved the office with his 
store 10 Cameron, where it was established in 1855. 
The starting of the town of Cameron broke the town 
of Cold Brook up, and the owners of the land there 
have had the good sense to convert the site into 
fields. If many of the other would-be towns in the 
county would follow the example of the town of 
Cold Brook, there would be many acres of good land 
put to a proper and beneficial use. 

A sad accident occurred near this town in the 
early days (1838). Mat Dean and John Hardin 
were fishing in the mill pond. They were sitting on 
a log, one end of which lay on the bank and the 
other ran out into the pond. Dean suddenly had a 
fit and fell off the log into the water. Hardin see- 
ing him go down, plunged in after him, and they 
were both drowned. Singularly enough, their bodies 
were found some distance apart. Hardin's body 
was found a few hours after the accident, but that of 
Dean was not recovered until the next day, and not 
until after the pond had been dragged. It was 
found clinging with knees and arms to the under 
side of the log upon which they had been sitting. 

This township was organized April 4, 1854. The 
minutes of this meeting are imperfect, but we find 
that Philip Horney was chosen Moderator, and Jos- 
eph Stewart, Clerk. After the votes were polled, it 
was found that Benjamin F. Morey was elected Sup- 
ervisor; J. S. Parker, Clerk; James McFarland, 
Assessor and Collector; Andrew Claycomb and B. 
F. Morey, Justices of the Peace; W. H. H. Clay- 
comb, T. F. Taylor and B. S. Parker were elected 
Commissioners of Highways. It is township 1 1 
nortli of range i west, and is bounded on the north 
by Kelly, on the east by Knox County, on the south 
by Floyd and on the West by Monmouth Town- 
ship. 

The only village in the township is Cameron, sit- 
uated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road, where some of the people do their trading. 

This road runs nearly all the way on the southern 
line of this township and was completed through it 
in the early part of 1855. 

It is watered by Cedar and Talbot Creeks and 



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716 



WARREN COUNTY. 



their branches. Much of the township contains 
broad, rolling prairie, and some parts are rather 
broken. The land lying along and bordering the 
streams is very well timbered. Most of the farms 
are well cultivated and provided with good buildings. 
The farmers with but few exceptions are out of debt 
and prosperous. More attention is being given by 
the farmers to the raising of stock than was formerly 
done, and the production in this line is increasing 
every year. 

The population, in 1880, was 1,084, and it is esti- j 
mated there has been a little gain since that time. 

The County Superintendent's reports for the year 
ending June 30, 1885, contains tlie following school 
items: There are eight school districts, one graded 
and seven ungraded schools, with a valuation of 
school property amounting to $6,400. All of the 
school-buildings are frame. Of persons under 21 
years of age, there wore 425, of whom 272 were of 
school age, and 252 were enrolled. The highest 
wages paid to teachers is $45 and the lowest $25 per 
month. The tax levy for this year was $2,170. 

From the Assessor's report for the year 1881;, the 
following information is obtained : Number of acres 
improved land, 22,439 ; value of improved land, $314,- 
025; total value of lots, $3,375; number of horses, 
922; cattle, 1,688; asses and mules, 37; sheep, 
157 ; hogs, 3,249 ; steam engines, i ; carriages and 
wagons, 308; watches and clocks, 197; sewing and 
knitting machines, 99 ; pianos, 7 ; melodeons and 
organs, 35. Total value of personal property, 
$708.02. 

Below is given the names of the citizens who have 
been honored with the office of Supervisor: 

SUPERVISORS. 



Benj.S. Morcy 1854 

Philip Horncy 1855 

\V. H. H. aayconib....l8s6 

Philip Homey 1857 

W. H. H. Claycomb....i858 

Henry Murphy 1859 

W. H H. Claycomb i860 

James McF.-irland 1661-2 



I,. M. Catcs 1863-4 

J. H. Murphy 1865 

Philip Horney 1866 

J. K.Iiiirnctt 1867-70 

I, M . (iatcs "871-3 

J. T Itartman >874-5 

Philip Horney 1876 

J. 'I". Hartman 1877-85 



Cameron. 

AMERON is located on the line of the 
^, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad 
"^Ss^ and principally in Floyd Township. Af- 
' jPj ter the route of this road was determined, 
Robert Cameron concluded that this would 
be a good locality to lay out a town. It was 
first platted Feb. 22, 1854, and was called Cameron- 




■ti 



ville, and was located south of the track. There 
were a few people at least here who must have had 
great expectations regarding this town. Why they 
did so remains a mystery. We find it was platted 
again at two different times, once by Ivory Quinby 
and John H. Warren. This plat was filed Dec. 21, 
1854, and was located on sections 32 and 33 in 
township II north of range i west, containing 79 
acres. It was surveyed by J. W. Adcock. Camer- 
onville south of the railroad track was platted by 
Robert and Sarah Cameron, March 6, 1854, and was 
located on sections 5 and 6, township 10 north of 
range i wes*, and was also surveyed by J. W. Ad- 
cock. Waste's Addition to Cameron was platted 
July 13, 1855, and was located on section 4, town- 
ship 10 north of range i west, and was surveyed by 
S. M. Moore. 

Robert Cameron made another addition to Camer- 
on ville, Aug. 2, 1856. Waste's addition lay east of 
the first plat and also extended across the railroad 
track into Cold Brook Township, and was called \ 
Cameron. This place, or noted village, is known 
in the sad years gone by, by travelers as a sort of a , 
cross between a watering place and a harbor of re-*< 
fuge. It is not remembered, that anybody ever had 
the courage or audacity to accuse a traveler of vol- 
untarily stopping, but he has been quietly or uncere- 
moniously " dropped," by the conductors, to fool it 
back to Galesburg, and there wait for the next train 
to carry liim on to his destination, giving him in tiie 
meantime ample opportunity to stretch his limbs, 
for which he left his car, and was left by it. The 
railroad officials corrected their management at 
Galesburg some years ago, and hence Cameron has 
gone down, not having any more unfortunate travel- 
ers to supply with cigars, cookies, crackers and 
cheese. 

Tiie first man to open a store here was A. B. Haw- 
kins, who moved over from the old town of Cold 
Brook. The postoffice was established here after 
the railroad was completed, in February, 1855, and 
Mr. Hawkins was appointed jjostmaster. After this, 
the name of Cameron was united upon, and it has 
been known as such since that time. Edward 
Hunt followed Hawkins as postmaster, and served 
during President Buchanan's administration. Har- 
rison Waste came in during the Republican admin- 
istration of President Lincoln. He was followed by 
H. C. Higgin, H. H. Kelly, and E. Hart, who is the 



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.ir. . — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



t>7 




present postmaster. After the advent of tlie rail- 
road, some houses from Galesl)iirg opened business 
here. At one time it was quite a shipping point for 
grain, and it still receives most of the products 
from the western portions of Cold Brook and Floyd 
Townships, and some from the eastern parts of Lenox 
and Monmouth. The population, as estimated by S. 
T. Shelton last spring, is 306. 

There is a general store carried on here by E. 
Hart, and one by L. T. Kelly. Robert Atkinson 
keeps harness and saddlery ; Temple & Son cany on 
the drug business ; E. \V. Rowe has also a general 
store. 

CHURCHES. 

The Christian Church is the same society that 
was organized at Peter Peckempaugh's on section 
30, April 30, 183 1, and is one of the first church or- 
ganizations in the county. The first members were 
among the first settlers of the county. As they 
were somewhat historical, their names are given be- 
low : William Whitman, Sarah Whitman, Julia A. 
Whitman, Henry C. Haley, Elizabeth Haley, John 
C. and Francis Murphy, JohnG. Haley, Richard H. 
Ragland, Nancy Ragland, Wm. M. and Elizabeth 
Davidson, Josiah Whitman, Elijah Davidson, Sr., 
Margaret Davidson, Sr.,and Margaret Davidson, Jr., 
Elijah Davidson, Jr. Six of the above members are 
still living: Julia A. Whitman, now Mrs. Davidson; 
Elizabeth Haley, now Mrs. Jones ; Francis Murphy, 
now living in Oregon; Margaret Davidson, Jr., also 
in Oregon; Elijah Davidson, Jr., in Oregon; and 
Elizabeth Davidson, now Mrs. Lucas, and living at 
Abingdon. This church was constituted upon the 
belief that the scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
ments are the word of God, and the only rule of 
faith and practice, and sufficient for the government 
of the Church. They erected their first church 
building at Savanna, afterward called Cold Brook, 
which was completed in 1839. Rev. Wm. Whit- 
man was their first pastor. Before their church 
building was constructed, meetings were held in 
school houses and in private famihes. This society 
at one time numbered over 200 members. In 185 1 
many of its members went to Oregon, enough to 
form quite a congregation there. The place where 
they settled was called Monmouth, after the town 
in Warren County. In i860, Cameron having be- 
come a thriving railroad town, and the business of 



Cold Brook having been transferred to that place, 
it was decided to move the church also. Accord- 
ingly an edifice was put up at Cameron, at a cost of 
$2,300. In an early day the people attended this 
church from far and near; from Abingdon, Mon- 
mouth, Ellison, Gerlaw, etc. Among the preachers 
that have served this church are : Revs. Wm. Whit- 
man, Alexander Reynolds, James R. Ross, Livy 
Hatchett, John Rigdon, (cousin of Sidney Rigdon of 
Mormon fauie), William Davenport, A. J. Kane, 
Isaac Murphy, John G. Haley, Josiah Whitman, 
Alex Johnson, L. S. Wallace, J. S. Ed- 
wards, John E. Murphy, and T. H. Good- 
night, now in Kansas. Some of these early 
preachers are still living. When the church 
had no regular pastors. Elder S. T. Shelton, 
one of Cold Brook's most prominent and favored 
citizens, would preach to the congregation. Re- 
cently they have secured the services of Rev. 
Charles Laycock, a talented young preacher. They 
have now about 125^ members with a large and in- 
teresting Sabbath-school. This society is prosper- 
ous and is doing good work in the Christian field of 
labor. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
1856 ; M. B. Morey and wife, J. B. Porterfield and 
wife, Benjamin Tinkham and wife, and William P. 
Crosby and wife, constituted the first members. 
Their building was erected in 1857, at a cost of 
$1,300. This building was burned in Sept. 1877. A 
new edifice was erected in 1883, and was dedicated 
July ist, the same year. The dedicatory sermon 
was preached by Revs. George W. Palmer, pastor, 
and Thomas H. Pryon. It is a neat frame structure, 
costing about $3,000, with a seating capacity of 
probably 250 persons. They have a good parson- 
age, which cost $1,000. Rev. J. B. Snedaker is the 
present pastor who presides over about 60 members. 
In connection with the society is an interesting Sab- 
bath-school with about 45 members. 

The First Baptist Church. A number of the 
members of tliis church assembled June 30, r866, 
for the purpose of perfecting an organization. Rev. 
J. N. Talman of Monmouth preached the sermon, 
when Rev. H. H. Parks was called to the chair. J. 
N. Talman was chosen clerk pro tern. Letters were 
presented by D. F. Smith, C. C. Manford and F. G. 
Manford. Several others gave their names and de- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



clared themselves in favor of uniting as soon as they 
could receive letters from their former churches. 
After this, articles of faith were adopted. Rev. John 
Balton was the first pastor. The church was com- 
pleted and dedicated in August, 1869. Rev. Balton 
terminated his labors with the church, March 4, 187 1. 
He was followed by J. K. Pennington, wlio remained 
until 1S78, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. G. 
Kent, who served until 1880. Rev. T. \\'. Jones 
then took charge and remained for a while, wiien he 
was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Depperman. At present 
the society is without a pastor, but occasionally they 
have services at the church. 

Schools. 
Cameron has a fair graded school. It is a union 
district from Floyd and Cold ISrook. i'.efore the con- 
solidation in 187 1, they had separate schools and 
school buildings. After the districts were united, a 
good two-story building was erected for scliool pur- 
poses. Miss Libbie Regnieris the present principal, 
and Miss Kate Boggles, assistant, with an average 
attendance of 75 pupils. 



■\tac/2/®iS^ 



M§}— -'SI^WOTX- 




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ELLISON TOWNSHIP. 

I J LLISON was organized as a township, .\pril 
4, 1854. Agreeable to the notice previ- 
ously given, the legal voters of this town- 
'fi^ sliip met on this day and proceeded to elect 

their officers and perfect their organization. E. 

Mitchell was chosen Moderator, and A. S. 
Smith, Clerk. The result of this meeting was the 
election of E. Mitchell, for Supervisor, Wm. Coleman, 
Clerk; J. P. Rutherford, Assessor; N. B. Cramer, 
Collector; H. F. Sexton and S. 1). Perkins, Justices 
of the Peace ; H. S. Sexton, Overseer of the Poor ; 
D. Leacock and N. Eldridge, Commissioners of 
Highways ; W. H. Gilmore, George W. Scott, Con- 
stables. Thus equipped for self-government the 
people of this township, received new life and went 
on in their development and prosperity. 

This territory is in township 9 north of range 3 
west, and is bounded on the north by Tompkins, on 
the east by Roseville, on the south by Point Pleas- 



ant Township, and on the west by Henderson 
County. 

Field Jarvis was the first settler in this township, 
locating in 1829 at the head of Ellison Creek. It 
was some years before he had any neighbors. 

Isaac A. Watson and Wm. P. Thompson settled in 
this township ill 1835. Kenner Brent, his wife, Eliza- 
betln^nd a large family of children, among whom were 
Kenner, Jr., David C, Wm P. and Paul, came in 
Maicii, 1836, locating on section 18. They were 
from Lancaster Co. Va. Mr. Brent and his wife, 
Elizabeth, are both dead. Some of their children are 
still living in the township. Mr. Brent was in -the 
war of 1812, where he distinguished himself for his 
bravery in several active engagements, Seneca Sals- 
bury and family from Ohio, located in 1836, on sec- 
tion 4. Among those that soon followed these pio- 
neers and settled in the township before 1 840, are 
Mr. Meacham and family, C. Higler and family, 
Mathew Cox and family, Samuel Baldwin and Jesse 
Coleman with their families; also, Mr, Staley ; John 
and Edward Ray, with their families ; Benton God- 
frey, Paul, William and John Birdsell, Daniel Lea- 
cock, James Gregory, William Talbot, Decatur Lof- 
tus, and family from Tennessee ; William Brown and 
family from Virginia. Mr. Jarvis was a large, pow- 
erful man, and a noted bee-hunter. The early set- 
tlers depended u|)on Field almost entirely to furnish 
them with honey. Horace Sexton and wife, Hannah, 
came in and settled in the northwestern part of the 
townsliip, in the si)ringof 1840. Wlien tliey settled, 
there was but one house between them and Mon- 
mouth. They came from Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 
Horace Sexton died at the old homestead, in Oct., 
1877 ; his widow is still living. Seneca Salsliury and 
wife are both dead, the former but recently. It is said 
that at the time he erected his dwelling house, it was 
the finest house in the county. Mr. Salsbury was 
the first Postmaster in the township. 

The first village that started was Lancaster, on 

section 22. It contained a tavern, two stores, a black 

smith shop, and Post Office. As a village it is now 

deserted, and is only known in the memory of the 

early settlers. 

■' Hut now llic sduncIsdC |iopulatioii fail, 
N(i (.■In'ci-rul nnniinns Ihirluate tlio gale; 
Nil l)usy .-^lops tlu' grass-grown foot^way troad, 
But all tlie blooming flush of life is fled." 

But while it is no longer a village, on its site can 



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WARkkN COUNTY. 



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be traced broad fields of grain, and extensive herds 
of cattle graze and chew their cuds at ease on the 
green pasture. 

The first couple to enter into the sacred ties of 
matrimony were Decatur Loftus and Mary Barrett. 
Their honey-moon and after life were spent on sec- 
tion 25. The first birth and death are not remem- 
bered. This township has not been exempt from the 
wrathful winds of earth, though it has been shown 
that it deserved no such affliction. On the 30th day 
of May, 1858, towards sunset, the blue sky became 
overcast with dark, ominous clouds. Soon the roar 
of the wind was heard in the timber west of Ellison 
Village. The dreadful sound increased and in a few 
seconds a tornado with lightning-like speed and des- 
tructiveness overshadowed the town. But a few mo- 
ments and only a few, buildings were left standing, 
and nearly all of the inhabitants were more or less 
injured, and many of them killed. 

The gale came from Iowa and did no damage un- 
til after it passed the Bluffs. Its path was about 40 
rods wide and about 6 miles long in its destructive 
course. It made one of its fearful revolutions in 
front of Mr. Kelly's house, and after demolishing 
the town, raised up from the ground a few miles 
northwest and passed away. There were several 
stores in the village, blacksmith shops, taverns, etc., 
all of which were demolished. Fifteen persons were 
killed and fatally wounded and many were disabled 
for life. Of those killed and who died from the ef- 
fects of tlieir wounds, were the Misses McVVilliams, 
Mrs. Thompson and child, Mrs. Brazelton, Martin 
Wentworth, Miss Lacy, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. McCartney 
and child, Mr. Johnson and child, Mr. Hurd, and 
Mr. Thompson, who lived out on the prairie. On 
the approach of the tornado, Mr. Thompson, with 
his family, had gone into a cave, dug on purpose for 
protection against such a catastrophe. Curiosity 
got the best of his judgment, and against the admo- 
nitions of his sensible wife, he put out his head to 
see how a tornado looked in its best humor, when 
the end of a rail that was flying about in the air 
struck him in the head, knocking it off, and sending 
his headless body back into the cave, where it fell 
at the feet of his wife and children. This tornado 
was terrible in its power and must have been very 
heavily charged with electricity. It tore the ground 
up for rods, and took wagons and literally tore them 
to pieces. From one heavy wagon wheel it look off 



the tire and neatly cut a piece from it two feet in 
length. Over a score of the dead, wounded and 
dying were brought into J. M. Kelly's residence and 
laid about on the floor. The scene was most heart- 
rending and beyond all description. Their groans 
and sufferings were sickening to behold. There were 
only two men in the town unhurt ; these were J. M. 
Kelly and W: L. Edwards, who are still living. 

Ellison, before this dreadful visitation, was a 
thriving, attractive, pleasant little village. It broke 
up and disheartened its business men and virtually 
ruined the town as a trading point. 

This town is the home of Mrs. Nancy Wilcox, 
grandmother of the celebrated opera singer, Emma 
Abbott. A very good story is related about the 
grandmother. In the fall of 1854 Mrs. Wilcox at- 
tended the Methodist Love Feast, in the Methodist 
Church at Ellison village, which was presided over 
by the Rev. Richard Haney. During the meeting, 
or Love Feast, Mrs. Wilcox arose to give her relig- 
ious experiences Among other facts related by this' 
lady, was one of the difficulties which beset her be- 
fore she joined the Church. When she had made up 
her mind to number herself with God's people, she'* 
addressed her husband, saying : " Isaac, my beloved 
husband, I have decided to give my heart to God, 
and to join the Methodist Church." Her husband 
very energetically replied : " Nancy, I'll be damned 
if you do! " Mrs. Wilcox, with equal emphasis, re- 
plied : " Isaac, I'll be damned if I don't! " Since 
that day Isaac died the death of tlie righteous and 
Mrs. Wilcox is still living, in her good old age, the 
life of a Christian. 

Ellison Township is very liberally watered, by 
Nigger Creek, with its tributaries, and Ellison Creek. 
In the southwestern part the land is broken and 
pretty well timbered ; the balance is mostly rolling 
prairie, with a rich and productive soil. There are 
many fine and well cultivated farms in the township, 
and the farmers are mostly all in independent cir- 
cumstances. No railroad lines pass through its ter- 
ritory and the people do their trading mostly at 
Roseville and some at Ellison. Population, in 1880, 
was 1,041, and it has not gained any since that time. 

The County Superintendent, in her report ending 
June 30, 1885, gives the following information relat- 
ing to the public schools of the township : There 
were seven schools districts, with a valuation of 
school property of $6,525. In these districts all the 



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720 



WARREN^ COUN'TY. 



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buildings were frame. Of persons under 21 years of 
age, there were 401, of whom 293 were of scholastic 
age, 270 being enrolled. The highest wages paid 
teachers was $50 per month, the lowest $25 per 
month. The tax levy for this township was $2,450. 

From the Assessor's reports for the year 1885, the 
following information has been obtained : Number 
of acres of imi)roved lands, 22,740; value of im- 
proved lands, $325,585 ; number of horses, 787 ; 
cattle, 1,647; mules and asses, 40; sheep, 18; liogs, 
3,055 ; steam engines, i ; carriages and wagons, 290, 
watches and clocks, 141 ; sewing and knitting ma- 
chines, 97 ; pianos, 5 ; melodeons and organs, 34 ; 
total cash value of personal property, $56,610. 

The following named citizens have rei)resented 
Ellison Township as Supervisors : Eliphalet Mitchell, 
1854-55; George W. Palmer, 1856; N. A. Eldridge, 
1857-64; Wm. A. Albright, 1865; N. A. Eldridge, 
1866-67; Thos. Paul, 1868; \V. R. Rayburne, 
1869-70; J. A. Pierson, 187 i ; S. B. Crane, 1872; 
E. Mitchell, 1873; S. B. Crane, 1874; E. Mitchell, 
1875-77; A. K. Morris, 1878; E.Mitchell, 1879; 
A. K. Morris, 1880; E. Mitchell, 1881-82 ; M. V. 
Jamieson, 1883-85. 



Ellison Village. 

1|ii||[M0NG the early towns of the county plat- 
ted was that of Ellison. It was laid out 
under the proprietorship of Joseph De- 
hague, and tiie i)lat was recorded May ro, 
1836. It embraced the southwest quarter of 
the northwest quarter of section 6. Wil- 
liam Butler was the surveyor who laid»it out. This 
village grew with the settlement of the township and 
there was at one time quite a trade carried on here, 
in fact, until its destruction by the tornado of 1858. 
After tliis calamity most of the tfade was trans- 
ferred to Roseville. There is a post office here, 
which is presided over by James Watson. Mr. Wat- 
son is also proi)rietor of a general store. J. "E. Painter 
carries on a grocery, and harness and saddlery bus- 
iness. The blacksmithing is attended to by W. 
L. Edwards. There are also two wagon and repair 
shops, carried on by J. M. Kelly and G. Davidson. 
The most important industry of this village is the 





tile factory, which was started in 1882. The clay 
used is a very superior quality and taken from a bank 
about a mile from the town. Mr. Edwards employs 
on an average five men and has one kiln. Dr. E. 
Wilkinson attends to the sick in the village. 

Ellison has a good school and a very popular 
teacher in the person of W. F. Shirkey ; average at- 
tendance at this school is about 45 pupils. 



FLOYD TOWNSHIP. 

LOYD came into the township organiza-- 
tion with tlie other townships. The records 
^ of the proceedings of the first meeting 
were burned, and only a part can l)e given. 
:^^ The election was held April 4, 1854, at the 

{ old town of Cold Brook, when the follow- 
ing officers were chosen: William Laferty, Super- 
visor; H. S. Hascal, Clerk; G. B. Cross, Assessor; 
Thomas B. Cross and Charles Phelps, Justices of the 
Peace; James L. Grant and Bradley Hecox, Com- 
missioners of Highways. It is numbered 10 north, 
of range i east, and is bounded on the north by Cold 
Brook, on the east by Knox County, on the south by 
Berwick and on the west by Lenox Townships. This 
territory was not overlooked by the early settlers of ■ 
Warren County. John Armstrong has the credit of 
being the first to locate in the township, which was 
in 1829. He came witli his family and located on 
the south side of the township, on section 23, put up 
a cabip, the first in the township, and commenced to 
improve his land and construct for himself and fam- 
ily a home. He was born in Illinois, May 11, 18 12, 
and died in 1882, leaving his kindred and a large 
circle of friends to mourn his loss. The next to 
move in was Benjamin F. Allen, with wife and nine 
children, from Oneida Co., N. Y. The names of the 
children arc Truman D., Eliza, Frederick, Jane, 
Edwin, Henry and Emery (twins), Albert and Am- 
brose. These children are all dead but Ambrose 
and Trumaix p. Mr. Allen located on section 29. 
He died July 10, 1872, at the old homestead, and 
his widow three years later. 

Louis and Isaac Vertrees, from Kentucky, with 
tlicir families, came here in 1830, locating their 
lionies on section 3, where they made many improve- 
ments. Isaac, after some years, moved back to his 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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721 



native State. Louis was attached to his home, lived 
there throughout his long life, and died April 13, 
1883, [respected and loved by all who knew him. 
Elijah Davidson was another early settler, moving in 
in 1S30. He was also from Kentucky. After liv- 
ing here over 20 years, he, with a part of his family, 
joined the colony that emigrated to Oregon in 1851. 
Carter T. and Hosea, sons of Elijah Davdson, set- 
tled here with him. Carter died in Oregon a few 
years ago. Hosea moved to Missouri, where he 
died. Alexander Davidson, son of Elijah, came in 
about this time. All the Davidsons settled on the 
school section 16. After these families came John 
Dodge, his son, John Milton, Felix and David Rob- 
inson, George and Henry Cable, Wilson Sheldon, M. 
D. Matteson, Cornelius Tunnicliff, Thos. D. Allen, 
and others. After the Black Hawk War the town- 
ship settled up quite rapidly. Among those coming 
in after the war was Henry Cable, his wife and six 
children — Sarah, Mary, Ezra, George C, Chauncy 
M. and William H. They came in 1835, and set- 
tled about a mile and a half east of the town of Ber- 
wick, near the township line. Mr. Cable came from 
Oneida Co., N. Y. Here he lived for over 40 years, 
irevproving his farm, accumulating property and rear- 
ing his children, most of whom settled about hin. 
During this long period he took an active part in all 
the public affairs of the township. In 1866 he moved 
to Monmouth, where he died, March 8, 1877, at the 
age of 80 years. His wife, Olive, died in February, 
1875, in her 84th year. Mary died in 1851 ; Sarah, 
who married Mr. Laferty (see biography) is still liv- 
ing in Monmouth. The sons are all living on farms 
in Floyd Township, except'Chauncy M., who is living 
in Monmouth. During the Black Hawk War, many 
of tiie settlers, fearing attacks from the Indians, went 
into Knox County, where they remained until the 
war terminated. The first birth, death and marriage 
is not definitely remembered, nor the first school 
taught. 

The children living in the territory now embraced 
by this township, attended school at the old town of 
Cold Brook; so also did the people go there for their 
religious services, which were held under the aus- 
pices of the Christian Church. Some of the preach- 
ers of this Church would hold services occasionally 
at private houses in this township. In 1839, a Chris- 
tian Church was estalilished at Meridian, near the 



line between Floyd and Berwick Townships, the 
members joining this organization withdrawing from 
the Cold Brook Church. Another congregation was 
formed from the Cold Brook Church, in 1845, at what 
was called Short's Corners, section 16. It was one 
of short duration, and was disbanded in 1847. 

The township is watered by Slug Creek and its 
tributaries, which run southeasterly into Berwick, 
uniting with Nigger Creek, which empties into Spoon 
River. The land in this township is nearly all prai- 
rie, with slight undulations, except in the 
southwest portion, where it is timbered and some- 
what broken. Along the upper line of the township 
is the divide, the waters on the north emptying into 
the Henderson and then into the Mississippi, and 
those on the South into Spoon River, and then 
into the Illinois River. The principal crops raised 
now, are corn and hay. It was once a very heavy 
producing township in all the cereals, but the land 
became worn out and a change of product was nec- 
essary. The farms in the township are all good and 
well managed. The dwelling houses are comforta- 
ble, and many of them are constructed with taste. 
In all the school districts are good schools and good 
school buildings. The Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad passes along the northern line of 
this township, or between this and Cold Brook. The 
nearest depot and trading place is Cameron. In pop- 
ulation it is estimated that Floyd has not lost in 
numbers since 1880, it containing then, according to 
the census reports, 1,162. 

From the Assessor's report for the year 1885, the 
following information is obtained : 

Number of acres of improved land, 22,385 ; num- 
ber of acres of unimproved land, 360; value of im- 
proved land, $301,5 11 ; value of unimproved lands, 
$2,880; total value of lots, $4,170; number of 
horses, 1,065; cattle, 1,422; asses and mules, 6; 
sheep, 147 ; hogs, 2,665 'i steam engines, 2 ; car- 
riages and wagor;s, 204; watches and clocks, 73; 
sewing and knitting rnachines, 87 ; pianos, 6; organs 
and melodeons, 34; total value of personal property, 
$606.40. 

SUPERVISORS. 



William Laferty . . .1854-5 

John F. Giddings 1856 

Thomas B. Cross 1857-60 

Lewis V'ertrees 1860-3 

Charles Wa.iite 1863 

W. C. Clyborne 1864 

S . T . Shelton 1865-70 



C. W. Eoydston 1871 

Lewis Vertrees 1872 

C. W. Boydston 1873-4 

JohnW. Bolon 1875-8 

D. C. Graham 1879 

JohnW. Bolon 1880-2 

D. C.Graham 1883-c 



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712 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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GREENBUSH TOWNSHIP. 

REENBUSH TOWNSHIP was one of the 
early settled townships of the county. Ro- 
^ land Simmons was the first man to settle 
here, which he did in 1830, making a claim on 
;;' section 6. He was an energetic, thriving 
] man, prominent in the public affairs of the 
township, and a good citizen. He died in the sum- 
mer of 1858, leaving a large family of children and 
many friends to mourn his loss. His wife preceded 
him to the other world many years before. They 
both died at the old homestead where they first lo- 
cated. 

Jesse W. Bond and William Taylor, with tiieir 
families, came in soon after Mr. Simmons, and made 
claims on section 19. These pioneers were active 
and valuable citizens, and did much toward im- 
jiroving and building up the township. They became 
prominent and active in all public affairs, accumu- 
> laled fine properties, which they left to their children. 
They, witli their wives, have been dead some years — 
all dying at their homesteads. James Simmons, his 
wife and seven children, from Madison Co., III., came 
in 1833, and located on section 35. He first came 
to Illinois in 1816. His children were Andrew W., 
Sally, Roland M., Alfred W., Francis M., Charles R., 
William J. and Joanna. 

Four children, Nancy, Diana, Arminda and Mar- 
tin VanBuien, were born in Greenbush. This pio- 
neer diid at the farm, Aug. 21, 1873. His wife, 
Sally, died Aprils, 1855. He left a good inheritance 
to his children, and was oneof tlie prominent citizens 
of the township. 

Along after these pioneers came John C. Bond, 
William McMahill, Payton Vaughn, Thomas Moul- 
ton, James B. Smith, Jesse Looney, Aaron Powers 
and Amos Pierce. Some of these pioneers brought 
with them families. Amos Pierce settled on section 
7, and died in July, 1872. His wife died in 1845. 
(See biography.) James B. Smith died on his way 
to Oregon. After this the settlement in the township 
advanced quite rapidly, particularly after the Indian 
troubles had been finally adjusted. 

A young child of Roland Simmons was the first 



death in the township, which occurred in 1830. 

The fiist couple to enter into matrimonial relations 
were Moses D Hand and Elizabeth Crawford. They 
were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock Dec. 23, 
1835, by John C. Bond, Justice of the Peace. The 
next important event was the death of the sister of 
John Long. Her body was interred in the Bond 
burying ground. The first post office was opened at 
Greenfield, now known as Greenbush, by Charles 
Slice. Blankenship & Brother were the first to em- 
bark in the n>ercantile business. Mr. Desbro was 
the first educated young man to open school in the 
township, which was in a log house southeast of 
Greenbush. The first religious exercises, or preach- 
ing, was at Roland Simmons' house, by a Methodist 
circuit rider, in the winter of 1833-4. 

In early days the people of this township did 
tlieir trading and marketing at Peoria, Oquawka and 
sometimes at Chicago. 

Greenbush went into township organization with 
the other townships, but the records have been lost 
and only a part of the proceedings of the first elec- 
tion can be given. We find, however, that David 
Armstrong acted as Moderator at tliis election. Levi 
Lincoln was elected Supervisor; William Shores, 
Collector; A. W. Simmons, Assessor; F. H. Merrill, 
Clerk; John C. Vauglin and L. L. Ury, Justices of 
the Peace; J. Butler R. M. Simmons and H. H. 
Hewitt, Commissioners of Highways. 

This township is numbered eight north, of range i 
west, and has for its boundary line, Berwick Town- 
ship on the north, Knox County on the east, Fulton 
County on the south and Swan Township on the 
west. It is very liberally watered by Swan and Nig- 
ger Creeks and their tributaries, which run eastward 
and empty into Spoon River. The Quincy branch 
of the C. B. & Q. R. R. crosses the southeast cor- 
ner of the township. In the northeast portion of the 
township and along the main creeks the land is some- 
what broken, and is very well timbered ; the other 
portion of the township is rolling prairie. -The soil 
is rich and productive, corn and hay being the prin- 
cipal crop, which have a prolific growth. There are 
some grand old farms in Greenbush and many fine 
dwellings. Tlie peofile do their trading mostly at 
Avon, Fulton County, and at Greenbush Village. 
The population of this township, in 1880, was 1,053, 
which is about the present number. 

In the annual report for the year ending June 30 



^ 




■ )(■ 

WARREN COUNTY. 



723 




1885, the County Superintendent gives the following 
information regarding the public schools. There 
were 10 school districts, the school property being 
valued at $2,500. All the school buildings are frame. 
Of persons under 21 years of age there were 406, of 
which 286 were of scholastic age, 243 being en- 
rolled. The highest wages paid teachers was $50 
per month, and the lowest $25. The tax levy for 
this township was $1-825. 

From the Assessor's report for 1885, the following 
information was obtained : ' Number of acres of im- 
proved land, 22,000 ; number of acres of unin: proved 
la. id, 1,000; value of improved land, $312,120; 
value of unimproved land, $4,060 ; value of lots, 
$2,800: number of horses, 900; cattle, 2,060; num- 
ber of mules and asses, 129; sheep, 636; hogs, 2,- 
660; steam engines, i ; carriages and wagons, 227; 
watches and clocks, 159; sewing and knitting ma- 
chines, 90; pianos, 4; melodeons and organs, 34. 
Total value of personal property, $840.49. 

Greenbush has been represented by the following 
named citizens as Supervisors: John C. Bond, 1854; 
Levi Lincoln, 1854; John C. Bond, 1856-67 ; A. W. 
'Simmons, 1868-71; L. M. Green, 1872; Danford 
Taylor, 1873-74; A. W. Simmons, 1875-76; L. M. 
Green, 1877 ; A. W. Simmons, 1878-83 ; Israel Spor- 
gin, 1884; A. W. Simmons, 1885. 

—^m^^ — 




Greenbush Village. 

REENBUSH was one of the early aspiiing 

localities, the citizens of whom looked for. 

* ward with great expectations to the time 



when there would be solid brick blocks, crowd- 
ed streets, and all the bustle of a great city. 
It was platted April 29, 1836, by Roland and 
James Simmons, on the northeast quarter of section 
5, the plat embracing about 40 acres. The name of 
the village was afterward changed to that of Green- 
bush, on account of there being another town of the 
same name in this btate. This town for some years 
was quite a thriving village, having several stores 
and business enterprises, but when the railroad came 
through, which makes and unmakes towns, tlie trade 
went elsewhere. There is one general store iiere 
now owned by J. C. Johnson, who has a thrivi.ig 



country trade. Mr. Johnson is also Postmaster of 
the village. Population about (oo souls. There is 
a good school here, which is taught by Mr. Blair, 
with an average attendance of about 30 pupils. 

RELIGIOUS. 

There are two Churches here, the Baptist and Meth- 
odist, which grew out of early organizations in the 
township. 

The Baptist Church. The members of the society 
met on the third Saturday in June, 1836, at the house 
of Brother Caleb Hedges, organized, and formed the 
basis for quite a large congregation. Present at this 
meeting were John Murphy, James Kelsey, John 
Riggs, Joseph Rudges, B. VV. Lewis, Caleb and 
Polly Hedges, Ellis Lewis, Martha Riggs, Rosanna 
Muri^hy, Rachael Butler, Polly Vandeveer and Rev. 
Chas. Vandeveer. Mr. Vandeveer was chosen Mod- 
erator, and John Murphy, Clerk. After mature de- 
liberation, they decided to send for ministers for the 
purpose of being constituted into a church. On the 
third Saturday in July, they again met with addi- 
tional members who had come in with letters from 
oilier societies, to prepare and adopt articles of faith 
and a constitution for their guidance. Elders Chas. 
Vandeveer and Robt. Mays were present to consti- 
tute the church, which was given the name of New 
Hope. This church belonged to the Spoon River 
Association. Rev. Chas. Vandeveer was chosen the 
first pastor, in August, 1830. Services were held in 
different parts of this and Swan Township, in private 
houses. Rev. Chas. Vandeveer served his flock until 
1854, when death took him to a new field of labor. 
He was succeeded by Rev. George Tracy, who as- 
sumed charge in June 1855, and retired the following 
year. In May, 1857, Rev. Isaac Vanmeter was called 
to take charge, and is the present pastor, having served 
nearly a generation. In 1850, when the Academy 
was built at the village of Greenbush, the society 
was permantly located there. This Academy was 
put up by the people of Greenbush for a school 
building and for the holding of religious and other 
meetings. It was a two-story building, the upper 
part of which was principally devoted to school pur- 
poses. At present there are 43 members, and servi- 
ces are held every fourth Sunday, the pastor hav- 
ing other charges in different parts of the county. 

'I he Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at 
the town of Greenbush at a very early day. Meet- 



»— ^^«- 



724 



« %\ i • • 

WARREN COUNTY. 



4^= 



ings were held in private houses at first, and after 
the establishment of school buildings services were 
held in them, and when the Academy building, as 
it was called, was erected, whicli was in 1850, at 
Greenbush village, they held their services there, in 
the lower room. In 1S70 they completed their new 
church building, at a cost of $5,000. In April, 1S7 i, 
it was dedicated. Rev. Rosvvell Morse preaching the 
dedicatory sermon. Rev. Mr. Matthews was the 
first pastor in charge after the new edifice was 
erected. He was succeeded by Revs. Hitchcock, 
Jones, Blacksvell, Grant, Torpin and Streator. Rev. 
N. G. Clark is the present pastor, with service every 
other Sunday. His other appointments are in Mc- 
Donough County, which, with Greenbush, belong 
to the Pleasant Mounds circuit. Present member- 
ship of this society is about 50. It was at onetime 
quite a thriving church, and they had a very grace- 
ful, neat little edifice. The building has fallen into 
decay, and is sadly out of repair. Many of the 
members have gone away, and others have ceased to 
attend the church. 



— -iS ^ ' • ' ^ • ♦ '{iQc- — 
HALE TOWNSHIP. 

I^ALE is situated in the western tier of town- 
ships, and is numbered 10 nortli, of range 
3, west. Its northern boundary is Sumner 
townsliip, on the east lies Monmouth, on the 
south Tompkins township and on the west Hen- 
derson County. The first election after township or- 
ganization had been adopted, was held April 4, 1854, 
in school house number i. Wm. Nast presided as 
Moderator, and \V. S. VVier, (l\^rkp(o tern. Upon a 
vote being taken for tliese offi( ers, Wm. Cannon was 
chosen Moderator, and S. W. Rodgers, Clerk. Fifty- 
nine votes were cast at this election, which resulted 
in the choice of Wm. Fleming for Supervisor, Wm. 
Clark, Clerk, B. B. Findley, Assessor, J. C. Ward, 
Collector, G. H. Smaley and Andrew Jenkins. High- 
way Commissioners, T. F. Lowther and W. S. \Vier, 
Justices of the Peace; Ira A. Palmer and I). Vanfleet 
Constables. 

The first act of the Commissioners of the High- 




ways was to levy a tax of 20 cents on the $100, for 
the improvement of roads. 

The territory now occupied by Hale township was 
settled about as early as any jiart of the county. 
Adam Ritchey, Sr., with his wife, Elizabeth, were the 
first settlers. They located near Sugar Tree Grove, 
in 1828. Here he erected a cabin and began his im- 
[irovements. This family was large enough to have 
witliin themselves social amusement and compan- 
ionship, and to relieve pioneer life from that dreary 
loneliness, usually one of its unavoidable and un- 
pleasant features. There was Adam, Jr. John, Ab- 
igail, Martha, Elizabeth, Matthew, Caroline and 
James, Ritchey. Take them altogether they formed 
cpiite a little colony, and soon made their impression 
in the townsliip. Adam Ritchey died many years 
ago, and was buried in the Ritchey burying-ground. 
His widow, Elizabeth, moved to Iowa, where she 
subsequently died. David Findley and Thomas 
Campbell came to this settlement in 1829. In 1830, 
Joiin Kendall and wife, Elizabeth, William and Samuel 
Gibson, with their wives, James Jenkins, wife and 
cliildren and James Maley and wife, added their 
numbers to the settlement. Soon after came John 
Caldwell, wife and three children, John W., Eleanor 
and Martha, and located on section 1 1. Tlie Cald- 
wells were from Bedford Co., Pa. John Caldwell 
was a man of great force of character, and took an 
active part in the affairs of the county. He was one 
of the leaders in the establishment of the Associate 
Church at Sugar Tree Grove, and was one of the first 
Elders. His wife died at an early day, and he 
joined her in the other world in December, 1865. 
Eleanor married John Black. Both she and Martha 
are dead. John W. Caldwell is living at Monmouth. 
(See biography.) 

To this settlement was added in October, 1831, 
William Paxton, wife and seven children. They 
came from Xenia, Oliio, and located on section 2. 
The names of the children were: W. S., John S., 
Thomas M., Jane L., Ann, Margaret F., and Mary 
E. Mr. Paxton took an active part in the public af- 
fairs of the township, and was an upright and worthy 
citizen. He died in March, 1861, at iiis home. His 
wife had preceded him, departing this life in Jan- 
uary, 1845. Thomas M. is living on the place; 
John S. is in Iowa; William S. is living at Mon- 
mouth. (See biography.) The daughters are all 



■H- 



V 



4; 



</j 



■ Y- 

WARREN COUNTY. 



^-^ 



72s 



--* 



4 



dead but Margaret, who is living in Sumner Town- 
ship. 

The next addition to this township was William 
Turnbull, his wife and two sons, Alexander and Gil- 
bert, and their families, who came in 1832. They 
located on sections 19 and 30. Mr. Turnbull was a 
native of Scotland, and had emigrated to this country 
soon after the close of the Revolution, settling first 
in Tennessee. Unable to reconcile himself with the 
institution of slavery, he left Tennessee in 1808, 
and settled in Ohio. From Ohio he came to Warren 
County. He was a man of marked character and 
great religious zeal. He died at his home in Hale 
Township, in 1835. 

Gilbert moved to Henderson County, where he 
died in 1851. Alexander died in Hale Township in 
1856. David Turnbull followed his father from 
Ohio, in 1833, and settled one mile north of Mon- 
mouth. He afterward moved into Hale Township, 
and located near Sugar Tree Grove. He died in 
Monmouth, at the residence of his son, John M., in 
1871. (See biography of John M.) 

William TurnbuU's home in Tennessee was near 
Nashville, and joined that of Andrew Jackson. Gen- 
eral Jackson came in after the Turnbulls had set- 
tled. He had at that day but little of this world's 
effects; a light wardrobe and a few law books em- 
braced all of his earthly possessions, but he had a 
strong, bold spirit and an indomitable will, which 
was good capital to begin life's struggles with. He 
had paid out his last copper to procure his passage 
to tliis place, his future home, and had no money to 
pay for the hauling of his baggage, small as it was, 
to his house. This future soldier, statesman and 
president was here alone in the world, penniless, 
friendless, and did not know to whom he might ap- 
peal for aid. He fortunately met Mr., Turnbull, 
made known to him his situation, who readily let 
him have the money to relieve him of his embarrass- 
ment. This generous act to a stranger attached 
young Jackson to his benefactor, Mr. Turnbull, and 
they ever afterward were warm friends. 

It might be of interest to the reader to mention at 
this point in the history of this township an incident 
connected with the life of Gen. Jackson, as related 
by Wm. Turnbull, in which he to some extent figures, 
the full and correct account of which probably has 
never appeared in print. 



Some years after Gen. Jackson came to Nashville, 
he being involved in a quarrel, which finally resulted 
in a duel. It grew out of a difficulty which oc- 
curred at a horse-race, between Gen. Jackson and a 
young lawyer by the name of Swann, who had re- 
cently come into the State from Virginia. The race 
was for $2,000, and Gen. Jackson had brought for- 
ward his favorite steed, Truxton, to win the stakes. 
Some angry words arose between the General and 
young Swann, which resulted in the latter sending a 
challenge. Gen. Jackson refused to accept the 
challenge on the ground that Swann was not a gen- 
tleman, but turned and struck him with his cane. 
Charles Dickinson, who was also a lawyer, and a 
man of prominence took up young Swann's quarrel, 
challenged Jackson, and insisted on an immediate 
fight. William Turnbull hearing of the trouble and 
discovering Jackson in the woods practicing with his 
pistol, approached him and with all the religious 
zeal for which his countrymen were noted, labored 
long and earnestly with the General, trying to per- , 
suade him from accepting the challenge. Previous 
to this affair Jackson was wont to practice with his 
pistols for hours in the woods. Turnbull discover- , 
ing this, reprimanded him for his lack of true. Chris- 
tian principle, telling him that it was not consistent 
with his religious views. Jackson would reply, that 
it was not, but that he had to be prepared to live 
under the " code " or he could not stay in Tennes- 
see. In reply to Mr. Trumbull's remonstrance Gen. 
Jackson said: "That he could not live there unless 
he accepted the challenge ; that if he refused to 
accept it he must leave the country." He told Mr. 
Turnbull, however, referring to the duel, that he did 
not intend to shoot Mr. Dickinson; that above other 
considerations, he (Dickinson) had a wife and child 
whom he had great regard for. 

The challenge sent by Mr. Dickinson was finally 
accepted by Gen. Jackson. The duel was to take 
place at a day's ride from Nashville, in Kentucky. 
Jackson left with his friends for the appointed place. 
Dickinson arose early in the morning, and kissing 
his innocent, sleeping child, and taking leave of his 
beautiful young wife, saying, " good-bye, darling, I 
will be sure to be at home to-morrow night," started 
on his fatal journey. After a day's joi;rney, the 
two parties arrived near the grounds. They p.issed 
the night at farm houses about two miles from each 
other. The opponents met at the designated place, 



lAr: 



V 



^ 



i* 



4 



726 



WARREN COUNTY. 



which was in a grove, early Tuesday morning, May 
30, i8o6. The arrangements were duly made. The 
duelists were to face each other at 24 feet, with pis- 
tols drawn, and at the word " fire " were to discharge 
tiieir weapons. Gen. Jackson had informed his 
friends of the course he intended to pursue. Dick- 
inson was known as a dead shot, and he said it was 
useless for him to contend against him. He would 
receive the fire of his antagonist and hold his own. 
As the sun rose sending its warm spring rays through 
the young and tender draperies of the trees, and 
while the wild, beautiful birds were offering up their 
sweet notes of praise, these human beings faced 
each other with drawn weapons, one at least intent 
on murder. The signal was given and the report of 
the i)istol rang out through the clear morning air. 
When the smoke cleared away, Gen. Jackson was 
still standing apparently unhurt. He, as he had 
promised his friends, held his fire. His antagonist 
seeing him stand there raised up his hand and ex- 
claimed, " What, have I not killed the damn ? " 

Jackson on hearing this, calmly and deliberately lev- 
eled his weapon and fired. His antagonist fell with 
a fatal wound near the heart, from wliich he died in 
a few hours. 

The duelling party broke up. Jackson and his 
friends mounted their horses and turned their steps 
homeward, leaving the dying Dickinson with his 
party on the field. As Jackson and his party 
started homeward he told them that he did not in- 
tend to shoot Dickinson, but when he heard the ex- 
pression used by him, he considered it a reflection 
upon his mother, which he could not in any way 
overlook, or forgive. Riding by the side of the Gen- 
eral, the surgeon discovered blood running out of his 
boot. He made him at once dismount, and submit 
to an examination. On examination, the surgeon 
discovered that Gen. Jackson had received a very se- 
vere wound in the chest immediately over his heart. 
The ball which his antagonist had sent with so 
deadly an aim had struck one of his ribs, fracturing 
it and glancing off, thus saving the General's life. 
" General," asked the surgeon, " Itow could you with 
such a wound in your body, stand so calm and firm, 
and fire such a shot .' " His reply was : " I would 
have killed him had I been shot through the brain." 
This was a very strong illustration of the great nerve 
of Gen. Jackson, whicli was so prominently displayed 
in after years. 



David B. Findley was an early settler, moving in 
as early as 1832. He died in the summer of 1885. 
Albert Rockwell also came in 1832, with his brother, 
Alfred. Albert died in the fall of 1884. His brother 
is living on the old place. Bedford Ray settled in 
the townshij), on section 26. 

Several tamilies moved in from 1832 to 1836, 
among whom were Aleri Rodgers, wife and ten chil- 
dren, with Hamilton Roney, wife and children. 
Aleri Rodgers was originally from Rockbridge Co., 
Va., and he came to the township early in the spring 
of 1836, having previously lived awhile in Missouri. 
The names of the children were . John, Williaui, 
Andrew, Alexander, Mary, Joseph, Phebe, Isabelle, 
Samuel and Caroline. Four of these are living — 
Isabelle, Mary, Caroline and Samuel, and all in this 
country. Isabelle is residing in Monmouth. Aleri 
Rodgers was a prominent citiren of the township, 
and took a leading |)art in all public affairs. He 
was the first one to introduce the McCormick reaper 
into the county, which he brought witii him from' 
Virginia. He died, respected by all who knew him, 
Dec. 20, 1863 His widow survived him several 
years, joining him in that brighter world, July 3, 1879. 
Andrew was killed by the Indians in Oregon at the 
time of the Whitman massacre. 

Hamilton Roney, after residing here 37 years, 
moved back to Ohio with a part of his family, and 
settled near Dayton, where he died, March 3, 1881, 
in his 75th year. 

David B. Findley and Jane Ritchey were the first 
to join their hands for life's joys and sorrows, its 
hopes and struggles. This event occurred in 1829. 
This partnership began in the budding spring-time 
the most charming season in all the year; a season 
when the sweet wild flowers look up to greet you, 
when all nature puts on its new dress, the beautiful 
birds choose their mates, and the world looks bright, 
fresh and happy. 

David and Jane did not long for — 

■•.'>oMio brifjlit little isle of tlieir own. 
In a blue siiinnicr ocean far oil' and alime. 
Where a leaf never dies in the still blooming bowers. 
And the bee baii<iuets on tlirougli a whole year of 
llower.*." 

Hut they selected a little cottage in the township 
of Hale, and there, with their loving hearts, and sur- 
rounded by their friends, they commenced life's 
journey. To this couple alone is given the honor of 



•JKn. 



r 



4 



WARREJSr COUNTY 



HH- 



7*7 



producing a first native citizen of the township, in 
the person of James Madison, born in 1830. 

Martha Jenkins taught the first school in the 
township, in 1830. It was held in a little log cabin 
about half a mile north of the old Henderson 
Church. This is also claimed to be the first school 
in the county. Martha subsequently moved to Ore- 
gon, where she died. The first death in the town- 
ship was that of William TurnbuU, who died at his 
home in 1835. 

The first religious society was formed in Novem- 
ber, 1830. It was the Associate Church, and was or- 
ganized by Rev. James McCarroll, of the Western 
Mission. It was called the Henderson Church, and 
also known as the Sugar Tree Grove Church. John 
Caldwell and Adam Ritchey were the first Elders. 
There were 27 members forming the first congrega- 
tion, consisting of the Ritcheys, Kendalls, Gibsons, 
Jenkins, Findleys and Maley famiUes, and John 
Campbell. The first building put up for worship by 
this society, was 24 x 30 feet, in 1830, and was con- 
structed with logs. It was the first church build- 
ing erected in the county. In 1832 an addition was 
made, making the building 36 x 40. In 1837, a fine 
brick edifice was erected, 54 x 60, costing about 
$4,000. This became one of the noted buildings of 
the county, and people attended services here from 
nearly all tlie townships. It was known for a gen- 
eration as the "Old Brick Church," and is still spo- 
ken of with mournful affection. Having been used 
for nearly 40 years as a place of worship, it was con- 
sidered by some of the members that it ought to be 
torn down and a new building erected. Conse- 
quently it was razed by rude hands, and a more 
modern frame building put up in its place, possibly 
better adapted and more in consonance with modern 
religious ideas. 

Rev. James Bruce was the first pastor of this 
Church, taking charge in October, 1830. Members 
of this Church came from Little York, Sunbeam, 
North Henderson, Viola, Spring Grove, Monmouth, 
Kirkwood, Smith Creek and Pleasant Grove. Mr. 
Bruce remained with this congregation until October, 
1847, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Scott, 
who regularly took charge in 1849, and served for 
19 years, a remarkably long period. At the expira- 
tion of this engagement he moved to Monmouth, 
and took a Professorship in the College. Rev. Tlios. 
G. Morrow succeeded Mr. Scott, and remained until 



1872, when Rev. David A. Wallace took charge, 
serving the congregation until 1876. Rev. David 
McDill was then called, and remained until 1884, 
and then the Rev. R. J. Davidson, the present pas- 
tor, assumed charge. During Mr. Bruce's term 
there were admitted annually, an average of 25 
members, and during Mr. Scotts' term 15 members. 

In 1858,-the Synods of the Reformed and Asso- 
ciate Presbyterian met at Pittsburgh, Pa., and the 
union between the two branches was consummated 
under the name of the United Presbyterians. This 
action was approved by the Henderson congrega- 
tion, and about the year i860, they adopted the same 
name. The present membership of this Church is 
about 70, and in addition to other services they have 
a large and interesting Sunday-school. 

From 1836, there was a steady influx of settlers, 
until the land was all taken up. The township was 
regarded as one of the best in the county for agri- 
cultural purposes, and it ranks among the first for 
stock raising. The land is nearly all rolling prairie, 
is rich and easily cultivated. There is not a poor 
farm in it, and but few poor dwellings, while there 
are very many fine ones. It is watered by Cedar 
Creek and its branches and some otlier little streams. 
The St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad cuts across the southwest corner, 
and the Iowa Central conies in at the northwest cor- 
ner, running along the Eastern line, and passes out 
on section 25. The people do their trading mostly 
at Monmouth; some, however, go to Kirkwood. The 
census of 1880 gives the population at 1,041, and 
this is about the number at the present day. 

The following information regarding the schools of 
the township, is obtained from the County Superin- 
tendent's report for the year ending June 30, 1885 : 
There were eight school districts, with one brick and 
seven frame buildings. The school property was val- 
ued at $4,625. Of persons under 21 years of age, 
there were 403, of whom 314 were of scholastic 
age, 219 being enrolled. The highest wages paid 
teachers was $65 per month, and the lowest $25. 
The tax levy for this township was $2,735. 

The Assessor's report for the year 1885, furnished 
the following information : 

Number of acres of improved land, 23,009; value 
of improved lands, $344,450; number of horses, 
981; cattle, 2,094; mules and asses, 27; hogs, 



"T 



-S1J<1 



¥ 



4= 



728 



■ V. . " 

WARREN COUNTY. 



-^-3!> 



3,686 ; steam engines, i ; carriages and wagons, 357 ; 
watches and clocks, 214; sewing and knitting ma- 
chines, 102 ; pianos, 10; melodeons and organs, 24. 
Total cash value of personal property, $80,328. 

The township has honored the citizens whose 
names appear below, with the office of Supervisor : 

SUPERVISORS. 



Wm. Flcmine 1854 

John R. Gr.iham 1855 

David Turnbull 1855 

John Urown 1857 

David Turnbull 1858-60 

Edward Hums 1861 

Newton liarr 1862 

David Turnbull 1863-5 

Lcander I-'indley 1866 

Hugh Nash 1867 



David Turnbull 1868-70 

Newton IJarr . . . . 1871 

H. G. Lord 1872 

John N. Carson 1873 

Newton I!arr 1874-5 

C. M. Rodgers 1876-80 

Newton Barr 1881 

C. M. RodEcrs i88« 

J. N. McKelvey 1883-4 

D. A. Turnbull 1885 



^^ 




4 



KELLY TOWNSHIP. 

g^ELLY Townsliip is located in the north- 
east corner of the county, and is numbered 
12 north, of range r west. Mercer County 
lies on the north, Kno.x County on the east. 
Cold Brook on the south and Spring Grove 
Township on the west. The territory now 
embraced by this township was settled as early as 
any other portion of the county. James B. Atwood 
was the first pioneer to move in and make a home 
here, which was in the early part of 1828. He lo- 
cated on section 27. Mr. Atwood sold his place to 
Edmund Adcock, a few months later, and moved 
away. Mr. Adcock and family came from Bucking- 
ham Co., Va. He was born Nov. 23, 1800, and died 
May 7, 1859, at the old farm. His son, J. W., now 
owns and lives on the place. Andrew Robison 
with wife and six children, moved in Sept. 20, 1829, 
and settled on section 33. He subsequently ascer- 
tained that he had located on land that had been 
bought by David Ingersol, and he moved to section 
31. (See biography.) The land they first settled on 
is now occupied by the cemetery. Mr. Atwood was 
the only settler in the township when the Robisons 
came in, and at that time there were no settlers in 
Spring Grove Township. Andrew Robison died at 
his home Aug. 6, 1849, and Nancy, his widow, at the 
same place, March 15, 1876. William A. Lair came 
in October, 1832, and located a home on section 
30; he is now dead. B. H. Gardner, from Kentucky, 
came into the county in 1834, spent the winter in 



Monmouth Township and made his location in Kelly, 
on section 30, in the spring of 1835. James Brown 
came in 1830, settling on section 25; Mr. Brown is 
now dead. He served in the Black Hawk War. 

Of the other settlers that came in from 1829 to 
1835, there were David Ingersol, wife and six 
children — James, Jane, Anna, Nellie, Adelina and 
Thomas, who was a baby; Henry and John Peck- 
empaugh, William Lair, Stephen Mitchell, John Mil- 
ler, Henry and Edward Martin, James Stevens, John 
Miles, George and James Brown, Ezekiel and Olive 
Terpeniiig and Calvin Glass, with their familes. 
Hiram Ingersol, son of David Ingersol, followed his 
father in the latter part of 1835. Mr. Ingersol is 
living with his wife neai Alexis. His father died 
July TO, 1842, at the old homestead; his mother 
many years before. From this nucleus grew a large 
and prosperous settlement. 

The first child born in the township and the first 
female child said to be born in the county, was Mar- 
garet Ann, daughter of Andrew and Nancy Robison, 
Nov. I, 1829, and was their seventh child. This 
daughter married James Gardner, in May, 1852. 
She, with her husband, are still living on section 2, 
in Cold Brook Township. 

During the early days of the settlement, many of 
the seasons appeared to have been backward and 
cold, the natural results of which were light crops. 
By planting the Indian maize, commonly called 
"scjuaw corn," which they procured from the Indians, 
they succeeded in raising a fair crop, as this species 
of corn matured much earlier than any other. They 
would also use the maize for re-planting when the 
other corn did not come up. The winter of 1830 
and 183 1 was long and cold and there was much 
suffering in the new settlements. A deep snow fell 
in December, and the corn had not been harvested 
at this time. The settlements were isolated from 
each other, and it was hazardous for the settlers to 
pass from one house to another, and often it was at- 
tended with frozen feet or other parts of the body. 

At this time there was but one mill in the county, 
known as Smith's mill, which was about two miles 
east of Oquawka. Hand mills and mortars were 
brought into requisition, corn was dug from beneath 
the snow, dried, placed in the mortar, pounded into 
meal and then cooked and placed before the cold 
and hungry families. There was but little stock, 



LAr 



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~' . ■](■ 

WAJiREN CO UN 7 Y. 



^ 



729 



and what there was took care of itself. The stock 
near the bottoms, or about the timber, got along tol- 
erably well and very few died. This winter was alike 
hard on the Indians. The watercourses were heav- 
ily crusted with ice, upon which laid a deep body of 
snow, which made it impossible for them to procure 
fish. The feathery tribes had sought Southern 
climes and the deer had gone to other and more con- 
genial quarters. 

The first grist mill was put up by Calvin Glass, in 
1832, on the banks of the Henderson, on section 12. 
It was rather a primitive arrangement; nevertheless, 
it was very welcome to the pioneers of that day, and 
much better than the mortar, which they had often 
used to pound up their corn. It was run by water- 
power, but the power was none too strong, and the 
bolting was done by hand-power. The second mill 
was started by Chester Potter, and was located on 
the banks of the main Henderson, section 22. 

The people in the early days traded at Monmouth, 
■ Kno.xville, Oquawka and Old Hendersonville, as it 
was called. 

There were some interesting political contests even 
in that early day. The elections were held at Rob- 
ison Corners, until the township organization system 
was adopted. This was where the corners of Mon- 
mouth, Cold Brook, Spring Grove and Kelly Town- 
ships came together. The settlers were not without 
their religious entertainments. Preachers from dif- 
ferent denominations came in and held forth, some- 
times in school-houses and sometimes at private 
residences. Elder Haney was among the first to 
expound the gospel according to the Methodist be- 
lief. They were not so particular then as now as to 
what day they worshipped. Whenever a preacher 
would come around to administer religious food, 
they would assemble to partake of the feast at some 
school-house or private residence, and there be en- 
tertained with graphic descriptions of the beauties of 
Heaven and the terrors of hell. These old pioneer 
preachers were ardent workmen and very radical in 
their views. There was no half-way house for them 
to slop at, and a member of their congregation who 
was heterodox or sought a road to Heaven, smooth in 
its course and lined with flowers, had no sympathy 
from them. Caleb Smith's house was a favorite 
place for holding these meetings. Sometimes Sister 
Smith would be spinning when the meetings were 
held. This supplied the pUce of a choir, and the 



music of her wheel would go on while the exhorter 
was entertaining the audience with his most eloquent 
passages. Mrs. Smith, who was a very industrious 
woman, thought that she could not give up her en- 
tire time to the religious services, and, therefore, 
kept her wheel in motion, having always one ear to- 
ward the preacher. 

The first school in this township was taught by 
Peter Terpening, in 1837, in a log school-house 
which stood on section 28. He was the son of 
Ezekiel and Olive Terpening, who were early set- 
tlers. Ezekiel Terpening died July 16, 1864, aged 
82 years, and his widow, Olive, Feb. 8, 1867, aged 
79 years. It was along the road by the Adcock 
farm, that the troops, some 1,600 in number, passed 
on their way to Rock Island, during the first Black 
Hawk War, in 1831. 

In 1839, the Methodist Episcopal Church was 
organized. They held their meetings for many years 
in private houses and in school buildings. In 187", 
a church building was erected at a cost of $2,500, at 
Utah, which was formerly called Tylerville. A 
church building was also erected at Ionia, which 
place is also known by the name of Shanghai. The = 
societies have been served by many pastors, the last 
being Mr. Bolen. 

A Second Advent Church was started at Ionia in 
1857, with some rs members. In 1867 they erected 
their first building, at a cost of about $2,800. It 
was a very good frame structure. The first Pastor 
was Rev. Guy Rathborne, who remained with the 
Church several years. In May, 1868, this building 
was demolished by the great tornado which visited 
this place, but was rebuilt at a cost of about $1,400. 
Services are held regularly by this society, which 
has a membership of about 60 and also an interest- 
ing Sunday-school. At one time there were stores 
in Ionia, and a good trade was carried on here, but 
when the railroad came through, and a station was 
made at Alexis, its business was destroyed and only 
a postoffice now remains. 

There were one or two stores also at Tylerville. 
The merchants who located here have sought richer 
fields for trading, and their buildings are deserted. 
Tylerville still has a postoffice, known as Utah, and 
has John Landon for its Postmaster. It is located 
in the southeast corner of section 34. 

A meeting was held for the organization of the 
township of Kelly, April 4, 1854, at the Tylerville 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



school-house. This meeting was organized by the 
appointment of William Graham as Moderator, and 
E. C. Atchison, Clerk. The result of the election 
was as follows: John Miles was elected Supervisor; 
John Terpening, Assessor; Ira S. Ingersol, Col- 
lector; Samuel Black, Overseer of the Poor; James 
Stevens and \V. J. T. Wallace, Commissioners of 
Highways ; Aaron Yarde, G. C. Adcock and Chris- 
tian Mills, Justices of the Peace ; David Vestal and 
Nathan Smith, Constables. 

There was quite a little contest about the name of 
this township. The Democrats wanted it named 
after Capt. John Kelly, and the Whigs after William 
Graham. Finally the Democrats were successful 
and the naming of the township was given to them. 

The St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quincy Railroad passes near the northwest corner 
of this township. 

Kelly is watered by Henderson Creek and its 
branches. A large portion of the land is undulating, 
with broad level fields. The southwest portion is 
quite broken in places and contains much fine tim- 
ber. People do most of their trading at Ale.xis; 
> some, however, go to Galesburg. 

The population of this township in 1880 was 1,135, 
and it will not vary much from these figures at the 
present time. 

According to the County Superintendent's report 
for the year ending June 30, 1885, there were eight 
school districts, with eight frame buildings. The 
school property was valued at $3,760. Of persons 
under 2 1 years of age, there were 47 8, of whom there 
were 333 of scholastic age, 239 being enrolled. The 
highest wages paid teachers was $45 per month, and 
the lowest $25. The ta.\ levy for this townsliip was 
$1,950. 

SUPERVISORS. 



John Mills 1854 

Thos. Bannington 1855 

Wm. Graham 1856-65 

Joseph Pine 1866-7 

Wm. Graham 1868-70 

J. W. .\dcock 1871-3 



Joseph I*ine 1874 

M. McCuUock 1875-f, 

Nathan Crane 1877-8 

John Ruckcr 1879-81 

C. E. Johnson 1883 

John Rncker 1883-5 



LENOX TOWNSHIP. 

HIS township completed its organization 
April 4, 1854, holding its election in the 
school-house in District No. i. Ebenezer 
Landon was chosen Chairman ; Norman Mat- 
teson, Moderator ; B. F. Wiggins, Clerk. 
There were 19 votes cast at this election, the 
result of which was as follows : Porter Phelps was 




chosen Supervisor; B. F, Wiggins, Clerk; Norman 
Matteson, Assessor ; S. Carmer, Collector ; E. Lan- 
Lon, Overseer of the Poor; C. C. Dickson, Jacob 
Jewell and C. Lucas, Commissioners of Highways ; 
James M. Dickson and Jacob Jewell, Justices of the 
Peace; M. Landon and S. Dickson, Constables; 
J. Oglesby was chosen Path Master for the south 
district, and Luther Robinson for the north district. 
Messrs. Carmer, Wiggins, Landon, Dickson (Consta- 
bles) failed to qualify and a special election was held 
June 13 to fill their places. N. Matteson was chosen 
Clerk; S. Carmer, Collector; Ebenezer Landon, 
Overseer of the Poor; and Enoch Hawkins and 
Sanford Carmer, Constables. It was organized un- 
der the name of Ripley, but was changed the year 
following to Lenox. It is numbered 10 north of 
range 2 west. 

J. W. Bond and family were the first settlers in 
the township. They came in 1833 and located on 
section 18. (See biography). Seth Murphy and 
Ephraim Smith came in 1836, the former settling on 
section 35 and the latter on section 36. With them 
came their families. Mr. Murphy was from Ken- 
tucky and Mr. Smith from Ohio. Mr. Murphy died 
at the old homestead, and his wife in Monmouth. 
Mrs. Smith died on the old farm, and her husband 
moved to Abingdon, where he died a few years ago. 
Porter Phelps and family, from New York, moved 
into the township in 1837, and located on section a, 
where, after a long life of usefulness, he died on the 
14th day of April, 1885. His wife, Mary Ellen 
Phelps, died July 26, 1884. They reared a family 
of eiglit children, six of whom are still living. Mr. 
Phelps was a prominent man, not only in his town- 
ship but also in the county. He was an ardent 
patriot and a true hearted Christian, having a pas- 
sionate love for liberty, home and his country. He 
was an intellectual man, fond of study, and books of 
poetry, philosopliy and metaphysics. With a warm 
and tender heart, and strong attachments for his 
friends and neighbors, he died regretted by all who 
knew iiim, in his 82d year. (See biography). 

Jesse Riggs was one of the early settlers of the 
county, but did not locate in Lenox Township until 
1840, when, with his family, he moved in, locating 
on section 35, where he still lives. (See biography.) 
In the latter part of 1840 Garland Ray moved into 
the township, from Roseville, witii his wife and ten 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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7.^' 



children, two sons and eight daughters. Mr. Ray 
died at his home, in April, 1882. His wife had died 
many years before. His son, James W., died while 
on a visit to Missouri. M. B. is living on section 
20. His daughters, Ann, Harriet, Henrietta and 
Letlia, are dead. Clarinda Jane, Julia Ann, Susan 
and Elizabeth were married. Susan lives in Idaho ; 
Clarinda Jane and Julia Ann, in this county, and 
Elizabeth in Henderson County. 

James Dickson was also an early settler, locating, 
with his family, on section 31. He died some years 
ago, and his children moved away. Mathew Arm- 
strong was another early settler, locating in the north- 
western part of the township. The children during 
the early days attended school in Roseville Town- 
ship. 

In the early part of 187 1, the Rockford, Rock 
Island & St. Louis R. ,R. Company laid its line 
through the township. It runs directly north and 
south, a mile east of the western line. This line is 
' now controlled by the C. B. & Q. R. R. Company. 
The Iowa Central completed its track through the 
township in 1883. It enters in the northern part of 
the township on section 3, and runs along the east- 
ern line, passing out on section 22. 

This township is watered by the Henderson 
Branch and its tributaries, which heads in section 10, 
running westerly, and Cedar Creek, which runs south- 
easterly. The nature of the land is rolling, with 
level prairies. There never was much timber in the 
township, and there is hardly an acre of ground 
which cannot be easily plowed. The principal grains 
are oats, hay and corn. The latter is cultivated ex- 
tensively. It is probably the largest grain-producing 
township in the county. Certainly there is no town- 
ship that can present any finer farms, farm buildings 
and dwellings. There are two railroad stations in 
the township, Phelps and Larchland, which afford 
the people mail facilities, trading and shipping. 

PHELPS. 

There is a station on the Iowa Central R. R. line, 
in this township, on section 13, named after Hon. 
Delos P. Phelps, who is prominently connected with 
this road. The first freight train stopping at Phelps 
was from Peoria, and it arrived April 16, 1883, and 
discharged a car load of lumber. The Methodist 
I Church has an organization here, holding their meet- 
ings in the school house, near the station. Services 



are held every two weeks, and are presided over by 
Rev. G. B. Snedaker, who also serves the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at West Prairie. 

In 1880 the census reports gave Lenox Township 
a population of 992 souls. It is not thouglit that 
there has been any material change since that time. 

The County Superintendent in her report for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, gives the follow- 
ing information regarding the schools of this township: 
There were eight school districts, with one brick and 
seven frame buildings ; the school property was val- 
ued at $6,900. Of persons under 21 years of age, 
there were 321, of whom 258 were of scholastic age; 
218 being enrolled. The highest wages paid teach- 
ers was $40 per month ; and the lowest $20. The 
tax levy for this year was $2,619 46. 

West Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church. — A 
class of this society was formed in the fall of 1856, 
at the house of Joseph Amie. John Shelton, Evan 
Ewan and wife, Joseph Amie and wife, were mem- 
bers of this class, which was organized by the Rev. 
Frank Chaffee. Meetings were held in the school 
house and at private residences until the year 1863, 
when they erected a house of worship, which was 
located on the southwest quarter of section 29, at a 
cost of $2,000. It was dedicated by Rev. Hender- 
son Ritchey, who was the first child born in the 
county. This society was known as the West Prairie 
Church. Rev. Franklin Chaffee was the first pastor. 
In i860 they had a great revival, which largely in- 
creased their membership. This was during the Rev. 
Mr. Elliott's pastorate. Succeeding Mr. Chaffee 
were respectively Revs. Crosier, Beck, Elliott, Sulli- 
van, Carruthers, Farris, Coe, Couch, Fowler, Ells- 
worth, Brown, Ailsworth and Winsor. The present 
pastor is Rev. G. B. Snedaker, with a membership 
of about 25. Their building is a plain, substantial 
and commodious structure. Connected with the so- 
ciety is a Sabbath School. 

From the Assessor's report of 1885, the following 
items are taken : Number of acres of improved 
lands, 22,296 ; value of improved lands, $368,760; 
value of lots, $[,955 ; number of horses, 770; cattle, 
931; asses and mules, 16; sheep, 22; hogs, 3,068; 
steam engines, 2 ; carriages and wagons, 265 ; 
watches and clocks, 138; sewing and knitting ma- 
chines, 97 ; melodeons and organs, 25. Total cash 
value of personal property, $53,924. 
A • 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



The following citizens who have represented this 
township as Supervisors, are : 



Porter Phelps 1854-63 

Zepiieniah Lewis 1864.65 

G. M. Saylcr 186668 

J. W. liriilenthal ... . 1^69. 73 

£van Ewan 1874 

D, R. Smith 1875 

Evan Kwan 1876 

U, R. .Smith 1877 



-f^4=f 



G. M. Sayler 1878.79 

J. \V. Robertson 1880 

U. M. Saylcr 1881 

T L. Capps 1882 

J T Lewis 1883 

T. L. Capps 1884 

H. T. Jewell r88s 



f=r«- 




Ijarchland. 

ARCHLAND is the railroad station of the 
St. Louis Branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R., 
situated near the southwest corner of Len- 
O^ ox Township. It was formerly called Lenox 
I**) and was started after the completion of the 
■ : railroad. Larchland is quite a shipping point 
for grain, which is handled chiefly by J. H. Robert- 
son, who has an elevator. John Hodgson has a large 
general store and carries on an extensive business, 
and is also the Postmaster. Tlie first Postmaster 
here was Henry Redant, who was appointed in 1870. 
He was succeeded by J. M. Young, and Mr. Young 
by Mr. Hodgson. 

There is also a blacksmith and wagon shop here. 
Larchland has constructed recently a fine new school 
house wliich is a very creditable building. Having 
secured a good building, they next provided a good 
teacher to instruct their children, and have now a 
first-class village school, with a good large attend- 
ance. 

Churches. 



The Methodist Prolcslant Church. There are two 
of these societies at this .Station ; one called Liberty 
Chapel, and the other Grace Chapel. \\\ 1863, a 
class was organized at the school house, about two 
miles west of this village, which was called Prospect 
Chapel. It was afterward changed to Liberty Chapel. 
This class under tlie administration of the Rev. S. 
M. Davidson, erected a church building, in 1869, and 
through the zeal of the pastor, was enabled to com- 
plete it at a cost of $1,800. The lot on which this 
house of worship was erected was presented by 



Joshua O. Talbot. Size of the building, 25x40 feet. 
It was dedicated by Rev. C. Gray, of the North Il- 
linois Annual Conference, in Nov. 1869, and named 
Liberty Chapel, by Joshua O. Talbot. They have 
also a good parsonage adjoining the church building, 
which was built at a cost of S'i°oo. The first regu- 
lar pastor was Daniel McCormick, in 1863. Rev. 
Thomas Rook served from 1864 to 1865, and John 
Brook from 1866 to 1867 ; Rev. S. N. Davidson, 
from 1868 to 1869. These were followed respect- 
ively, each serving from one to two years, by Revs. 
J. L. Bortan, W. Williams, W. J. Stubbles, M. Handy, 
James N. Mayall, Thomas Keely, J. W. Kidd. Rev. 
John A. Richard is the present pastor, who presides 
over a membership of 74. 

Grace Chapel. A revival meeting was held in 
Larchland, in 1876, which resulted in the increase 
of members of this church and the establishment of 
an organization here. A meeting of the members 
was called, at which it was decided to purchase the 
old Presbyterian Churcli building, that society hav- 
ing been disbanded, and offering their house for sale. 
It was bought for $300, and sold on condition that 
religious services would be continued there. The 
membership of both Chapels is 74, and they are pre- 
sided over by the same pastor. This is the only or- 
ganization of the Methodist Protestant Church in 
the country. Services are held at Liberty Chapel in 
the morning, and at Grace Chapel in the afternoon 
of each Sunday. A good Sabbath-school is continued 
at both places of worship the year around. J. W. 
Barber and his wife, Mary A., are the only members 
now living that were present at the first organization 
of this church. This organization in Warren County 
originated from the Honey Creek Circuit in Henderson 
County, which was established Oct. 24, 1857, Rev. 
Madison Haney being the first pastor, and Wilson 
Nichols assistant. This same year, a class was or- 
ganized at Ellison. 

During the tornado of 1858, while Elder Haney 
was out riding on Circuit duty, and coming toward 
his home at Ellison, his wife who was at that place 
was severely injured. Mr. Haney was the organizer 
of this church in Warren County. The Station in 
Lenox Township beU)ngs to the North Illinois Con- 
ference, of which Rev. W. W. Williams, who resides 
at Cuba, Fulton Co. 111., is president. 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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MONMOUTH TOWNSHIP. 

•■ rf g^ljONMOUTH was organized as a township 
.'iisAiaS: April 4, 1854, taking its name from the 
* city of Monmouth, which is situated with- 
iV^'^^ in its territory. The election was held at 
the court house with John Leeper as Modera- 
tor, and B. F. Corwin, Clerk. At this meeting 
the following named citizens were elected the town- 
ship officers : Joseph Whitman, Supervisor; Samuel 
Wood, Assessor; James McCoy, Collector; A. S.Gil- 
bert, Clerk ; A. C. Cregg, Overseer of the Poor ; C. 
W. Hunnicutt and W. N. Smith, Justices of the 
Peace ; James McCoy, Constable ; C. V. Brooks, R. 
S. Hall, and James McKemson, Commissioners of 
Highway. 

This township is numbered 11 north of range 2 
west, and is bounded by Spring Grove on the north, 
' Cold Brook on the east, Lenox on the south, and on 
the west lies Hale Township. 

It is pretty well watered by Cedar Creek, and its 
numerous little tributaries, which afford also ample 
drainage facilities. The face of the land is mostly 
undulating, with some level prairies. The soil is rich 
and susceptible of high cultivation. Bordering the 
streams there is a very liberal growth of timber, and 
within the township are some very fine groves. 
Three railroad lines pass through it ; the main line 
of the C. B. & Q. R; R. enters on section 36, deflects 
a little to the northward and passes through sections 
26, 27, 28, 29 and 31. The St. Louis branch enters 
between sections 2 and 3, runs south through the 
city of Monmouth and passes out of the township 
on section 31. The Iowa Central passes diagonally 
across the southwest corner. 

Mrs. Talbott and son, from Kentucky, were the 
first settlers in the township, and the county, in 1827, 
locating on section 2. Mrs. Talbott died in Mon- 
mouth, about the year 1849, aged 80 years, and John 
B., mentioned very often in the history of this 
county, moved to Oregon in 1850, and was living then 
near the mouth of the Columbia River. With the 
Talbotts came Allen G. Andrews, who settled on 
Cedar Creek, section 6. He was an educated man 



and a good Spanish scholar, and took a prominent 
part in the public affairs of the township and county. 
He died at his home some years ago. 

Abraham Swartz and wife came in April, 1829, lo- 
cating about a mile north of Monmouth. They moved 
soon afterward to Knox County. Daniel McNeil, 
Jr., John Pence, Joel Hargrove, Isaac Hodgins and 
Robert Wallace moved in, in the early part of 1830. 
During this year also came Hezekiah Davidson, wife 
and ro children — Alexander, Elijah, Helena, Irene, 
Benjamin F., James W., Cornelia Ann, Solomon P., 
Ellen S. and Thomas H. They located on section 
16. Of this family only Thomas H. and James W. 
Davidson are living. (See biography of these two 
sons.) Later on William Causland, E. Rodgers, 
Adam (Black) Ritchey, cousin of Adam (Sandy) 
Ritchey, William Corwin and William S. Paxton 
were added to tiie settlement. 

Robert Wallace put up the first grist mill, or corn 
cracker, in the township. It was a small affair, and 
was located about four miles north of Monmouth. 
The next grist mill was put up by Aniel Rodgers, in 
1832. It was located about four miles north of Mon- 
mouth, on Cedar Creek, section 7. Mr. Rodgers af- 
terward sold out to Olmstead & Avery. It had two 
run of stone, and was a great accommodation to the 
people. Without this mill many a pioneer would 
have been deprived of the luxury of sitting down to a 
corn cake. In addition to the grist mill,a saw mill was 
put up and attached to this power, and considerable 
lumber was cut for the settlement. This mill was 
burned in 1837, and was subsequently rebuilt by Wm. 
S. Paxton, with an increased capacity of two stone. 
It is still running, and owned by Peter Oswell. It is 
claimed by some that Adam Ritchey built this mill 
and sold it to Aniel Rodgers. 

Monmouth Township is one of the most thoroughly 
cultivated and largest producing townships in this 
county. Its population, including Monmouth City, 
in 1880, was 6,420. It is estimated that there has 
been since that time an increase of 600. 

The early history of this township is so closely 
identified with that of the city of Monmouth, 
as well as that of the county, that it has been found 
difficult to separate the two, and for further particu- 
lars the reader is referred to the history af Monmouth 
and of Warren County. 

The County Superintendent in her report for the 



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WARRBN COUNTY. 



year ending June 30, 1885, has the following items 
regarding the public schools of the township: 

In the 15 districts there were 4 graded and 11 un- 
graded schools; 3 brick and 12 frame buildings, with 
a property valuation of ^291850. Of persons under 
21 years of age, there were 3,918, of whom 1,860 
were of scholastic age, 1,397 being enrolled. The 
highest wages paid teachers was $90, and the lowest 
was $25. The tax levy for this township was $12,- 
742.49. 

From the Assessor's report for the year 1885, the 
following items are taken : 

Number of acres of improved lands : 21,233; value 
of improved lands, $461,010; total value of lots, 
$578,210; number of horses, 1,286; cattle, 1,833; 
asses and males, 22 ; sheep, 143 ; hogs, 3,372 ; steam 
engines, 6; carriages and wagons, 506; watches and 
clocks, 455; sewing and knitting machines, 404; 
pianos, 158; melodeons and organs, 116; total cash 
value of personal property, $325,178. 

Monmouth has honored the following citizens with 
the office of Supervisor : 



SUPERVISORS. 



Josiah Whitman 

Samuel Hallam 

J. Leeper 

Hiram Norcross 

John G. Wilson 

Samuel Hallam 

Samuel Hallam i 

Josiah Whitman, Asst 

Josiah Whitman 

John lirown, Asst 

James '1 . Owens 

Wm. Ci.irk, Asst 

George Sickmon .... 
Wm. P. Sykes, Asst.. 

John t;. Wilson 

John F. Owens, Asst. 

'I'hos. .Avcrell 

N. A. Rankin, Asst.. 

N. k. Rankin 

W. A. Grant, Asst... 

W. A. Grant 

C. v. Brooks, Asst 

W. A. Grant 



■854 
,855 
1856 
1857.8 

'859 
1860-1 
862-63 
i85j-3 
1864 
1864 
1865 
.1865 
1866 
1866 
1867-8 
1897-8 
,1869 
1869 
1870 
1870 
.87. 
1871 
1872 



Amos Kurford, Asst 1873 

Chancy Hardin 1873-4 

Ale.\. Rankin, Asst J873-4 

Chancy Hardin 1875 

John H. Meginnis, Asst. .1875 

Geo. Sickmons 1876-7 

Samuel l>ouglas 1878 

O. S. Uarnum, Asst 1878 

Samuel Douglas 1879 

Alex. Rankin, Asst 1879 

Samuel Douglas 1880 

Geo. Sickmon, .-Vsst .. .1880 

Samuel Douglas 1881 

Amos Purford, Asst 1881 

C. .'\. Dunn 1882 

C. 1'. Averill, Asst 1882 

J. R. llanna 1883 

A. T. liruncr, Asst 1883 

Sipher Moses 1884 

A T. Bruncr, Asst 1884 

G. W. Claycomb 1885 

A. T, Hruner, Asst 1885 



^--(^(^^c^v^-S 

POINT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 

I OINT Pleasant was organized as a town- 
ship, April 4, 1854. Albert Mitchell was 
chosen Moderator at the meeting, and J. 
D. Conkling, Clerk. The township was very 
thinly settled at this time, and there were only 
ten votes cast at the election. Albert Mitchell was 
chosen Supervisor; Albert Livermore, Clerk; E.J. 




Hazelton, Assessor and Collector ; Thomas Boyd, 
Franklin Booth and Andrew Livermore, Commis- 
sioners of Highways; John A. VVaugh and W. T. 
Johnson, Constables; Warren Park and Lucius 
Watson, Overseers of tlie Poor. 

Point Pleasant is located in the southwest corner 
of the county ; is numbered 7 north of range 3 west, 
and is bounded on the north by Ellison, on the east 
by Swan, on the south by McDonough County on the 
west by Henderson County. This township was 
about the last to settle up. Solomon Sovereign and 
Abraham Baldwin were the first settlers, coming in 
in 1835, and locating on section 13. Mr. Sovereign 
remained on his farm for some years and then 
moved to California, where he is still living. Mr, 
Baldwin moved to Missouri, where he died. After 
these pioneers came Wm. Parkhurst, Mr. Sutton, 
and Mr. Garrett. Parkhurst was from New Eng- 
land, and located on section 25. He afterward 
moved to Minnesota. Mr. Garrett settled on sec- 
tion 24, on Swan Creek, and Sutton in the limber on •; 
section 12. In 1849, Lucius and Isaac Watson 
came in and located on section i. James Owen also ' 
came in about this time with John A. Waugh. In ■^ 
1849 '1 school-house was built and the first school in 
the township was taught. In 1850 a postoffice was I 
established at a place called Colfax. In 1875 the J 
Methodists organized a society near Colfax postoffice 
with some 18 members. Rev. J. W. Coe was the 
first pastor to serve this church, and meetings were 
held in school-houses. Later on they erected a 
house of worship, at a cost of $1,500. Rev. P. S. 
Garretson succeeded Mr. Coe. This society has 
not kept up its organization, but meeiings have been 
held occasionally. 

Point Pleasant Township with exceptions of sec- 
tions 12, 13 and 14, which are a little broken on the 
eastern line, is rolling prairie. The soil is rich and 
very productive, and it contains some of the best 
farms in the county. There are many very fine 
dwelling houses and beautiful homes, and the farm- 
ers are mostly in independent circumstances. In 
fact, this township has been truly named, for it is in- 
deed a pleasant township to live in and to look upon. 

It is watered by the middle and south branches of 
Nigger Creek, which heads about the middle of the 
townshi|) and courses easterly. It has no railroad 
lines running through its territory, the nearest rail- 



*x 



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r 



-tX 



WARREN COUNTY. 



road station being the St. Louis branch of the C, B. 
& Q. R. R., which has a station at Swan Creek. 
There are no stores, shops, or manufacturing estab- 
lishments. Tlie people do their trading mostly at 
Swan Creek and Roseville. 

In the productior. of corn and the raising of hogs, 
Point Pleasant ranks among the first townships in 
the county. It is also unexcelled in the production 
of the smaller grains. 

The population is about the same as in i8So, 
when the last census was taken, which was 915. 

According to the report of the County Superin- 
tendent for the year ending June 30, 1885, there 
were nine school districts in wliich there were nine 
frame school buildings. The school property was 
valued at $3,700. Of persons under 2r years of age 
there were 407, of whom 275 were of scholastic age, 
261 being enrolled. The highest wages paid teach- 
ers was $47.50 per month, and the lowest was $30. 
The tax levy for the township was $2,480. 

The Assessor in his report for the year 1885, furn- 
ishes the following items: Number of acres of im- 
proved lands, 22,531 ; value of improved lands, 
$339,610; number of horses, 846; cattle, 1,524; 
mules and asses, 77 ; sheep, 372 ; hogs, 3,670; car- 
riages and wagons, 298; watches and clocks, 134; 
sewing and knitting machines, 90 ; pianos, 3 ; organs 
and melodeons, 35. Total cash value of personal 
property, $63,364. 

SUPERVISORS. 



Warren Park 1854 

.\Ibert Mitchell 1855-57 

R. T. King 1858-59 

Leonard Connell i860 

Albert Mitchell 1861 

George W. Slice 1862-63 

R T. Kin? 1864-67 

C;co. %V. Slice' 1868 



-43 — 



James M. Humes 1869 70 

R. T. King 1871-72 

A. S Smith 1873-76 

Thomas Pennington. 1877 

A S.Smith 1878-80 

W. T. Boyd 1881-83 

A. S. Smith 1884-85 



-DH 



ROSEVILLE TOWNSHIP. 

'HE legal voters of the township of Rose- 
ville met at the Union Church, agreeable to 
notice, and proceeded to form the township 
organization. They cliose Richard Ray chair- 
man, and voted to elect all officers by yeas and 
nays, except those tlie law required to elect by 
ballot. Truman Eldridg was chosen Moderator 
and John C. Franklin, Clerk. When the votes were 




counted it was found that Wm. Johnson was elected 
Supervisor; Samuel Cole, Clerk; W. B. Smith, As- 
sessor; Elijah Hannon, Collector ; Stephen Dilly, 
Overseer of the Poor; James W. Ray, S. T. Hadly, 
and Reuben Holeman, Commissioners of Highways ; 
John Riggs, Isaac L. Pratt, Justices of the Peace ; 
Thomas H. Riggs, G. W. Kerby, Constables. 

Roseville Township is numbered 9 north, of range 
2 west, of tlie 4th principal meridian, and is bounded 
on the north by Lenox, on the east by Berwick, the 
south by Swan, and the West by Ellison Township. 
It is watered by the north and soutii branches of 
Nigger Creek, which meanders easterly through the 
township. Bordering tliese water courses, there is 
a liberal growth of timber, with broad, rolling prai- 
ries predominating in the township. Along the east- 
ern line, however, and particularly about the streams, 
the land is broken. Tne St. Louis branch of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad enters the 
township on sections 5 and 6, passes south between 
these sections and sections 7 and 8, and deflecting a 
little westward, goes out about the middle of section 
31. This road was completed through the township 
in the summer of 1870. 

John and James Armstrong have the credit of be- 
ing the first settlers in Roseville Township. They 
came in 1829, from the south part of the State, and 
located on section i. They did not remain long, but 
sold out to Thomas Pearce, who came in 1831. Mr. 
Pearce came from Oliio, with his wife and children 
— Andrew G., Thomas, Theodore, Melissa, Minerva, 
Mary E. and Sarah D. Andrew G. (see biography) 
still lives on the old homestead ; Theodore and 
Thomas died in their youth ; Minerva died when a 
woman; Melissa, wlio married R. E. Hill, died in 
Iowa; Mary E. was married to Judge Ivory Quinby, 
Feb. 17, 1848, and is still living in Monmouth ; Sa- 
rah T. was married to William Whitenack, and is 
living in Monmouth. Thomas Pearce died at his 
homestead Aug 22, 1853, aged 75 years. He was 
one of those sturdy pioneers so essential to the de- 
velopment of a new country. His widow died Feb. 
29, 1869, at the advanced age of 78 years and five 
months. 

William R. Pearce came in soon after. He did 
not remain long, but settled near Pekin, where he 
died in the winter of 1833. 

Sheldon Lockwood and John Smith, from Ken- 



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735 



< 



i 



^ 



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736 



WARREN COUNTY, 



JU 



I 

4 



tucky, with their families, were the next additions to 
this settlement, which was in the winter of 1831-32, 
locating on sections i and 11. They camped in the 
timber, putting up a rude shanty to protect them 
from tlie cold blasts of winter, until the log cabin 
could be built. While Lockwood was at work on the 
cabin, Smith, with an ox team, went to the town now 
known as Springfield for some provisions. Smith was 
gone over a month, and before he returned the little 
band of pioneers that he had left behind him became 
pretty hungry, and no man, probably, was evermore 
cordially welcomed home than Smith. 

Lockwood died some years ago, at the old farm, 
and his widow died June, 1884, at the advanced age 
of 88 years. Mr. Smith died in 1837, and his widow 
married William Gunter. She has been dead some 
years. 

John Murphy and W. Carr were the next to settle 
in the township. The former was from Kentucky, 
and located on section i, where he lived and died; 
the latter was from Indiana, and settled on section 
13. These pioneers did not remain long in their sol- 
itude, but were soon followed by many more families 
seeking homes in the West. Among these was Tru- 
man Eldridg, who located southwest, near the town 
of Roseville. (See biography.) Mr. Carr's house 
was struck by lij;litning in 1838, killing two of his 
children. He died in 1879, at the age of 84 years, 
and his widow followed him in 1880. 

'l"he first religious services in the township were 
held in the winier of 1832, by Elder Cordier, a Meth- 
odist circuit rider. Thomas Pearce then opened 
his hospitable doors for Divine worship. This was 
a great event for these dwellers in the wilderness, 
and the religious enlluisiasm became very great. Sub- 
sequently, in the spring of 1833, a Methodist Class 
was formed by Rev. Barton Randall, at Mr. Pearce's 
house, which was the first in the township. This 
was the bejrinning (>f the Berwick Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 

Miss Jane A. Allen taught the first school in the 
township, in a log cabin in Pearce's Giove, in the 
summer of 1834. She subsequently was married to 
Judge Ivory Quinby, March 10, 1839, and died Feb. 
7, 1847. 

A new settlement could not be happy without hav- 
ing a marriage fea^t lo enliven it, and William Haines 
and Lucinda Pearce made the sacrifice to please the 



good people of the township. The warm rays of the 
summer sun rested upon two loving hearts that were 
joined as one amid the congratulations of their 
friends, on July 3, 1832. They are now living at 
Ottumwa, Iowa. 

Roseville Township gradually increased with its 
settlement, its rich soil and fair fields stimulating 
production and inviting emigration, until now it is 
third in rank of population and one of the best pro- 
ducing townships in the county. 

Its population, according to the last census, was 
1,708, and it is estimated that these figures have 
been increased since that time. 

Its beautiful farms, enclosed with well trimmed 
hedges, and decorated with fine dwelling houses and 
farm buildings, present an ever-pleasing aspect to 
the traveler. Within its borders there is a good, 
thriving town for the people to do their trading and 
marketing, which obviates the necessity of making 
long journeys to other places for this purpose. 

The County School Superintendent, in her re|X)rt 
for the year ending June 30, 1885, has the following 
items regarding the public schools of this township. 
There were 11 school districts, with one graded and 
ten ungraded schools, and one brick and ten frame 
school buildings, with a valuation of school property 
at $15,900. Of the persons under 21 years of age 
there were 67 2, of whom 496 were of scholastic age, 
494 being enrolled. The higiiest wages paid to 
teachers was $75 per month, and the lowest $25. 
The tax levy for the township was $6,950. 

From the Assessor's report for the year 1885, the 
following information is obtained: Number of acres 
of improved land, 22,788; value of improved lands, 
$344,559; total value of lots, $68,937; number of 
horses, 970; cattle, 1,696; mules and asses, 59; 
sheep, 372; hogs, 3,297; steam engines, i; car- 
riages and wagons, 357 ; watches and clocks, 347 ; 
sewing and knitting m.ichines 211; pianos, 10; 
melodeons and organs, 69. Total cash value of per- 
sonal property, $91,226. 

SUPERVISORS. 



Wm. Jolinson 1854 

John Kiggs 1855 

lames liarrett 1856-7 

1). C. RiKgs 1858 

lotin Rices 185Q 

I). C. Risks 1860 

Jotin Riecs 1861 

1). C. Ki^gs 1862 

John RiKgs 1863 

Thompson Brooks 1864 



D. M I'aliafcrro 1863-9 

S. M. F.ldred 1870 

D. M. Taliaferro 1871 

Wm. Dillv >87i-3 

Alphcus Lewis 1874 

'1'. J. Morris 1875 

Alphcus t.ewis 1876-80 

T. A. Dilly 1881-3 

R. I.. McReynoUls 1884 

H. T. Lope 1885 



V' 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



737 



^^ 



Roseville Village. 




' HIS thriving village, now so favorably 

11 known throughout this section of the State, 

- ^ made its first start in the world under a 

different banner. The name by which it first 

"i" appeared to the public was Hat Grove, and it 

I covered a piece of ground but a little way 
from its present site. Its commencement may be 
dated from the establisment of the postoffice, with 
Truman Eldridg as Postmaster. Not until after the 
completion of the -Rockford, Rock Island and St. 
Louis Railroad, however, was there much progress 
made toward a business town. Lancaster and Elli- 
son, in what is now Ellison Township, were having 
a fine local trade, which continued to increase until 
the railroad came through the county, making the 
station at Roseville. 

A small store was first ojiened at this place by 
John Adams (a very iiistorical name) where Pierce's 
brick building now stands. Adams did not remain 
long in business, but was succeeded by E. P. Emans, 
who opened a general merchandise establishment 
with a very liberal stock of goods, and who is at 
present one of the leading merchants of the place. 
After the completion of the railroad, the business of 
Lancaster was moved over to Roseville. Ellison 
had been ruined years before by the great tornado 
and the trade which this place at one time had also 
come here. 

The first train came into Roseville July 4, 1870, 
and was made quite an event by the people of the 
village, who celebrated the day of our independence 
with the advent of the railroad. From this time on 
Roseville has had a steady growth. There is no 
richer farming country in the county than that which 
surrounds this village. Like all the towns in the 
county, it labors under the disadvant;ige of not hav- 
ing a water power for manufacturing purposes; yet, 
the site is a very pleading one and reasonably 
healthy. But we have anticipated a little and we 
return to an earlier period. 

The town was platted in 1868, by Solomon Sover- 
eign, and the surveys were made by that energetic 
citizen, John A- Gordon, who has stood by this town 



all these long years. The plat was laid out on the 
northeast quarter of section 31, and contained 40 
acres. The next addition to the town was by Tru- 
man Eldridg, embracing 60 acres, and laid out on 
the southeast quarter of section 30. This was in 1870, 
and also surveyed by Mr. Gordon. The town con- 
tinued to grow, and dreams of a future large c.ty 
were had by many of Roseville's speculative citizens, 
and even by the conservative-minded. Reeve's ad- 
dition came next and was platted the same year, so 
also was that of Pratt & Dilly, containing 60 acres 
on section 31. Munford's addition was the next and 
last. It was platted December, 1875, and embraced 
the south half of the southwest quarter of section 
30. With all these blocks and stre'ets laid out, the 
town had ample room to grow. But as there is a 
Divinity that shapes the ends of individuals, it may 
be stated with the same degree of logic, that there is 
a Divinity that also shapes the ends of towns; and 
it remains for the future to disclose whether Rose- 
ville will ever occupy as a town all the ground laid . 
out for her. 

Business houses and dwellings increased, and it 
looked to the more sanguine citizens that in the no , 
distant future all the blocks would soon be covered 
with fine buildings of one kind or the other. Some 
of the most progressive people were in favor of an . 
incorporation. The movement, however, failed for 
want of sufficient support. Subsequently another at- 
tempt was made with like results. The movers for 
incorporation were persistent in agitating their pro- 
ject and finally an election was ordered fur the pur- 
pose of voting on this subject. This election was 
held May 30, r873, and resulted in the defeat of the 
movement of incorporation, Two years later another 
election was held. May 4, 1875 At this election, the 
movers for incorporation were successful, winning by 
75 votes against 42, which made them very jubilant. 
An election for Village Trustees was then called for 
June 8, 1876, which resulted in the choice of J. C. 
Turnbull, Sr., Ezra P. Eman-, John A. Gordon, 
James S. Reed, and J T. Loihrop. On the 14'h of 
June following, the Trustees met at the office of John 
A. Gordon, and completed their village organization 
by the election of Ezra P. Euians, President of the 
Board ; Benjamin R. 0.-,tran(ler, Clerk ; R. L. Mc- 
Reynolds, i'reasurer. On motion, J. S. Reed, Jolin 
A. Gordon and E. P. Emans were appointed a com- 
mittee to prepare an ordinance lor the city govern. 



"T" 



LA: 



"^ 



^ 



738 



■ ■y. 

BARREN COUNTY. 



i* 



ment. Under the incorporation the village has gone 
along very smoothly, and there has been no occasion 
to regret the action of the majority. 

There are some good business houses here, and 
fine dwellings ; and taking the town altogether, it is a 
pleasing and attractive one. The population is es- 
timated now to be between 900 and 1,000. 

The principal manufacturing industry of this vil- 
lage is that of Daniel Bird & Sons' Tile Factory, 
which was started in 1879. They employ on an av- 
erage 12 men, and three kilns. They also manufac- 
ture brick which is of [a good quality. Mr. Bird 
found a two foot vein of coal near his clay beds and 
also an excellent quality of fire-clay. This firm 
through their manufactory are contributing no little 
to the business and prosperity of Roseville. 

Messrs. Blazer & Steninger, proprietors of the 
Roseville Creamery, are doing a good business in 
their line. They gather their cream from an ex- 
tended area of territory, and make during the season 
about 500 pounds of butter per day. 

As above stated, Truman Eldridg was the first 
Postmaster of the town, then known as Hat Grove. 
He resigned in favor of Benjamin Morford who held 
the place until 1861. E. P. Emans then took charge 
and held the office until 1866, and was followed by 
Amos Pierce, who served until 187 1, when \V. T. 
Gossett was appointed, and is the present incum- 
bent. 

PRESS 

The first paper started at Roseville, was the Rose- 
ville Gazette, by that enterprising and successful 
news])aper man, G. G. McCosh, now proprietor of 
the Monmouth Gazette, May 24, 1876, who was at 
that time foreman of the Monmouth Rei'iew: It was 
a six-column folio, published every Wednesday, and 
was independent in politics. The printing was done 
at 77ie Review office. In June, 1877, Mr. McCosh 
moved his paper to Monmouth and changed the 
name to the Monmouth Gazette. 

The Roseville Gazette was a lively, spicy sheet and 
attracted no little attention in the news|)aper field, 
the result of which was the starting of an opposition 
paper at Roseville, by Wilson Bros., called IVilson's 
Weekly. The editor of the Gazette having accom- 
plished what he desired, modestly withdrew from the 
field to Monmouth, where he could have a more ex- 
tensive scope for his abilities, 



Wilson's Weekly was too weak to stand after the 
Gazette had departed, or withdrew its aid, and was 
soon changed to the Roseville Titties, under a new 
management. This paper was subsequently pur- 
chased by C. Elliott, who continued its publication 
until the spring of 1885, when he sold out to C. H. 
Hebbard, present proprietor and editor. Mr. Heb- 
bard has enlarged the Titties to an eight-column 
folio, and also e.xtended the job office. The Times 
is independent in politics, and has a liberal circula- 
tion, and is a well conducted paper. 

OFFICERS. 

Present officers of the Village Government ; Trus- 
tees, J. W. Connelly, J. W. Malcomb, George 
Mecham, N. G. Taft, S. H. Tuttle and W. B. Ditch. 
President of the Board, J. W. Connolly ; Clerk, J. 
B. Lozier; Treasurer, E. P. Emans. 

SCHOOLS. 

Roseville has the credit of having the best school 
building in the county, and one of the best graded • 
schools. Tlie building is a large two-story brick 
structure, solid and liandsome in its architecture, 
and containing si.x apartments. It was erected in ^ 
1880. C. A. Hebbard is the Principal of the | 
school, who is an experienced teacher and a gentle- 
man of education. He has Mrs. M. E. Higgins for 
First Assistant; Miss Bertha Taft, Second Assistant, 
and Miss S. A. Ragon in the Primary Department. 
Enrollment, 188 pupils. This school is thor- 
oughly graded, and all of the English branches are 
taught here. 

SOCIETIES. 

Roseville Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 519, was 
chartered Oct. 4, 1867, with i8 members. First of- 
ficers : D. Adams, W. M. ; W. Clayton, Sr. W. M. ; J. 

B. Wilsey, Jr. W. M.; B. Ragon, Secretary; D. N. 
Taliaferro, Treasurer; T. Bradley, S. D. ; Wm. Stan- 
field, J. D.; Israel G.ired, Tyler. Present officers : 
J. W. Connelly, W. M.; N. G. Taft, Sr. W. M.; A. 

C. Stem, Jr. W. M.; R. L. McReynolds, Treasurer; 
T. B. Bohen, Secretary; J. W. Bockus, S. D. ; C. J. 
Danielson, J. D. ; J. L. Davenport, Tyler, The 
Lodge has a fine, well furnished hall, with a mem- 
bership of 33. The hall is neatly decorated, well 
equipped and in good working condition. 

G. A. R., A. C. Harding Post, No. 127, was ch.ir- 
tered March 17, 1882, with 30 members, J. W. 



*+" 



r 



-84^ 



WARREN COUNTY. 



-^^^^ 



739 




Coates, C. : F. B. Davis, V. C. ; J. Whitenack, J. N. 
C; T. S. Fowler, Chaplain; Dr. N. A. Griffith, Sur- 
geon; J. M. Tucker, O. D. ; J. J. McClen, Agt. ; 
R. L. McReynolds, Q. M. The present membership 
of the Post is 50. It is in a good working order, and 
increasing in numbers. They have a good hall, 
which is well furnished. Present officers: D. M. 
Fay, C. ; T. S. Miller, S. V. C. ; M. G. Taft, J. V. 
C; Ellis Scott, Secretary; James Chapman, Chap- 
lain; Sylvester Bryner, O. D. ; George C. Murpliy, 
Adj. ; R. L. McReynolds, Q. M. ; John T. Bragg, O. 
G. They meet on the second and fourth Mondays 
of each month. 

I. O. O. F., Roseville Lodge, No. 537, was insti- 
tuted Jan. 21, 1874, with five charter members. J. 
W. Kennor was the first N. G. ; H. G. Simmons, V. 
G. ; J. S. Greer, Secretary; R. B. Tredmore, Treas- 
urer. This Society was first organized at Youngs- 
town, and was known as the Youngstown Lodge, and 
was so chartered. In June, 1874, it was moved to 
' Roseville. Tne Society occupies the Masonic Hall, 
has money in the Treasury, is well equipped and 
in good working order. They intend to erect for 
J>^ themselves, in the near future, a hall for lodge pur- 
poses. Present membership about 50, with the fol- 
lowing officers : A. C. McPeak, N. G. ; J. H. Morn- 
ingstar, V. G. ; J. E. Hartley, Secretaiy; A. C. Stem. 
Treasurer. 

Selected Knights of the A. O. U. W., was insti- 
tuted Nov. 8, 1883, with 28 members. Present 
officers are: R. L. McReynolds, S. C; E. D. Patch, 
V. C; G. C Murphy, Lt. C; T. B. Bohn, Recor- 
der; S. P. Stem, Treasurer; C. A. Anderson, R. T. ; 
S. N. Edwards, S. B. ; J. L. Davenport, Chaplain ; 
S. Roseberry, Marshal. Membership, 35, This 
Society holds its meetings in Masonic Hall. 

A. O. U. W., No. 112, was organized May 15, 
1878, wiih C. S. McDonough, P. M. W. ; J. VV. 
Coates, M. W. ; VV. T. Gossett, Recorder. Present 
membership of the Lodge, 61. Present officers: J. 
S. Roseberry, M. VV.; L. D. Patch, M. W. . John 
Powell. Treasurer; S. N. Edwards, Overseer; T. 
B. Bohn, Recorder; G. R. Davenport, Financier; 
VV. H.Buckley, Recorder; R. B. Davenport, G. ; M. 
N. Anderson, I. W. ; D. F. Morningstar, O. W. They 
meet in the Masonic Hall, and are in a prosperous 
condition. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The Congregational Church was first organized 



with 12 members, at Hat Grove, in the old school 
house, November, 1851. Rev. J. Blanchard, Mod- 
erator, and L. E. Sykes, Clerk. This school house 
is now used as a dwelling. In 1855, they erected 
their new church building, costing $3,000. It is a 
very neat frame structure, with a seating capacity of 
about 300. It was dedicated March 5, 1856. Sup- 
plies were furnislied by other congregations for 
awhile. In the latter part of 1856, they secured their 
first pastor, Rev. J. R. Rodgers, who was ordained 
at the time the cluirch was dedicated. Revs. A. 
Moore, T. H. Johnson, A. R. Mitchell, L. S. Morgan, 
Aldred Morse, Cyrus H. E.iton, ^. E. Arnold, A. J. 
Drake, followed in succession, serving from one to 
two years. In 1868, Rev. James D. Wyckuff ac- 
cepted a call, and served the Church for nine years, 
or until 1877. He was followed by Rev. R. A. 
Woods, who served one year. Rev. S. Goodenow 
then took charge, and remained until 1880, when 
Rev. R. B. Guild became pastor, remaining until 
1883. In August, 1883, Rev. F. C. Cochran was ' 
called, who served until August, 1 885. The pastor- 
ate is at present vacant, but the Church is negotiat- 
ing for a minister. Present membership 79. A Sab- 
bath-school with about 60 members is connected with 
this Society. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in the 
year 1841. It had its beginning with a membership 
of seven. The first preaching place was in the house 
of Solomon Sovereign. Subsequently they secured 
the school house, in which they held their meetings, 
and ne.\t they worshipped iu the Congregational 
Church. In 1864, the Methodists built their present 
church edifice, which was during the pastorate of 
Rev. J. A. Windsor. The church building w.is ded- 
icated by the Rev. O. S. Munsel, President of Bloom- 
ington University. The structure cost $4,ooc, and 
is a substantial building, with a seating capacity of 
350. In 1881, the building was thoroughly repaired, 
at a cost of about $750, and is now in good order. 
This appointment once belonged to Oquawka Cir- 
cuit, and most of the records of this Church are still 
with that circuit. 

Roseville became apart of Ellison Circuit, in 1855, 
and in i86g became the head of the circuit, and 
remains so at the present time. 

The following is a list of the names of the pastors 
in their regular succession, as sent by the Confer- 



LA_r: 



'i^ 



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740 



■V. . •" 

WARREN COUNTY. 



!?-4^ 



4 



eiice : Revs. William Clark, H. Pressan, A. D. Mc- 
Cool, William Haney, A. Fisher, Josiah Kerns, W. 
J. Beck, A. E. Higgins, W. B. Morse, Amos Morey, 
H. H. Crosier, B. C. Swarlz, J. T. Windsor, G. C. 
Woodruff, W. B. Caruthers, Thomas Watson, J. W. 
Coe, Abram Beeler, C. B. Couch, J. W. Coe, N. T. , 
Allen, J. Q. Adams, T. F. Fowler, D. McLeish, the 
present pastor. The present membership of the 
Church is 102 ; the entire circuit has 175 members. 
Attached to this society is a prosperous Sunday 
School, presided over by C. J. Boyd. They have had I 
many revivals of religion in this Church from time to 
time, which have increased its membership, though 
many have died and moved away. 

The Cliiistian Church was organized in i860, with 
about 20 members. In 1871 the society erected a 
house of worship, which cost them $1,500. At a 
later period they secured a parsonage at a cost of about 
$600. This congregation was organized from the 
Downing School-house Society, in Swan Township, 
and afterward the Ellison Township Church united 
with them. Rev. M. Jones is the presentpastor of this 
Church, which has now about 100 members. During 
the past season Mr. Jones, by his zeal and earnest 
preaching, got up quite a revival in the Church, 
which resulted in adding many members to their 
faith. On account of the early records being lost, 
the full history of this organization cannot be given. 

The Baptist Church was first organized in Feb- 
ruary, 1852, with 25 members, and was called the 
Hat (Jrove Baptist Churcii. Rev. G. S. Minor pre- 
sided over the organization. Rev. Joseph Elliot 
was the first pastor installed, which was in 1853, 
and served the Church 18 months. During the early 
history of the society Rev. William T. Bly got up a 
very extensive revival, and added largely to its mem- 
bership. A church building was erected in 1863, at 
a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated in the fall of the 
same year. They have also a good parsonage, which 
cost $1,200, including lots. After Mr. Bly they had 
alternates for a while. In May, 1855, Rev. Win- 
throp Morse took charge, remaining one year, and 
was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Elliot. In June, 1858, 
David L'eland became pastor for a few months. Suc- 
ceeding hun for short terms were Revs. Henry B. 
Johnson, Daniel B. Gunn, William Storrs, A. Jones, 
Jr., Elijah Russ. Mr. Russ was succeeded in 1872, 
by Rev. George D. Kent, who retnained with the 



Church until 1876, when he was followed by E. C. 
Cady, who served until 1881. Rev. J. E. Ladd then 
served one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Isaac 
Fallis, the present pastor. They have about 150 
members, and a thriving Sabbath School of about 
80 members. 

The Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church was 
organized in 1876, by Rev Charles Anderson, of Ans- 
gari College, Knoxvilie. Rev. George Wieburg was 
installed as the first i>astor, in the fall of this year. 
He remained two years with the Church and was 
succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Liindell, who remained 
until 1880, when Rev. Charles Bargstrum took charge, 
serving one year. Rev. J. VV. ('.irlson followed, serv- 
ing one year. After Mr. Carlson came Rev. N. A. 
Blomstrand, the present pastor. The church build- 
ing was erected in 1876, at a cost of $1,000. Pres- 
ent membership about 30, and a Sabbath School, 
numbering about 20. Preaching every third Sui day. 

The Union Baptist Church is located on section 
2, and was organized in 1841, by Rev. John Logan 
and Robert Wilbur, with the following members : 
Thomas, Elizabeth and Asmeth Brooks, John and 
Rosina Murphy, Hasula, Jane and Elizabeth Smith, 
Julian Shirley, Wilson M. and Malvina Gunter, Wil- 
liam M. and Ann Brooks, David and J. A. J. Smith, 
Nancy Fields, Harriet R ly, Elizabeth Robb and Wil- ■ 
liam Hiet. First regular pastor was Rev. John Mur- 
phy, who served from i84[ to 1845. He was 
followed by Rev. John C. Ward, who remained with 
his flock until February, 1851, when he was suc- 
ceeded by John James. Mr. James served the Church 
until 1854, and was succeeded respectively by Revs. 
William Whitehead, Mr. R. Newton, Tronier, H. 
H. Parks, R. W. Welsh and S. Peckard. The lat- 
ter is the present pastor, and has been with the 
society since June, 1876. In i860 they erected 
their house of worsliip, costing about $1,900. 

SPRING GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

PRING Grove Township was organized un- 
der the Township Organization Laws, April 
4, 1854. A meeting for this purpose was 
held at the usual place for holding elections. 
Thomas Gibson was chosen Moderator, and 
James H. Carmichael, Clerk. When the 
ballots wer? counted it was found that Robert 




i 



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. -Y. 

WARREN COUNTY. 



■I^r^ 



74 



0:, 



c 



i 

4 



Gilmore was chosen Supervisor; Thomas Gibson, 
Jr., Clerk; John Ray, Assessor; James L. Porter, 
Collector; Watson Gates, Overseer of the Poor; 
Robert and William Walker, Justices of the Peace ; 
Josiah Porter, S. R. Boggs and Thomas Averel, 
Commissioners of Highways; Joseph Ray and Jo- 
seph Meyers, Constables ; James R. Patterson, Rob- 
ert W. Gerlaw, Overseers of Roads and James H. 
Carmichael, Pound Master. 

Spring Grove is situated in the middle of the 
northern tier of townships, number 12 north, of 
range 2, west. The county of Mercer is at the 
north, and on the east, south and west sides He re- 
spectively the townships of Kelly, Monmouth and 
Sumner. The nature of the land in the greater por- 
tion of the township is rolling, ; in the western part 
it is in places quite broken. It is liberally watered 
by the Middle Henderson, Cedar Creek and tributa- 
ries, which meander westward into the Henderson 
River. Along the water courses the township is 
pretty well timbered. The facilities for drainage are 
good, and there is but little dead land in the town- 
ship, nearly all being subject to cultivation, and very 
fertile. 

James Humphreys has the credit of being the first 
settler in the township, liaving located here in 1833. 
He was soon followed by Robert Gilmore and fam- 
ily, of whom James T. and L. H. Gilmore were 
members. He located on section 25, which he sub- 
sequently sold, and bought a farm on section 24. 

John Armstrong and Wm. Miller with their fami- 
lies came in, in 1834. John H. Frantz and family 
located in the township, iif 1835, and David H. Mc- 
Curry, in 1836. Horace Smith with his family en- 
larged the setdement in 1837. He came from Penn- 
sylvania with his wife, Margaret, and four children — 
Robert, Isabelle, Mary and John. Charles and 
Owen were born in the township. Mr. Smith loca- 
ted on section 3, on which place he lived until 1858, 
when he died. His widow survived him nearly a 
score of years, and died in the spring of 1885. All 
the children are living. Mary, who was married to 
Nathan Pettit, is living at Alexis. 

Elder Richard Haney was the first preacher to 
hold service in the township. He preached at first 
in private houses. 

Mrs. Wilket, who was quite an elderly lady, taught 
the first school, in 1841, in a house built by her 



brother, on section 5. She had sixteen pupils who 
were very much attached to her and did all they 
could to please and make her happy . She long ago 
passed on to the other world. 

A postoffice was opened at Spring Grove, in 1835, 
soon after the Rock Island stage route was estab- 
lished. There was a little settlement at this place, 
and some trading done before the Rock Island & St. 
Louis R. R., was built and the town of Alexis was 
started, when the business, with most of the settle- 
ment here, moved to the latter place. 

Spring Grove is a beautiful towjiship, many parts 
of it very picturesque, and containing some grand 
farms. It ranks second in the production of stock, 
and is very fair in the production of the cereals. 

The Rock Island & St. Louis R. R. was com- 
pleted through the township in Jime, 187 i. It en- 
ters in the northeast corner of section r,and running 
south by west, passes out on section 34. 

The people do their trading mostly at Alexis, and 
at Gerlaw, from which places considerable stock is 
shipped In 1880, the population according to the 
census, was 1,400, and it is estimated now to be 
about 1,500. 

There is a United Presbyterian congregation at 
Spring Grove, which was organized by the Monmouth 
Presbytery, June 22, 1855. J. C. McKnight was 
the first pastor, serving from June, 1856, until 
March, i860. He was succeeded by Wm. M. Gra- 
ham, who served the Church until 1863. Then 
they were without a pastor for about a year, when 
they secured the services of T. P. Patterson, who 
remained until December, 1868. Rev. David Inches 
then took charge and remained until 1874, and was 
followed by Revs. Rufas Johnson, Wm. J. Mc- 
Croney and A. W. Johnson, the present pastor, who 
was installed Aug 25, 1885, tliis being his first 
charge. 

They have a good church building costing about 
$3,500, also a good parsonage. The membership is 
about 85. In addition to the services they have a 
fine Sabbath-school. 

On section 10 there is located a religious society 
called the Church of God. It was organized in 1865 
by Randolph White. The first meeting of this so- 
ciety was held in school-houses. In 1869 they com- 
pleted their church building at a cost of some 
$1,500. No regular services are held here now, but 



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742 



WARREN COUNTY. 



— rW- 



sometimes they have preaching by a woman of the 
faith wlio comes from Monniouih. 

From the County Superintendent's report for the 
year ending June 30, 1885, the following statistics 
have been obtained : There were 10 school districts 
in the township with one graded school, and 9 un- 
graded. The 10 districts embraced i brick and 9 
frame school buildings; the value of the school 
properly was $7,050. Of persons under 21 years of 
age there were 695, of whom 412 were of scholastic 
age, 551 being enrolled. 'l"he highest wages paid 
teachers was $60; ihe lowest, $25 per montli. The 
tax levy was $3,459.86. 

From the Assessor's report for 1885, the following 
facts are obtained: Number of acres of improved 
land-i, 21,794; number of acres of unimproved 
lands, 766; value of improved lands, $283,140; 
value of unimproved land<, $3,625 ; total value of 
lots, $35,150 ; number of horses, 849; cattle, 2,009; 
mules and asses, 19; sheep, 440; hogs, 3,706; 
steam engines, 4; carriages and wagons, 253; watches 
and clocks, 54; sewing and knitting machines, 85 ; 
pianos, 4; nielodeons and organs, 44. Total cash 
>^ value of personal property, $92,925. 

SUPLRVISORS. 



Robl. r.ilmorc 1854-56 

M. A. Thompson 1857 

R. W.Ucrlaw 1838-62 

L. H . (iilmore 1863 

R. W. r.crlaw 1864-65 

R II. (iilmorc 1866-68 

James I*. Porter 1869-70 

L. H. tiilmore 1871-72 



Cr.ilg Hanna 1873 

I,. H. (iilmorc 1874-78 

Angus McCoy 1879 

A.J. Kcid 1880 

B. K Forwootr 1881-82 

John I'. Blaney 1883 

John S. Winbigler 1884-85 




Alexis. 

HIS pretty and atira-.tive little village is 
situated in the northeast corner of Spring 
(irove Township on section i, and on the 
'Isle)' line of the St. Louis Branch of the Chicago, 
tw Burlington & Quincy Railroad, about 12 miles 
I northeasterly froin Monmouth. It was plat- 
ted in 1870, by Messrs. Robert Holloway and J. E. 
Alexander, and was named after the latter gentle- 
man. The survey was made by Thomas F. McC^lan- 
ahan on the 7th of September, and recorded on the 
i6th of the same month. The original plat contains 
160 acres, on section i, in Spring Grove Township, 
and 160 acres in Mercer County, section 36, town 



13 north of range 2 west. With the exception of a 
few residences the town has not extended into the 
latter section. Schuyler Palmer originally owned 
this land; he planted the first crop and made the 
first improvements here, which was in 1855. His 
house stood on tiie east side of where Main Street 
now is, near the little grove, and was the first house 
built in this part of the county. Mr. Palmer sold 
the land to Tiiomas Lawhead, Sr., and he to Messrs. 
Holloway and Alexander. It was first named Alex- 
andria, in honor of one of its founders, but there be- 
ing a name similar to this in the State, considerable 
confusion followed in the mail service and in the 
shipping of goods. Conseijuently it was changed to 
Alexis. This name was suggested by the arrival in 
this country, ^bout this time, of the Russian Grand 
Duke Alexis. 

O. G. Chapiiian and C. W. Gates opened the first 
store in the town, in November, 1870, on Main 
Street; they also received the first car-load of lum- 
ber that was shipped on this part of the railroad. . 

T. B. Patterson opened the next store, on Market I 
Street, near the Baptist Church, or what is now the 1 
Presbyterian Church. ■< 

Richardson & Riner opened the first hotel at the 
depot. This hotel is now kept by Blayney and 
called the Alexis House. About the same time, U. ■' 
W. Hull started a hotel on the corner of Main and 
South Streets, called the Alexandria House. 

The railroad was completed to Alexis and Mon- 
mouth about the ist of January, 187 1. The post- 
office was established Jan. 17, following, and O. G. 
Chapman was appointed Postmaster, a pMjsition he 
has held since that time. 

The town grew so rapidly, the people decided that 
they ought to have a village government, and an 
election was duly called to take this matter under 
consideration. It was held June 28, 1873, at 
Churchill & Wray's Hall. The County Judge ap- 
pointed T. Loveridge, W. T. Richardson and Robert 
S. Wray, judges of election. This was quite an im- 
portant event to the people of this new town, and the 
following named citizens were entrusted with its 
destinies: John C. Blayney, A. G. Talbot, O. G. 
Chairman, O. E. Bugbee, Daniel Churchill and 
James Loveridge. These Trustees met at Flake's 
Hall, July 28, and completed the city government 
by electing John C. Bla) ney, President of the Board ; 



"T" 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



!?^^4-4- 



743 



John Douglas, Clerk; Charles E. Johnson, Treas- 
urer; and H. R. Gilliland Street Commissioner. 

On the night of Jan 24, 1878, fire broke out under 
the floor of the Masonic Hall on Main Street, and 
nearly destroyed the west side of that street. Among 
the sufferers were D. S. McKnight, hardware dealer, 
two stores and one dwelUng; James Shaw, notions 
and grocery; Dr. J. P. McClanahan, drug store; 
Thomas Loveridge, dry goods and grocery ; Hardy & 
Knox, dealers in groceries and clothing; Bolinger & 
Yarde, grocery store ; Benjamin Churchill, restaurant 
and boarding-house; Jacob Wolff, harness and sad- 
dlery. 

On May 8. 1879, another fire broke out, on the 
east side of Main Street, which destroyed several 
business houses. 

This town is excellently located and is surrounded 
by a rich agricultural country. It has a healthy 
growtii, and improvements are steadily goirg on. 
The industiial interests of Alexis, for a new and 
small town, are very good. The Alexis tile and 
brick factory was established in 1878, by George 
Bruington and Thomas Townsley. The business 
was carried on two years by tliem, when Bruington 
sold out to Townsley, who has since had sole charge 
and ownership. Mr. Townsley is prepared with 
machinery and buildings to do an extensive business 
in this line of manufacture. He has the best of 
clay, which is easily obtained and comparatively in- 
exhaustible. At present he has 20 hands in his em- 
ployment. 

Another very important industry for Alexis is 
Daniel Churchill's wagon and carriage shop. For 
hand-made wagons, buggies and carriages, Mr. 
Churchill has a wide reputation. 

Porter Bros, have also established a reputation for 
handling good buggies and carriages. 

A creamery was established here last spring by 
D. W. Little, who is making about 1,000 pounds of 
butter a week. 

There are several good business houses in the town 
and all appear to be prosperous. 

Alexis is one of the desirable towns lo live and 
do business in. It has a population of 398. Pres- 
ent officers : N. P. Bruington, D. W. Burt, S. B. 
Miller, F, J. Pine, J. S. Canon and W. E. Durston, 
Trustees. Mr. Bruington is President of the Board. 
T. B. Patterson is Clerk; C. W. Postlewaite, Treas 

^ • -A . 



urer ; and George Poe, Street Commissioner. 

A short distance west of Ale.xis, on the county 
line road, is the stock farm of Col. Robert Holloway, 
one of the most extensive breeders of horses in the 
State. (See biography.) He breeds pure Clydes- 
dales, of which he is a large importer. His large 
farm, containing 640 acres, his extensive stables 
and long experience, eminently qualify him for achiev- 
ing success in carrying off the prizes in the Clydes- 
dale line of stock. At the Chicago exhibition of 
1884, Col. Holloway won three-fourths of all the 
premiums in the Clydesdale list. His Carmerogie, 
a yearling, took the first prize in New Orleans, St. 
Louis and Chicago, for the best bred horse in this 
country from imported stock. Carmerogie Kier, 
once belonging lo Col. Holloway 's stables, is now in 
Scotland, owned by the Duke of Hamilton. 

Col. Holloway established his stables about 12 
years ago. He has spent many years of hard labor 
and large sums of money in improving his stock and 
perfecting his breed, and eminently deserves the suc- 
cess that has followed his efforts. 

SCHOOLS. 

Alexis has a eood graded school, where a full Eng- 
lish course is taught. They have a good frame 
buildmg, large enough to accommodate all the schol- 
ars. J. S. Canon, is Principal ; Miss Anna Bain has 
charge of the grammar department; J. P. Campbell, 
the intermediate ; and Miss Maggie Boggs, the pri- 
mary department. They have an average attend- 
ance of 150 pupils. 

PRESS. 

Alexis is not without its newspaper experience, 
and, like most all small towns, she has furnished an- 
other field for the entombment of those enterprises. 

Tlie Alexis Journal made its first appearance 
Feb. 13, 1874, and was a seven-column, folio paper, 
edited by James Everett. The patronage was not 
enough to warrant its continuance, and it was sus- 
pended at the close of the third volume. The plant 
was purchased by Dr. Chaffee and the Alexis htdex 
was started. This was a five-column, eight-page 
paper. It had a brief life and expired like its pred- 
ecessor. Since then no one has been enterprising 
enough to attempt the publication of another journal 
here. 

SOCIETIES. 

Alexandria Lodge, No. 702, A. F. & A. M., was 



1* 



*t 



744 



WARREN COUNTY. 



instituted Oct. 8, 1872, with 11 charter mem- 
bers. John E. Alexander was W. M. ; John H. Mc- 
Grew, S. W. M. ; Joseph R. Scott, J. W. M. They 
have at present 46 members, with a good hall ; they 
were burned out in the fire of 1878. The present 
officers are: C. W. Postlewaite, \V. M.; J. R. Mc- 
Call, S. VV. M.; Wm. Jackson, J. W. M. ; Wm. Bel- 
linger, Tyler; Truman Lord, Secretary ; John Bel- 
linger, Treasurer. The lodge was named after John 
E. Alexander, the founder of Alexis. 

Alexis Lodge, No. 526, L O. O. F. — This lodge 
was organized Oct. i, 1873, and received its charter 
the 15th of the same month. The charter members 
were Thomas M. Bell, J. H. McGrew, Daniel 
Churchill, John N. Carr and R. T. \\'ray. Thomas 
M. Bell was the first N. G. 

In the fire of 1878 the hall of this lodge was 
burned, together with all their records, furniture and 
regalia. They have now a membership of 77, and 
are in good working condition. Present officers are : 
George Bellinger, N. G. ; Chas. Bellinger, B. G. ; S. 
P. Leonard, Secretary ; Alfred Bellinger, Treasurer. 
They contemplate tlie erection soon of a fine hall for 
their use, and have already purchased a lot. 

CHURCHES. 

The Presbyterian Church was organized at Blay- 
ney's Hall, in 1881, in connection with the Norwood 
Church, with 60 members, by Rev. L T. Whiitemore. 
Meetings were held for awhile in Blayney's Hall and 
afterward in the United Brethren Church. The or- 
ganization of the First Presbyterian Church of Alexis 
was at a meeting held in the United Brethren 
church. May 29, 1883, with 65 members. In the 
summer of 1883 they purchased tiie building belong- 
ing to the Baptist Missionary Association for $1,200, 
and re-modeled it at a cost of $800. After several 
removals, the present membersliip is about 75, and 
is under the pastoral ciiarge of Wm. J. Palm, the 
first installed pastor. The Church is steadily grow- 
ing, with hopeful prospects. They have a Sabbath- 
schoolconnected witli the Church, with a membersliip 
of 100 scliolars, presided over by J. P. McClanahan. 

United Presbyterian Church. — This congregation 
was organized April 4, 187 i, by Rev. J. H. Hender- 
son, witii about 25 members. M. McClanahan and 
W. A. Elder were the first elders. Mr. Henderson 
supplied liie Church for a year, and after him Drs. 
Black and Doig. Meetings were at first held in the 




school house, near town. In 1873 the society erected 
a very neat frame building, which is tastily finished, 
costing 3,100. With this they have good parsonage, 
located on the same lot. In 1876 they secured the 
services of Rev. F. McKerahan, their first regular 
pastor. He served the congregation until 1882; they 
were then without a pastor two years. In June, 1884, 
Rev. J. D. Palmer accepted a call and is the present 
pastor. It has a membership of 63 and an interest- 
ing Sabbath-school of 100 members. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. — This Church has 
a small congregation here. When first organized, 
meetings were held in the grove, then in Caldwell's 
Hall. Rev. P. L. Call, from Iowa, preached for them 
awhile. They hold their meetings now in the church 
of the United Brethren, and have service every two 
weeks, being supplied from the North Henderson 
Church. 

The United Brethren Church have an organiza- 
tion in the village. Tiiis society was formed in the 
township in 1856. After Alexis was started, the so- • 
ciety located there, where they put up the first church 
building. It was dedicated in November, 1872. The 
building is a good, substantial, frame structure, cost- 
ing $2,250. Rev. H. KUne is the present pastor, 
holding services here every two weeks. Present 
membership about 24, with a Sabbath-school of 48. . 



Gerlaw. 

\ ERLAW post office was established about 
__^ ,y" the ist of January, 187 i, with A. Elder as 
KD?^ Postmaster. Mr. Elder had a long serv- 
^lV| ice, remaining until Aug. i, 1883, when J. A. 
w Foster took charge. It was established soon 
, after the advent of the St. Louis branch of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Ger- 
law was founded by K. VV. Gerlaw, who owned the 
land about here, and was platted by Thomas S. Mc- 
Clanahan, May 2, 187 I. It is located on the north- 
west corner of section 34. (See view, page 356.) A. 
Elder opened the first store in the toNvn. He deals 
in general merchandise and grain. Mr. Elder sold 
out to Parker & Hart and Hart sold out to Parker, 
in 1883. Subsequently he took in J. A. Foster as 
partner. 

Dr. W. H. Rupp attends to the medical wants of 



ir 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



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745 



this hamlet. J. P. Lindqiiist has a wagon shop, and 
there is also a blacksmith and a shoe shop here. 
Gerlaw has a good school building, and a good school, 
with an average attendance of 30 pupils. Its popu- 
lation numbers about 75. 

Christian Church. This congregation was organ- 
ized June 20, 1859, by Rev. L. S. Wallace, at 
Mauck's Grove, with 49 members. Of these mem- 
bers only three are now living — Sarah Lair, Harriet 
Carson and B. H. Gardner. They had erected a 
house of worship, before organizing, at a cost of 
$r,ioo, which is a very neat and substantial build- 
ing. It was moved to Gerlaw, in September, 1873. 

Rev. Mr. Lucy succeeded Mr. Wallace, remained 
one year, and was followed by James Gaston, who 
also served one year. Revs. Henry Murphy, H. R. 
Trickett, J. B. Boyer and Mr. McPherson, followed 
in succession. After this the Church had supplies 
for some years, when, in November, 1883, they se- 
cured the services of the Rev. Chas. Laycock, who is 
the present pastor. They have services every Sun- 
day, with a membership of some 60, and a Sunday- 
school of 30 scholars. 



SUMNER TOWNSHIP. 

MEETING was held at Little York, April 
if 4, 185 1, for the purpose of establishing a 
« township organization. Thomas Graham 




was chosen Moderator, and George Black, 
Clerk. The polls were then opened to receive 
the votes of the citizens. Upon counting the 
ballots, the following officers were found to be 
elected: J. P. McGaw, Supervisor; Thomas Gra- 
ham, Collector; John E. McGreg, Assessor; John 
Porter, John Martin and John Nealy, Commission- 
ers of Highway ; A. A. Allen and T. J. Caldwell, 
Justices of the Peace ; George Gibson and Hugh 
Brownlee, Constables ; William Preston and Samuel 
Graham, Overseers of Roads. The vote for Clerk 
was a tie, and the Justices of the Peace appointed 
Thomas Brownlee to take the place. 

It was organized first as Union Township, and 
they changed it to Sumner, in 1855. It is situated 
in the northwest quarter of the county, in township 



12 north, of range 3 west, and is bounded on the 
north by Mercer County, on the east by Spring 
Grove, on the south by Hale, and the west by Hen- 
derson county. 

The territory that is now embraced by Sumner, 
was settled as early as any other part of the county. 
Matthew D. and Adam Ritchey, and Otter Craig, 
came into the township in 1828. William McCoy, 
Jonathan Buffun and L. P. Rockwell, u oved in, in 
1830. Hugh Martin, Sr., with wife and seven chil- 
dren, came in the fall of 1832, locating on section 28. 
Mr. Martin, who first located in Fulton County, had, 
previous to moving into the county, been in and se- 
cured his land. William McCoy and L. P. Rock- 
well bought Adam Ritchey's claim of 160 acres, 
which included a block house that he had erected 
upon the hill and used as a fort. This liouse was 
the first building in the townsliip. Among others 
who came in, in 1832, was Chester Potter and David 
Maler. Mr. Potter located with his family at Rock- 
well's Mill, on Cedar Creek. He moved from here 
in 1833, and located in Kelly Township, on section 
22, where he died, Oct. 19, 185 1. Cecilia, his 
daughter, who was married to Hiram Ingersol, is the 
only one of the Potter family now living. 

The first child born in this township, was Hen- 
derson, son of Adam (Sandy) Ritchey, who was born 
Dec. 23, T828. 

The first death was that of William Martin, in the 
fall of 1832. The second death was that of a 
young man by the name of Moffit, who was killed by 
falling off a fence, the fall breaking his neck. They 
were buried by the side of each other in Sugar Tree 
Grove Cemetery. 

William Martin, as is well known, was killed by 
the Indians, soon after the close of the Black Hawk 
War. This occurred Aug. 9, 1832. He was out in 
the field, mowing some grass for his horses, near the 
old town of Denny, southeast of Hugh Martin's res- 
idence, when some half dozen Indians rushed out to 
him from the timber, shot him and then fled to the 
woods. One of the shots was fired so close to him 
that the powder burned his hair. It is reported that 
after shooting him the Indians took his scalp, but 
this is denied by some old settlers who are good au- 
thority. The murder was supposed to have been 
done by Indians who had been detached from the 
main band, and were prowling about seeking some 



> 



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746 



WARREN COUNTY. 



^?^-^ 



subject for their vengeance. This sad affair was 
witnessed by the McCoy girls, who were not very far 
from the old fort. The killing of Martin threw the 
entire settlement into great consternation, and it was 
feared that another Indian war would be inaugu- 
rated. The families in this vicinity gatheied into 
the fort, bringing with them their provisions, where 
they remained for some weeks, until all apprehen- 
sions from any further trouble was removed. Happily 
there were no further attacks from the Indians. 
The saddest events of life often have amusing fea- 
tures. It was so in this unhappy affair. This fort, 
which was located west of Cedar Creek, near the old 
town of Denny, section 27, had been used at times 
during this period for the holding of religious meet- 
ings. At the time of this tragic event religious ser- 
vices were going on in the fort, attended i)y the set- 
tlers living in the vicinity, particularly the women, 
and presided over by Mr. Miles, a Methodist preach- 
er. While Miles was preaching, a man rode swiftly 
into the fort, and with bated breath announced the 
murder of Martin by the Indians. The preacher, it 
is reported, did not wait to close his sermon, nor 
even pronounce a benediction ; nor did he " stand 
on the order of his going," but mounted his horse, 
which had been hitched near by, and away he flew, 
trusting more to the speeed of his animal than he did 
to the protecting hand of God. He did not stop his 
horse until he reached Yellow Banks, on the Missis- 
sippi, and it is stated that the last that was seen of 
him, he was swimming his horse across the Illinois 
River. 

James Kendall opened the first store in the town- 
ship, in 1833. It was located in Little York, and he 
had for his store house a little log cabin. He died 
soon after, and William, his brother, took the store, 
and subsequently sold it to Arthur McFarland. 

The first post office was established at Little York, 
in 1838, and J. F. Pollock was the first Postmaster; 
held the office about 16 years, when he moved to 
Oregon. Mr. Pollock came in 1837, and located on 
section 28. 

Peter Terpening taught the first school, in 1837. 
P. L. Rockwell and Jonathan Buffun put up tiie 
first saw mill. It was erected at the Cedar Fork of 
the Henderson, generally called Cedar Creek, a short 
distance east of the old town of Denny, They worked 
on the mill during the winter of 1830-1, and had it 



ready with the opening of spring for operation. This 
was also the first saw mill in the county. A stockade 
was put up near this mill, upon the west bank of the 
creek, for protection against Indian raids. In 1832 
Chester Potter took charge of the mill, and, having 
had some experience in the grist mill business, in 
Ohio, where he came from, he concluded he would 
try his hand in the far West. After some geological 
prospecting, he succeeded m finding a granite boul- 
der (" nigger-head, as Mr. Potter called it "). from 
which he cut two burrs, 12 inches in diameter, and 
set them up in the saw mill for grinding corn. With 
these stones, grists were ground for the neighboring 
families and others in different i)arts of the county. 
As this was the first and only mill at that time in the 
county, it was largely patronized. The proprietors 
of this enterprise were truly benefactors. While it 
was not equal to tlie mills of the present day, yet it 
was undoubtedly appreciated more, for to it the 
early pioneers looked for the meal with whicii to 
make their bread. These old burrs can yet be seen 
in the township; Mr. Potter remained here one year 
and then moved into Kelly Township. It may be as 
well to close the history of this mill, at least up to 
the present time, though we travel ahead of the de- 
velopments of the townshi|). In 1837 Mr. Rockwell 
formed a partnership with D. G. Baldwin and 
erected, on the site of the old pioneer mill, a new 
and large flouring mill. With the exception of shut- 
ting down a few days for repairs, this mill has been 
running pretty constantly ever since. It has been 
enlarged and its machinery improved, which includes 
two French burrs. It is now owned by A. H. Rock- 
well, son of L. P. Their brand of flour is called the 
Eagle Mill Brand. Water-power is still used, with 
a double Laffell turbine wheel. 

The first post office in the township, and one of 
the first in the county, was located at this mill, with 
Jonathan Buffun as Postmaster. Mr. Buffun held 
the office for about a year, and then L. P. Rockwell 
was appointed, and held it for nearly 20 years. 

The first religious society organized in Sumner 
Township was the Cedar Creek Church, July 4, 1835. 
It was called the Associate Reform, and was organ- 
ized by Rev. Dr. Blakie, now of Detroit, who was a 
Missionary sent out to the new settlement of the 
West, to gather into an organization those who had 
been members of this society in the East. It was 
also called the Sharon Church. A few families made 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



747 



4 



up the first organization, of which the Giles family 
seemed to predominate. There was John Giles, who 
was the ruling Elder, 'and who probably succeeded 
to that distinction by virtue of a large kindred con- 
stituency; John B. Giles, Susanna, Nanry, Pru- 
dence, Margaret, Susan, Jane and Mary L. ; Hugh 
Martin, James Campbell, John Williamson, James 
and Mary Findley, Nancy Robinson, George and 
Mary A. Jay, constituted the remainder of tlie con- 
gregation. 

Some years before Dr. Blakie came, Rev. John 
Wallace, a Missionary from Virginia, was here 
preaching, in private houses, to the people. He was 
finally employed by this congregation, after it had 
organized, as a stated supply, preaching pretty regu- 
larly here from 1835 'o 1840. Rev. James C. Por- 
ter came out in 1840. He was liked by the society, 
and was installed in 1841, and continued in the ser- 
service of this congregation until about the time of 
his death, Nov. 15, 1863. He was a man of consid- 
' erable ability and largely increased the membership 
of this Church. 

It was during the latter part of his pastorate that 
•this Church joined in the Union with the Associate 
Presbyterians and became United Presbyterians. 
Rev. John C. Reynolds succeeded Mr. Porter, and 
remained until July, 1872, when he gave place to J. 
M. Atchison, who was installed Dec. i, 1872. Mr. 
Atchison served the congregation several years, and 
was followed by the Rev. J. A. Gherelt, who retired 
in the spring of 1885, and was their last pastor. 
This congregation had a long and prosperous life. 
Their first house of worship was built of logs and 
was located about two miles northeast of Little 
York; it was built in the summer of 1836. In 1845 
they erected a larger building of frame near the old 
log one. In 1866, the congregation outgrew this 
building, and they erected a larger and more com- 
modious edifice, at a cost of about $4,000 ; later on 
a good parsonage was put up. The church build- 
ing is beautifully located, about three miles norlh- 
east of Little York, and the parsonage about a mile 
north of the church. All of the original members 
are either dead or have moved away. The widow 
of Rev. John Wallace is yet living, in Little York. 
At the present time they have no service, but the 
Sabbath-school is still kept up. Last 4th of July, it 
celebrated its semi-centennial anniversary. 



This township is well watered by the Middle Hen- 
derson and its branches and Cedar Creek. At one 
time it was one of the best timbered townships in 
the county, and fine bodies of timber are still stand- 
ing, particularly along the borders of the streams. 
The nature of the land is undulating ; in the south- 
western and southeastern portions quite broken in 
places, wliile the northeastern part is very little undu- 
lated. The soil is rich and easily cultivated. The 
township is dotted over with grand farms, which are 
ornamented with fine dwellings and farm buildings. 
Some of the houses are elegant in construction. 
There is a station at Denny and Little York, where 
the people of the township do most of their trading 
and get their mails. The Iowa Central Railroad 
was completed through the township in the spring of 
1883. 

The population, according to the census of 1880, 
was 948. It is estimated that there has been a gain 
since then. 

According to the County Superintendent's report 
for the year ending June 30, 1885, there were seven 
school districts, in all of which there were frame 
school buildings. The school property was valued 
at $4,000. Of persons under 21 years of age there 
were 427, of whom 324 were of school age, 211 being 
enrolled. The highest wages paid teachers was $50 
per month, and the lowest $28. The tax levy was 
$2,155.19- 

From the Assessor's report for the year of 1885, 

tlie following items are obtained : Number of acres 
of improved land, 21,772 ; number of acres of unim- 
proved land, 800; value of improved land, $282,- 
355; value of unimproved land, $4,535 ; total value 
of lots, $8,635 ; number of horses 870; cattle, i,66r; 
mules and asses, 35; hogs, 2,318; carriages and 
wagons, 248; watches and clocks, 25; sewing and 
knitting machines, 57; pianos, 4; melodeons and 
organs. 29. Total cash value of personal property 

$63,535- 

SUPERVISORS. 



John P. McGaw ...1854 

John Porter 1855 

Frank Brownlee 1856-7 

H. C. Maley 1858-60 

John Atchison 1861-4 

H. C. Maley 1865-7 

A. H. Rockwell 1868-9 



R . C . Stewart 1870-1 

R.W.Porter 1872-7 

Thomas Brownlee 1878 

R. W. Poiter - .... ....1879-81 

J. J- Ivy 1882-3 

J. E. Pine 1884-5 



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748 



WARREN COUNTY. 



i^r^H- 



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Little York. 



fHlS thriving village has a very pleasing and 
a very healthy location. The immediate 
town and the land adjacent is well drained 
'^P^ by Cedar Creek. This is an old town and one 
of the oldest in the county. A store was opened 
here as early as 1833, by James Kendall, 
which was the first in the township. This ambi- 
tions town was platted in 1836, and the papers were 
filed Aug. 25 of the same year. William C. Butler 
was the surveyor, and the owners of this then valu- 
able town property were \Vm. McCoy, M. D. Ritchey 
and McCalion & Hogue. It was located on the south- 
east 20 of the northwest 21, in township 12 north of 
range 3 west of the 4th P. M. In 1838 the post- 
office was established here, and J. F. Pollock was 
appinted Postmaster. The establishment of a 
postoffice forms quite an event in the history of a 
town, and so the good people of this hamlet consid- 
ered it in that pioneer day. Mr. Pollock held the 
office about 16 years, when he resigned. We are 
not informed that he resigned with a fortune made 
in the service of Uncle Sam. He was succeeded by 
William Munsey, who held the office two years, and 
then Isaac Hopper had charge. Mr. Pollock re- 
turned to Oregon in 1856, and the Government 
again honored him with the postoffice appointment. 
In 1863, Mr. Williver was appointed and held the 
place about three years. He was succeeded by 
Wm. Munsey. who died in the service, and left the 
commission to his son Milton. In 1876, Mr. Henr)' 
was appointed and held it until 1883, when M. M. 
Palmer assumed charge, and is the present Post- 
master. 

Little York has had its ups and downs, its bright 
and its cloudy days, like all other towns. Through 
the long years it has held its own, and if the fine 
business houses that border its streets are any indi- 
cation, it has made a gain. The Indian that 50 
years ago was prowling about these grounds would 
have to tax his memory very much to recognize it, or 
call up any familiar objects. The Central Iowa R. 



R. was completed to this place, Feb. 22, 1883, and 
the first regular train came in April 5th of the same 
year. It was built up from Monmouth. The first 
mail by railroad arrived July i, 1883. 

Unlike most towns through which railroads pass, 
Little York instead of going down, has increased its 
population, and its business. The buildings are all 
bright and new, and there is not an old rookery in it. 
The people, too, are fresh, smiling, full of hope and 
common sympathy. They look upon the bright side 
of life and keep the dark in the background. It has 
a population now of some 300 souls. 

M. M. Palmer has a drug store here that would 
do credit to any town. He also keeps books, station- 
ery and jewelry. Hardware and furniture by Bird- 
sail & Pollock ; harness and saddlery by T. D. Gor- 
don ; general merchandise by Chas. Rodgers, and 
boots and shoes by Hans Joehnk; groceries by E. B. 
Wallace and general merchandise by Bowers. & Mor- 
ris. Z. D. Dorothy has a hotel and restaurant ; J. 
W. Leeper, carries on blacksmithing ; and Julius 
Poerschman supplies the people with a market. 
Schuckman & Graham manufacture wagons and bug- 
gies; B. S. Dodson has a livery and feed stable. 
There are two large elevators at the depot owned by 
Harvey & Son, and John Brownlee, grain dealers. 
Drs. C. Sherrick and A. R. Graham look after the J 
health of the village 01 uure properly speaking, the 
sick. Little York has a very interesting school, 
which is taught by J. Brock. They have a nice little 
school building with an average attendance of 45 
pupils. 

The United Presbyterian Church. This society 
was organized here 1863, by Rev. John Scott of Mon- 
mouth, with some 40 members. The congregation 
was formed mostly of the Henderson Sugar Tree 
Grove, and the Cedar Creek Churches. The build- 
ing was constructed this year, and subsequently a 
parsonage was added, the whole costing about $5,- 
000. The Rev. W. H. McMillan was the first regu- 
lar pastor, who was installed Oct. 4, 1864, and re- 
mained until April 1870. Rev. W. P. Campbell took 
charge in June, 1871, and remained until December 
1874. In February, 1876, the society secured the 
services of Rev. David Anderson, who remained 
until Oct. 1878. He was succeeded by Rev. G. H. 
Hamilton, who is still serving this church, the mem- 
bership of which is about 90. 



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WARREN COUNTY 



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4 



SWAN TOWNSHIP. 



j^WAN Township was organized April 4, 
1854. A full account of the meeting can- 
not be given as the records were destroyed 
by the tornado. Absalom Vandeveer, was 
elected the first Supervisor; A. B. Sisson, 
Clerk, and Wm. G. Bond, Assessor and Col- 
lector. Swan lies in the southern tier of the town- 
ships and is numbered 6 north, of range 2 west, of 
the 4th P. M. Roseville Township lies on the north, 
Greenbush on the east, McDonough on the south, 
and Pt. Pleasant on the west. 

The first settlers in this township were Mrs. 
Lively Cayton, widow of Abel Cayton, with her child- 
ren, and George Simmcfns and family. They came 
in the fall of 1832, Mrs. Cayton locating on section 
ri, and Mr. Simmons on section i. All were from 
Kentucky. Mrs. Cayton had four children — Nancy, 
George, Andrew J., and Miranda She died at the 
old homestead in the spring of 1871. Her son 
Andrew J., is living still on the old farm (see biog- 
raphy). George and Nancy are dead. Miranda was 
married to John Rayburne and is living in Mon- 
mouth. 

A. B. Sisson from Albany Co. N. Y., came to the 
township in 1836, The following year, his father 
and all the family, including eight children, arrived, 
locating on the northwest quarter of section 20. A. 
B. Sisson located on section 29. Joseph Sisson died 
in 185 r, in Greenbush ; his widow died in May, 1882, 
in Page County, Iowa, at the age of 92 years. The 
children, C. F., R. K., Augustine VV., died in 1851. 
M. F. died in 1882; A. J., Ann, Mary E., are living. 
Anna married Matthew Hammond, and is living in 
Iowa; Mary E., married George Welty, and is living 
with her husband in Kansas. In 1833, Peter Scott, 
Daniel R. Perkins, and Elijah Hanon with their 
families moved in. Mr. Scott located on section 18. 
Mr. Perkins and Elijah Hanon on section i. Peter 
Scott subsequently moved to Oregon, where he died. 

To this small circle of pioneers. Rev. Chas. Van- 
deveer and his family were heartily welcomed in 
1834. His family consisted of wife and five child- 
ren ; John, William, Absalom, Syntha and Maria. 



They located on section 2. This acquision to the 
neighborhood made the howl of the wolves less dis- 
agreeable and lonely, and life on the prairies of the 
West more attractive. It gave them hope for the 
settlement, and brightened up their hearts. 

Surrounded as this present generation is with a 
numerous population and all the comforts that wealth 
and civilization can bring, they cannot appreciate the 
joy that comes to the lonely heart on the prairie or in 
the wilderness, from the visitation of a human soul. 
Here, away from strife and discord, away from the 
trappings and conventionalities of society, away from 
fashion, more deadly to the natural born instincts of 
the soul than the presence of the Upas Tree, the hu- 
man heart asserts itself; here, the Divinity in man 
manifests itself, and here man is seen truly after 
God's own image. 

Syntha Vandeveer was married to John Arm- 
strong, both of whom ate now dead. Charles Van- 
deveer died in 1854, and his faithful partner fol- 
lowed him a few years afterward. These pioneers 
were soon followed by Richard Orr, Reece Perkins, 
and Wm. Talley with their families. They located 
in the timber on sections 1 and 18. Clement Pierce 
with his young " yankee " wife, as she was called, 
(see biography) came in about this time. In the 
spring of 1835 Joseph Ratekin, wife and nine chil- 
dren — Samuel, George, Polly, Fountain, Lafayette, 
Berlinda, Lucinda, Edward, and Joseph S., from 
Morgan Co., 111., moved in and located on section 
19. This family was originally from Kentucky. 
Jonathan Ratekin, another son, came in soon after. 

Joseph Ratekin was an active and prominent citi- 
zen, and not only himself but his children contrib- 
uted largely to the development of the township. 
He died Jan. 30, 1867, and his widow, Feb. 9, 1875. 
Joseph S. Ratekin resides at the old homestead and 
is one of the leading pioneers of the township. 
James Tucker came in soon after the Ratekins, lo- 
cating on section 4. Some years later he re- 
moved to Roseville, where he still resides. 

At the first public land sale of the Military Tract 
held June i6, 1835, at Quincy, 111., Mr. Tucker, 
Peter Butler, Daniel R. Perkins, Louis Vertrees, 
Jesse W. Bond and John Riggs all met at Quincy, 
for the purpose of purchasing their homes, and all 
came home together. Having secured their lands 
they felt well, and the future looked bright before 



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7SO 



WARRBN COUNTY. 



them ; but they had only five horses to ride and the 
journey was long. To be neighborly, charitable and 
obliging was the notable feature among the early 
settlers, and they arranged to " ride and tie," and 
in this way they reached their new homes without 
much fatigue. Of this party Mr. Tucker is the only 
one living. 

From this time on the settlement increased rapidly 
and this territory became one of the leading points 
of the county. 

Mr. Hendricks taught the first school in the town- 
ship, in the spring of 1833. It was held in a log 
cabin, without any floor, and no windows except 
loop holes in the walls. 

Sally Simmons, niece of RoUa Simmons, was the 
pretty maid who carried off the first matrimonial 
prize in the township. David Young was the lucky 
man to be captured. Tlie event was celebrated in 
true pioneer style. Mrs. Young is still living in 
Greenbush, but lier husband is dead. 

The first death in the township was that of Isa- 
bella, daughter of John Long, which occurred at 
the farm now owned by Joseph Pitman. The first 
child (or children) born was in 1854 — a son and 
daughter (twins) of Joel and Lovisa Bond. They 
are now living in Kansas. 

Rev. Silas Cartwright was tlie first expounder of 
the Gospel in this township, in 1834. To the wor- 
shipers it was a great religious treat. It was like 
manna to the soul, like the gentle dew to the wither- 
ing flower. Mr. Cartwriglit was a circuit rider, and 
the service was held in the school- house on section 
6. Ashel B. Sisson taught the second scliool in the 
winter of 1837-8, in a log school- house on section 17. 

The first postmaster was Peter Scott, who was 
commissioned in 1837. The postoffice was located 
ou the northwest quarter of section 18. Mr. Scott 
held the office until he moved to Oregon, when 
Joseph Ratekin was appointed. George W. Worden 
succeeded Mr. Ratekin, and held the office west of 
where the depot now stands. 

In 1870 the Rockford, Rock Island (now the St. 
Louis Branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R.), completed 
its line through the township. It enters on section 
6, running south through sections 7 and 18, then 
southeast across the northeast corner of section 19, 
then through sections 20, 21, 27 and 35. The first 
train steamed into the township July 4, 1870. Tliis 



road was of great advantage to the people as it 
furnished them ready means for the transportation 
of their products. 

On the 27th day of May, 1872, this township was 
visited with a tornado. It came from the northwest 
and struck the township about four o'clock in the 
afternoon, two miles and a half northwest of Youngs- 
town on Swan Creek. Its path was some 80 rods 
wide, and its line of destruction extended several 
miles. Its power was terrific and irresistible, de- 
molishing everything within its course ; killing cattle, 
hogs and poultry, the latter flying through the air 
like snowflakes. During the passing of this tornado 
it was almost as dark as night. Young George 
Vandeveeer was killed ; his father had his arm 
broken, and was otherwise injured; Mrs. Perry died 
from the effects of her injuries. Mrs. A. J. Cayton 
had her arm broken, her slioulder put out of joint, 
and was otherwise so injured that .she has never 
fully recovered. Mr. Cayton, who was out of the 
house at the time, was taken up and carried about 
roo yards, and was dropped down, unconscious, with 
a badly injured neck. 

Swan is watered by the middle and southern 
branches of Nigger Creek and by Swan Creek, which 
meanders easterly through it. The nature of the 
land is rolling, except in an northeasterly portion, 
which is somewhat broken. It is adorned with many 
beautiful groves, and adjacent to the streams are 
some fine bodies of timber. This townsliip is well 
cultivated and the farms, all with good dwellings 
and otiier buildings, are above the average. There 
are a few farms liere that are unsurpassed for their 
beauty and unexcelled in their productions anywhere. 

It has two thriving little villages, Swan Creek and 
Youngstown, where the people do most of their trad- 
ing, secure tiieir mail, and dispose of their products. 

The population in 1880, according to the census 
at that time, was 1,137. It is estimated that there 
has been some gain since that period. 

According to the County Superintendent's report 
for the year, ending June 30th, 1885, there were nine 
school districts, with nine schools. The school 
property was valued at $2,795 '< ^^^ buildings were 
all frame. Of persons under 21 years of age, there 
were 546; of whom 358 were of scholastic age, 275 
being enrolled. The highest wages paid teachers 
was $40., and the lowest $25 per month. The tax 
levy for the township was $2,141.94. 



*x 



•jyi 



¥ 



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^¥^ 



*t 



WARHEN COUNTY. 



75' 



The Assessor's report for 1885, contains the follow- 
ing items : Number of acres improved land, 1,657; 
number of acres of unimproved land, 5,080; value 
of improved land, $251,140; value of unimproved 
lands, $52,225 ; total value of lots, $11,125 ; number 
of horses, 823; cattle, T324; asses and mules, 18; 
sheep, 386; hogs, 2,631; steam engines, i; car- 
riages and wagons, 231; watches and clocks, 1 14; 
sewing and knitting machines, iio; pianos, 4: me- 
lodeons and organs, 34. Total cash value of per- 
sonal property, $62,356. 

SUPERVISORS. 



Absalom Vandeveer 1854-7 

Hezekiah Simmons 1858 

William G. Bond 1859-62 

A. Vandeveer 1863-4 

V. R. McKinley 1865 

A. Vandeveer 1866-70 

Jacob Miller 1871-2 



G. \V. Beckner 1873 

A. Vandeveer 1874 

G. W. Beckner. 1875-77 

J. P. Higgins 1878-8 

A. Vandeveer 1882 

A. A.Cornell 1883-5 



#^ 




Youngstown Village. 

^OUNGSTOWN is situated almost in the 
center of Swan Township, on the St. Louis 
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad. More particularly described, its site 
rests on the southwest quarter of section 
22, and the southeast quarter of section 2r, the 
northeast quarter of section 28, and the northwest 
quarter of section 27, and was platted by W. Kid- 
der, B. H. Kidder, K. Kidder, Mary A. and Eliza 
Kidder, J. B. Shawler and Olivia M. Davis. It was 
surveyed by Thomas S. McClannahan, on the ist 
and 2d days of September, 1870. McKinley 's addi- 
tion was laid out afterwards on section 27. By the 
extent of territory embraced in these plats, it would 
seem that the founders of Youngstown had very ex- 
travagant hopes regarding its future growth. It was 
started after the completion of the railroad and the 
location of a station at this point. 

A. J. Cayton was the first Postmaster. He was 
succeeded, in 1873, by H. V. Simmons, who held the 
office about a year, and VV. G. Thomas was appoint- 
ed. H. A. Taylor then held the office for awhile, 
and was superseded by C. W. Mapes. In 1881, C. 
A. Cayton was commissioned and remained in serv- 
ice two years, when he was succeeded by J. W. 
Moo.i. When the Democratic administration came 



into power, Mr. Cayton was reinstated and is the 
present Postmaster. 

H. V. Simmons opened the first store in the vil- 
lage, and was soon followed by others. Youngstown 
has a rich farming country around it, has a good 
trade, is quite a shipping point, and a very pretty 
little hamlet. The population is about 125. 

Youngstown Lodge, No. 387, A. F. & A. M., was 
chartered Oct. 8, 1863. The charter members were 
Wm. R. Chaplin, Wm. Cayton. Swiss Loutz, John 
Bowman, A. S. Hazington, Stephen Lawrence, A. Z. 
McGuin, J. VV. Nance, P. Ray, J. A. J. Smith, L. 
Barlow, J. C. Smith, J. W. Baird. The first officers 
were Wm. R. Chaplin, W. M.; Wm. Clayton, Sr. W. 
M. ; Lewis Lantz, Jr. W. M. The lodge was de- 
stroyed by fire in February, 1885. During the past 
summer they erected a new hall, which was dedi- 
cated on the 28th of October, 1885. It is a neat, 
pleasant hall, and is well furnished. The Lodge is 
in a prosperous condition. The present officers are : 
J. S. Ratekin, W. M.;A. T. Brown, Sr. W. M. ;' 
George Taylor, Jr. W. M. ; G. W. Beckman, Secre- 
tary, and A. Vandeveer, Treasurer. 

Swan Creek. 

HIS thriving little village is situated on the 
western part of Swan Township, on sec- 
^.^ tions ig and 20. It was platted on April 

^^ 16, 187 I, by John A. Gordon, County Survey- 
or. The land upon which the town is located 
was dedicated for the use of the inhabitants 
by James Tucker, Verlinda Worden, Caroline J. 
Tucker, George W. Worden, Joseph S. Ratekin and 
Hannah M. Ratekin. 

Swan Creek, a thrifty town, is not overgrown, and 
those who are in business here have a good trade and 
are prosperous. After the railroad came in, the post- 
office was moved into the village, and John H. Lippy 
was appointed Postmaster, succeeding Mr. Worden, 
who had held the office in the township. Mr. Lippy 
is the present Postmaster. A most important indus- 
try in the village is the Swan Creek Brick and Tile 
Company. This company was incorporated Aug. i, 
1885, with a capital stock of $6,000. The Direct- 
ors are A. B. Sisson, E. V. Bliss, M, B. Roberts, Wm. 




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752 



WARREN COUNTY. 



ih 



H. Stephenson and Chas. Torrence. Officers : 
Royal Bliss, President, \Vm. S. Bliss, Secretary; 
and A. A. Cornell, Treasurer. This company 
manufactures about 9,000 tile per week, and employs 
15 men. They get their clay on Swan Creek, about 
four miles southeast of the town. 

William L Bliss and John H. Lippy are dealers in 
general merciiandise. M. B. Roberts carries on the 
drug business, hardware and groceries. Restaurant 
by Joseph Repple. Dr. B. A. Griffith is the village 
physician. I'opulation is estimated at about 250. 

The village has a good school, with an average at- 
tendance of 40 pupils. Miss Rhoda Byarlay is the 
present teacher. They have a good, substantial, 
plain school building. 

SOCIETIES. 

G. A. R., I). J. Tucker Post, No. 407, was organ- 
ized Feb. 9, 1884, with 14 charter members. Pres- 
ent officers : Edgar Bliss, C; J. C. Buchanan, Sr. 
V. C; A. J. Johnson, Jr., V. C; B. A. Griffith, Adjt.; 
John Bouton, O. D ; R. H. Ostrander, Q. M.; C. M. 
McClanahan, Surg.: Alex. Bouton,Chaplain ; William 
^ F. Stephenson, O. G.; Isaac Edil, Sergt. Maj ; Elias 
D. Acton, Q. M. S. Present membership 18. The 
Post is in a good condition, and holds its meetings 
regularly in the Union Hall. 

The I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 203. This society was 
chartered Oct. 15, 1885, with six charter members. 
The present officers are: U. R. Warren, M. G.; 
Frank Jerrid, V. G.; Robert Bradley, Secretary ; J. 
S. Ratekin, Treasurer. Present membership of this 
society is ro, and ihey liold their meetings in Union 
Hall. 

RELIGIOUS. 

Tiie Universalists have a society here, and preach- 
ing every two iveeks by Miss Anna Fleming, of 
Avon. Services are lield in the Union Hall. Miss 
Fleming, wlio is an eloquent speaker, has awakened 
quite an interest in this township among the believ- 
ers in this particular faith, and her services are 
largely attended. 

A Sunday School was organized here several years 
ago. It was free to all, irrespective of religious 
views or creeds. A good deal of interest has been 
manifested in this scliool since its foundation, and a 
Sunday has not passed that service has not been held. 
Since the erection of Union Hall, this Sunday 



*T 



School has held its meetings here. A. A. Cornell is 
the present Superintendent. 



^^ 



TOMPKINS TOWNSHIP. 



^^sSii 




THIS township is situated in the middle of 
the western row, and is in number 10 
^ nortii, of range 3, west. It is bounded on 
the nortli by Hale, on the east by Lenox, on 
the south by Ellison Township, and on the 
west by Henderson County. 

A meeting was held by the citizens for the purpose 
of establishing a township government, April 4, 1854. 
Nathan Carr was called to the cliair ; Orrin Lam- 
phere was chosen Moderator, Ransom Tinkham and 
Selh Smith, Assistants ; T. W. Beers and Daniel M. 
Smiley, Clerks. The result of the vote was as fol- 
lows : For Supervisor, Joseph Tinkham ; Clerk, 
Daniel M. Smiley; Assessor, James H. Martin; 
Collector, John L. Hanna; Justices of the Peace, 
William Hanna and James L. Rusk; Commissioners 
of Highways, Seth Smith and T. F. Hogue ; Consta- 
bles, H. R. Norcross and John L. Hanna; Overseers 
of the Poor, William Norcross and Orrin Lamphere. 

John Quinn was the first settler to stake out a 
home in the township, but he pulled up his stake in 
a short time and moved to other fields. 

Samuel Hanna and family and Wilson Kendall 
moved in, in 1830, and made claims, the former on 
section 5, and the latter on section 6. The Kendalls 
lived in the township several years and then moved 
to Oregon. Mr. Hanna's family consisted of a wife 
and nine children: William, John, Isabella, Eliza- 
beth, Miles, Samuel, Jr., Gieen, Mary and James. 
Elizabeth was married to Robert Hutchinson, and 
Mary became the wife of Henry Creswell. They 
were a remarkable family, especially noted for their 
benevolence and charity. Mrs. Hanna was always 
ready lo aid the poor and the sick, and her hand was 
ever ready, and her purse open, for charitable pur- 
poses. The family were wealthy, and she had plenty 
of means to second the promptings of her generous 
heart. Mr. Hanna and his wife died at the old 
homestead at an advanced age, beloved and mourned 
by all who knew them. 

James Gibson and Samuel Creswell, with their 



^ 



■4: 



■ . ■)C^ . 

WAJiREN COUNTY. 



753 



TP" 



families, came in the same year. James Gibson lo- 
cated on section 7. He was a good citizen, a suc- 
cessful farmer and accumulated for his family 
a fine property. He and his wife died at the 
old farm, where his son, John K., now lives. (See 
biography.) 

The Creswells were from Ohio, and came to the 
township with si.x children, James, Hannah, Mary, 
Henry, Rachel and Rebecca. Hannah died before 
marriage; Rebecca was married to William Hanna, 
eldest son of Samuel Hanna. She is also dead. 
Mr. and Mrs. Creswell died some years ago at the 
old place. Mr. Creswell was a very able and intel- 
lectual man, having no superior in the township. 
Before he came to this county he was a member of 
the Ohio Legislature. James Creswell married Mary 
Ann Woods, and is now living in Henderson County. 
Henry married Mary, youngest daughter of Samuel 
Hanna, and is living in Des Moines, Iowa. Rachel 
was married to J. M. Woods, and both are still liv- 
ing. 

Zachariah M. Davis located in the township soon 
after the Gibsons, and near their farm. They are 
now living in Nebraska. They had two cliildren, 
Joann and Martin. Joann married Lew Leslie, and 
is dead ; Martin is still living. 

Samuel Hutchinson came in, in the spring of 1833. 
He is recently deceased, in Monmouth. In 1835 
Joseph and Ransom Tinkham, from New England, 
with their families, came in and settled in the lower 
tier of sections, where they lived for many years. 
Ransom is dead, but his family are living in Kirk- 
wood. Joseph is also living there. 

During this year and the following, Judson Graves, 
DeWitt Phelps, A. P. Carmichael and C. H. Warren 
moved in, making, with those who had preceded 
them,quite a little settlement, and givinga neighborly 
aspect to the new country. With the good start 
thus made, the township increased in population and 
developed very rapidly. 

Isaac Ray, from Kentucky, wife and six children 
— Talitha, Eliza, John, Isaac, Jr., Josephus and 
Mary Jane, moved in, in 1837, locating on section 7. 
The children are all dead but two, Talitha and Jo- 
sephus. The parents died at the old home. (See 
biography of Josephus.) 

The first school house was erected by Mr. Hanna, 
near his home, and the first school was taught by 



Mr. Banker. Mr. Creswell was the enterprising man 
who first put up a grist mill in the township. It was 
located near Mr. Hanna's place, and was operated 
by ox-power, the oxen working a tread mill. 

The first church built in the toivnship was at 
Kirkwood, and the first service held in it was by 
Rev. Jas. Brace, afterwards of the United Presbyte- 
rian Church. Prior to this, religious meetings were 
held in private houses. 

The eastern portion of this township is undulating 
prairie, the northwestern part is somewhat broken. 
It is watered by South Henderson Creek and its 
tributaries. A part of the township is liberally tim- 
bered, particularly along the water courses. The to- 
pography of the township is attractive, and the en- 
tire area is very well adapted for farming and stock 
raising, and both of these branches of husbandry 
are carried on well and successfully. 

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was 
constructed through the township in the early part 
of 1855. It enters the township near the northeast 
corner and passes out on section 18. 

The people do their trading chiefly at Kirkwood, 
which is a thriving town. In 1880 the township, as 
shown by the census, had a population if 1,994, and 
there has been since that time a small gain. 

According to the County Superintendent's report 
for the year ending June 30, 1885, there were ten 
school districts in the township, with one graded and 
nine ungraded schools. All the buildings were 
frame. The school property was valued at $7,000. 
Of persons under 21 years of age, theie were 725, of 
whom 548 were of scholastic age, 426 being enrolled. 
The highest wages paid teachers was $85 and the 
lowest $25 per month. The tax levy for this year 
was $4,725. 

From the Assessor's report for the year 1885, the 
following items have been obtained. Number of 
acres of improved land, 21,794 ; number of acres of 
unimproved land, 388; value of improved land, 
$349,700; total value of lots, $7 1,740 ; number of 
horses, 883; cattle, 2,047; mules and asses, 44; 
sheep, 85; hogs, 2,922; steam engines, i ; carriages 
and wagons, 349; watches and clocks, 214; sewing 
and knitting machines, 102; pianos, 10; melodeons 
and organs, 24;- total cash value of personal prop- 
erty, $155,985. 



< 



-JUKI 



4= 



:^^^ 



754 



WARREN COUNTY. 



SUPERVISORS. 



Joseph I'inkham "855-6 

Wm. Hanna 1857 

(leorge Tubbs 1858-61 

J. I.. Bachelor 1861-2 

Henry Tubbs 1863-5 

James Moore 1866 

Cyrus Bute 1867 

Henry Tubbs i8b8-g 

N. A. Chapin 1870 

W. G. Latimer 1871 



.1872 



Henry Tubbs 

W. M. Oalbraiih 1873 

Hugh Gilmorc ^^lA-% 

Thos. Beers 1876 

J. E. Barnes 1877-9 

r. W. Beers 1880 

W. G. Latimer 1881 

Henry Tubbs ..1882 

Robert Gamble 1883-4 

J. C. McLinn 1885 




— *^ — 

Kirkwood. 

HIS charmingly located town was started a 
short period before the advent of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and 
was first called Lyndon. It was, however, in- 
corporated Aug. 5, 1865, under the act of the 
Legislature as Young America. At the elec- 
tion, J. K. Cummings, J. B. Sofield, A. Carmichael, 
O. Laniphere, J. L. Bachelor, were chosen Trustees. 
At a meeting of the trustees, August 15, for the pur- 
pose of completing their corporate government, T. 
K. Cummings was chosen President of the Board ; 
J. B. Sofield, Secretary; and J. L. Bachelor, Clerk. 
At a meeting held August 5 ist, the boundary lines 
were determined, as follows, viz. : Commencing 80 
rods north of the southeast corner of the northwest 
quarter of section 9, 10 north 3 west ; thence west 
one mile, to the northeast quarter of section 8 ; 
thence south one mile, to the center of the west line 
of the northeast quarter of section 17, thence east, to 
the center of the east line of the northwest quarter of 
section 16; thence north, one mile, to tlie place of 
beginning. 

A petition was presented to the Board by a major- 
ity of the legal voters, requesting that the name be 
changed from Young America to that of Kirkwood, 
which petition was granted, May 14, 1874, with but 
one dissenting vote. 

It was first platted by David Irvine and A. G. 
Kirkpatrick, the plat containing 80 acres on the east 
side of the southeast quarter of section 8, and was 
filed for record Oct. 20, 1854. There were 12 sub- 
sequent additions to the town. 

Carr and Rankin had the enterprise to start 
the first store in the town, which was located on the 
corner of Kirk and Cherry Streets. Knowles, Ray 
& Chapin opened the next store, on the north side 
of the railroad track. The first building erected here 



*x 



was for a hotel, by the railroad company. This was 
also located on the north side of the track and Avas 
used for a restaurant. VV. \V. Gilmore was the first 
Postmaster, receiving his commission soon after the 
railroad station was establislied. S. C. Smith erected 
the first dwelling house. It was located in the 
northwest part of the town. 

The first school taught in the town, then called 
Lyndon, was by David Abby, over a warehouse. 
Soon after this school was opened, a school-house 
was erected, which was located on tlie north side of 
the railroad. Its completion was made the occasion 
of a celebration. 

Having thus secured so favorable a start, the fu- 
ture growth of the town was assurred. Messrs. 
Chapin, Houlton & Davis established a private 
banking institution at an early day and are now do- 
ing a large business. This is one of the reliable 
banking houses in the county. After the inaugura- 
tion of the National Banking system, tlie First Na- 
tional Bank of Kirkwood was established, which is 
doing an extensive business. The mercantile line is 
well represented here, and there are many very fine 
stores, some of which would be very creditable to 
any city. 

The Kirkwood Roller Mills, by Davidson & Sons, 
is one of the manufacturing industries which give 
credit to a town and materially aid in its develop- 
ment. It has been running now about 22 years, 
and under the roller system about four years, retain- 
ing one burr for grinding middlings. Tlie capacity 
of this mill is about 40 barrels every 24 hours. This 
firm is constructing a large btick building near the 
track of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 
into which tliey intend to put new and improved 
machinery, which will give them a capacity of 100 
barrels per day. They expect to be able to start 
this mill by the first of June, 1886. 

In natural advantages of location, Kirkwood has 
no superior in the county. In walking about the 
town, one is impressed with the fact that the art of 
man could not construct more beautiful or desirable ■ 
sites for dwellings. The citizens, with commendable 
skill and taste, have enhanced the natural attract- 
iveness of tliese grounds by setting out sliade-trees, ■ 
which have grown into grandeur, laying out broad 
streets, and erecting elegant and imposing residences. 
Much of this, however, if not all, is lost to the trav- 



:l_ T » 



WARREN COUNTY. 



755 



4 



eler who only passes through, stopping, it may be, 
for a night at the hotel, and in consequence of which 
Kirkwood has obtained rather an unenviable reputa- 
tion. If the people would fence in, or fence out, the 
depot, with its immediate surroundings, it would give 
the traveler at least the luxury of imagining that 
over or beyond this fence there might rest one of the 
most attractive towns within the Military Tract. 

The present officers of the village are : F. M. 
Davidson, President of the Board of Trustees ; J. C. 
Betzinger, C. H. Mundorff, J. C. McLinn, and C. A. 
Carmichael, Trustees; E. Schenbarger, Clerk; W. 
K. Gamble, Treasurer ; John Effort, Marshal. The 
population of the town is about i,ioo. 

MINERAL SPRINGS. 

About a mile from the corporate limits, is located 
the Mineral Springs of Kirkwood. This place is a 
favorite refort for tourists, and the waters are be- 
lieved to contain medicinal qualities. Whether this 
is really so or not, it does not matter, as long as the 
impression is made upon the imagination of the vis- 
itors that they do. However, the end is accomp- 
lished. People come here, have relaxation, change 
of air and exercise, and feel better. They drink a 
great deal of water — as people do at all watering- 
places — and imagine they are effected by it. Pos- 
sibly they are. They would feel the same effects, 
however, at any place, by drinking the same amount 
of pure water. One advantage of this place at least, 
is that that there is plenty of water, and it is easily 
obtained, having a constant flow; and there is not 
much danger of the visitors drinking the springs 
dry, though it would seem at times to a healthy 
looker-on that there was a deep laid conspiracy en- 
ergetically executed to accomplish this. 

These grounds are very pleasantly located and are 
naturally attractive. A small museum has been es- 
tablished, which contains some very fine and rare 
fossils and geological specimens that are of interest 
to the scientist as well as the naturalist. If the 
grounds were more extensively improved and a good 
large hotel located here, it would be a very agreea- 
ble place for a person to spend a few weeks in idle- 
ness and gossiping, providing, always, that they have 
nothing else to do, or can make no better use of 
their time. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

W. W. Gilmore was the first man to distribute 



the mail to the people of this town. He held the 
office of Postmaster for ra years and was followed 
by George Williams. Succeeding Mr. Williams was 
W. M. Galbraith, John E. Willets, E. L. Senberger, 
J. B. Sofield, and N. Gordon, the present incum- 
bent. 

The town of Kirkwood has an excellent graded 
school, with very fair school buildings. J. C. Stock- 
ton is Principal; Mattie Armstrong, First Assistant; 
Cynthia Shatby, Second .\ssistant; Nellie Willets, 
primary department. The south school is under 
the charge of Miss Laura Brown. Enrollment about 
250. 

The location of the cemetery is one of exceeding 
beauty, the site embracing about eight acres, and it 
is situated about one mile west of the town of Kirk- 
wood. Originally there were only three acres in the 
site. John Ramsel, W. D. Johnson and J. L. Bach- 
elor bought the land in 1856, organized an associa- 
tion and had the land laid out for cemetery pur- 
poses. They afteiwards conveyed their rights to . 
the town, under which control it now is. Subse- 
quently the corporation extended the grounds by 
purchase. They are embellished by shade-trees and 
some very neat and artistically designed monuments. 
Most of the lots are well cared for. 

The people of Kirkwood have sought to protect 
themselves from the ravages of fire, and have estab- 
lished a very good fire department. It consists of 
two companies, the Excelsior, which is a hook and 
ladder company, with Thomas Calahan as Foreman ; 
T. S. Kyler, as First Assistant; George R. Everett, 
Secretary ; witli a membership of 20. The Cham- 
pion Con, pany runs a chemical engine, which is al- 
ways ready for use. E. H. Gilmore is Foreman; C. 
O. Carmichael, Assistant; Chas. Mundorff, Secre- 
tary; S. F. Allen, Treasurer; J. P. Davidson, Man- 
head; and William Sofield, Nozzleman. This 
company has 14 members. J. C. Bly is Chief Fire 
Marshal. 

Kirkwood has a most excellent band, of which 
Henry Plitscher is the Leader. There are 1 1 in- 
struments, and the members practice regularly and 
are well organized. 

SOCIETIES. 

Masonic Lodge, A. F. & A. M., A. Lincoln, No. 
518, was chartered Oct. i, 1867, with 18 members. 
First officers, N. Pierpont, W. M. D. C. Davis, S. 



I 



^^-^ 



i 



7S6 



WARREN COUNTY. 



h 



VV.; L. M. Mitchell, J. W. Present officers: A. B. 
Holliday, W. M.; J. C. Betziiiger, S. W. ; J. W. 
Kelly, J. W. ; W. J. Sofield, J. D. ; B. D. Sofield, S. 
D. ; H. J. Cutler, Treasurer ; Cyrus Bute, Secretary ; 
Jacob Long, Tyler. Present membership, 46. They 
hold their meetings in the Odd Fellows Hall. 

I. O. O. F., Kirkwood Lodge, No. 675, was started 
Nov. 17, 1880. J. P. March, James B. Butler, Thos. 
W. Beers and Jacob J. Yager were tiie charter mem- 
bers. This Lodge has a very good hall, wliich is 
well furnished, and the lodge is well equipped and in 
good working condition. 

G. A. R. Post, No. 8(. This Post was organized 
Aug. 4, 1880, with 34 charter members, and was the 
firstorganization ofthekindin Warren and Henderson 
Counties. The first officers were : C. A. Carmichael, 
C; R. R. Davison, S. V. C; G. V. Johnson, J. V. 
C; VV. G. Latimer, O. D. ; John Holliday, U. G. ; 
J. H. Gilmore, Q. M. , .S. C. Hogue, Chaplain ; S. C. 
Glover, Adj. Many of the members of the Post are 
from Henderson County. The majority of them af- 
terwards withdrew and formed a Post at Oquawka. 
Later on, many of the comrades who ijelonged to 
>« Monmouth Township, started a Post in Monmouth 
City. The Kirkwood Post is one of the best in this 
part of the country. They have a good hall, which 
is well furnished and equipped, and they are in the 
most flourishing condition. .Since their firstorgani- 
zation they have enlisted 194 comrades. The "old 
boys" of this part of the country do not forget the 
incidents and associations connected with the late 
war, nor the patriotism lliat inspired them to shoul- 
der their muskets, leave their home and kindred, and 
offer up their lives on the altar of their country. The 
present officers of the Post are; J. M. Dennis, C. ; J. 
S. Glover, S. V. C. ; A. Edwards, J. V. C. ; S. G. 
Baggett, O. D. ; J. C. Berry, O. G. ; J. H. Gilmore, 
Q. M.; W. M. Glover, Chaplain; R. R. Davison, 
Adj. The Post meets the first and third Mondays 
of each month, and since their organization have 
never failed to have a quorum for the transaction of 
business. 

PRESS. 

Kirkwood has been quite a little graveyard for 
newspaper enterprises. The Monmouth Atlas had 
a branch office here, and printed a special edition for 
Kirkwood, in 1867. It did not prove profitable, and the 
project was abandoned. In 1868, Judson Graves 



concluded to embark in the newspaper world, and 
deal witli plain facts as well as fancies, under the title 
of Kirkwood Plaindealer. It was a weekly paper, six- 
column folio. Republican in politics. It continued 
for about three years, laboring for the enlightenment 
of the denisens of Kirkwood, but failing to produce 
that degree of enlightenment necessary for its con- 
tinuation in Kirkwood, it m.xde its bow to the town, 
and struck out for a new field of labor, landing at 
Galesburg, where it appeared rehabilitated as the 
Galesburg Plaindealer . 

The Kirkwood Nezas was the next to seek the fa- 
vor of the people, whom it desired especially to 
bless. This daring adventurer was W. H. Leedham. 
His sheet went fortii to the public, June, 1875. It 
was a sixcolu:nn folio, issued every week, and inde- 
pendent in politics. Subsequently, it was enlarged 
to a seven-column paper. Whether the publishers 
were attracted to this place as a rich journalistic 
field, or to it as a cemetery where burial services 
would be performed with facility and cheapness, his- 
tory does not inform us; but no sooner was the A'eias 
launched upon the journalistic sea, than the Kirk- 
wood Etiterprise appeared, with sails all set, bearing ij 
right down upon her bow with an order for her to »^ 
fold her sheets or "pi ' her columns. A compromise 
was effected by the News selling out to the Enter- 
prise. The Enterprise was started by Everett & 
Broi. At first it was rather a small sheet, but was 
afterwards enlarged to a six-column folio. It was 
independent in politics, and liberal in religious mat- 
ters. It closed its career very iiappily in the fall of 
1880, and the autumn very generously covered its 
grave with her leaves. 

In March, 1880, Barnes and Smaley established 
the Kirkwood Leader. It was an eight-column folio, 
issued every Wednesday, and was independent in 
politics. The firm published the Leader eight months, 
and then sold out to Bradshaw & Hook. With the 
new and bright year, 1885, Mr. Charles Bradshaw 
became sole proprietor and editor. He is a newspa- 
per man with considerable exi)erience, the tide is in 
his favor, the rocks, reefs and shoals in the journal- 
istic sea have been passed, and his venture is a suc- 
cess. The Leader is ably edited, has a good circu- 
lation, is a credit to the town and should be liberally 
supported. 

CHURCHES. 

Presbyterian Church. — In the early part of 1856, 



V 



•f4— 



.ir:=; — 

WARREN COUNTY. 



— HH^ 



757 



the members of this society held a meeting and dis- 
cussed the question of an organization. The result 
of this meeting was the appointment of a committee, 
upon solicitation by the Schuyler Presbytery, to assist 
in the formation of a society. The committee con- 
sisted of the Rev. J. H. Nevins, Dr. R. C. Matthews, 
Hiram Norcross and James Boggs, who went about 
their work with great zeal, and completed the organ- 
ization with 26 members, which they styled, " South 
Henderson Church." The first pastor installed was 
Rev. J. H. Nevins, who served the Church one year. 
The first Elders were Alex. M. Harvey, Nathan Carr 
and Jacob Ackerman. Rev. W. L. Lyons succeeded 
Mr. Nevins, and remained in the work over tiiree 
years. While Mr. Lyons was in charge, they erected 
their first house of worship. It was a small frame 
structure, and stood in the south part of the town. 
They then had supply preaching for some years. In 
1865 Rev. J. W. Allen was secured; he was an able, 
energetic and zealous man, and through his efforts, 
' supported by a liberal congre£;ation, the present 
building was completed. It is a fine, large, imposing 
structure, of Gothic architecture, well finished, and 
>= costing about $8,000. After two years' service, Mr. 
Allen resigned, and was followed by Rev. G. N. 
Johnson as a supply, and also by J. H. Marshall. In 
1884 Rev. E. W. Thompson accepted a call, and is 
still with the Church. Present membership is about 
100, with an interesting Sabbath-school, of about the 
same number. 

United Presbyterian Church. — -The first preaching 
in the community was supplied by the Rev. Marion 
Morrison, who preached in a school house adjacent 
to the town for about one year, before a congregation 
was organized. The first meeting looking toward an 
organization was at the home of Mr. J. S. Paris. 
March i, 1858, Boon's Hall was secured as a place 
for worship. The Presbytery provided them with 
preaching during the summer and autumn, and, on 
Nov. 4, 1858, a commission of Presbytery, consist- 
ing of the Rev. D. A. Wallace and Elders M. B. 
Campbell and J. W. Woods, met at the Centre 
School-house and organized the congregation with 
15 members. At this meeting three Elders were 
elected — J. \V. Woods, Leander Lindly andMathew 
Wood. At the next meeting of the commissioners, 
Nov. 20, same year, for the ordination and installa- 
tion of the Elders-elect, J. H. Martin was also chosen 
Elder. The name of the congregation at this time 



of the organization was that of Young America. It 
was changed to Kirkwood early in 1875. They met 
for worship, for five years in rented halls. In 1861 
they took steps toward building a place of worship. 
They had it finished for worship Nov. 7, 1863. It is 
a neat church, with a capacity of about 300, costing 
about $2,800. Rev. S. N. Moore served the con- 
gregation from June 13, 1863,10 February, 1864. He 
was not ordained nor installed, on account of being 
adjudged by the Presbytery, at the time of his trial 
for ordination, guilty of heresy, at which time his 
license was withdrawn. Rev. J. B. Foster began his 
labors June, 1864, and resigned his pastorate the 
last of August, 1867, to connect himself with the 
Presbyterian Church. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Wm. J. McSurley, who began his labors in October, 
1867. He resigned to connect himself with the 
Presbyterian Church, Dec. 31, 1868. Rev. J. M. 
Waddel was ne.xt called to take charge, in the spring 
of 1869, and he also resigned, in 1876, to connect 
with the Presbyterian Churcli. He was succeeded ■ 
by Rev. L. N. Laferty, July 8, 1877. Mr. Laferty 
resigned Dec. 30, 1883, to accept an appointment by 
the Home Mission Board, at Creston, Iowa. In b< 
March, 1884, Rev. Wm. McConnell was called, and 
was installed April 24, 1884, and is still with the 
Church. The present membership numbers 230. 
A large Sabbath-school is attached to this congrega- 
tion. 

Baptist Church. — The members of this Church met 
Oct. 12, 185s, for the purpose of organization. This 
society was organized and called the Lyndon Bap- 
tist Church. It was organized by Rev. James Ho- 
vey, with ten members; Mr. Hovey was the first 
pastor. It was then in the Salem Association, but 
was subsequently changed to the Peoria Association. 
Succeeding Mr. Hovey, in December, 1864, was Rev. 
B. F. Caldwell, who remained until the close of 1866. 
He was followed by Rev. E. J. Lockwood, who 
served until about the ist of June, 1869, when he 
was succeeded by Rev. H. E.Norton. Mr. Norton 
remained until February, 187 1, when Rev. Henry 
Taylor was called, who served the Church until No- 
vember, 1872. In January, 1873, Rev. Mr. Seward 
assumed the pastoral chair, remaining until 1875, 
and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Fuller, who served 
until August, 1878. He was succeeded by Rev. E. 
G. Cheverton, who remained until August, 1880. 
They were served by supplies then for awhile. In 



*t 



'-Kn. 



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■ Y. 
WARREN COUNTY. 



July, 1882, the Rev. Mr. Deppernian was secured. 
He was the last pastor, serving until 1884. They 
have a very good church, wliich cost $1,500. Present 
membership about 42. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized 
here in 1856, at the Young America Hotel, by Rev. 
O. S. Swartz. In the first class formed, there were 
John and Elizabeth Ramsdcll, Mary E. Youmas, 
Daniel and Matilda Tinker, Oliver and Rachel Hall, 
William and Margaret Roberts. The first pastor 
who took charge of this Church was Rev. James 
Tubbs; following him were Revs. C. Springer, B. C. 
Couch, M. Spurlock, J. J. Flaherty, Samuel Fisher, 
Jesse Smith, C. H. Bruce. A house of worship was 
erected in 1865, costing, with grounds and parson- 



age, about $8,000. It was dedicated by Dr. Eddy. 

To Rev. Jas. Tubbs, the credit in a great measure, 
is due for the completion of this building. They 
have a good membership and a large and interesting 
Sabbath-school. 

We regret that we are unable to give a more full 
account of the history of this Church, but the pastor 
who promised, and on whom we relied for informa- 
tion regarding its organization, growth and present 
condition, failed in his promises, and hence our his- 
tory is not as complete as it otherwise might have 
been. A historian has to depend upon ivritten and 
traditional matter for his works, and when the former 
is meagre and the latter unobtainable, his histories 
must of necessity be incomplete. 



*X 





■/>\\>rM^^ 






M 









ton and otiiers. 



11 1''. City of Monmouth may 
be considered to have been 
founded when the commis- 
sioners, John Ct. Sanburn, 
Hazen Bedell, and John 
McNeil, appointed under 
an Act of the General As- 
sembly, established at this point a 
permanent seat of Justice, which 
was ap[jroved Jan. 27, 1830. Its 
settlement was started by pioneers 
moving in from different parts of 
this and Henderson Counties, the 
first coining in being Daniel Mc- 
Neil, Elijah Davidson, and Joel 
Hargrove. 'I'hey were soon fol- 
lowed by John Pence, Peter But- 
ler, John B. Talbott, Wm. S. Pax- 
Its location is within about four 



miles of the geographical center of the county and 



may be more particularly described as being situ- 
ated on the southeast quarter of section 29, in town- 
ship 1 1, north of range 2 west, of the 4th P. M. In 
making their report the Commissioners stated, that 
they believed the location selected b) them was 
"Congress land." To this location they gave the 
name of Monmouth. The site was chosen on the 
7th day of April, 1831, and was accepted by the 
County Commissioners. It is a matter of history 
that the County Commissioners were not satisfied 
with the name of Monmouth nor the location of the 
County seat, and one of them threatened to nullify 
it. But the Calhoun doctrine had not then been in- 
troduced into the politics or government of Illinois, 
and the action of the Commissioners held good. The 
survey of the town was let to the lowest bidder, who 
was Peter Butler, at 22 >^ cents per lot, April 25, 
1831. The work of " Peter Butler, Surveyor," was 
accepted by the County Commissioners, June 6, 1831. 
The seat of Justice had been temporarily located 



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WARREN COUNT y. 



•=^rH- 



759 



at Oquawka, bat no session of Court had been held 
there. Monmouth was platted by Peter Butler in 
1836, and certified by him Sept. 8ih following. A 
patent was given to this one quarter section, by the 
U. S. Government, to John Pence, Peter Butler, and 
John B. Talbott, Feb. 12, 1836, and was signed by 
that grand old patriot, President Andrew Jackson. 
Daniel McNeil, Jr., was appointed Commissioner by 
the County Court with power to sell and deed lots to 
purchasers. 

Upon petition being sent to the Postmaster-Gen- 
eral asking that a postoffice be established in the 
county, Daniel McNeil, Jr. was appointed Postmas- 
ter of Warren Court House as it was called. This 
name was given that the mail might be taken where- 
ever the seat of Justice was located. The appoint- 
ment was made in the spring of 1831, but the mails 
were delayed in coming and did not arrive until 
June, and at that time Monmouth had been located 
as the seat of Justice and the mail was opened here, 
which was the first in the county. Warren Buffun 
had been appointed Postmaster at Cedar Creek in 
the winter of 1831, but owing to delay above men- 
tioned, no mail was received here until June, when 
it came through to Monmouth postoffice. 

It is said of Daniel McNeil, (who held nearly all 
of the offices in the town and county) that he used 
to carry the postoffice in his hat, and if he met a 
citizen for whom he had a letter, he would doff his 
hat and hand him his mail. Postage in those days 
was 25 cents and unpaid. The good Daniel, how- 
ever, would not withhold the letter if a person did 
not have the postage; and it is said that he had set- 
tled, from his own pocket, some heavy bills with the 
postoffice department. 'I'he jMoneers would jest- 
ingly, and with truth say, that McNeil was always 
in his office. It has been previously said that he 
held about all the offices in tlie county, so many in 
fact that it made him poor and he was obliged to earn 
bread for his fimily. When out, his good dame would 
act as his deputy. Daniel McNeil lived where John 
Carr's house now stands, on Broadway, on the edge 
of the ravine. It was the first cabin put up in the 
town. The first tavern was located on Broadway 
below the Court House Square on tlie opposite 
side of the street in block 20. This famous hostelry, 
wliich still stands after the lapse of half a century, 
was a double log house with an attic, and was opened 



by James M. Garrison, in the fall of i83r. Sur- 
viving its need for hotel purposes and having been 
occupied for various uses of man, it finally came into 
possession of W. S. Paxon, a worthy pioneer, who 
now uses it as a blacksmith shop. The first couple 
married in Garrison's Inn were Caesar Love and 
Venus McComiick (colored) Feb. 25, 1836. In this 
hotel E. S. Swinney used to lodge. He had his bunk 
directly under the roof in tlie northwest corner. To 
look at this corner now one would be inclined to 
sympathize with Bro. Swinney, and think he had a 
close time of it 

The second couple married in the town were 
Josiah Whitman and Hannah Davidson, Oct. 12, 
1832. The first marriage in the county was that of 
Samuel White and Huldah Jennings by John B. Tal- 
bott, J. P., May 10, i83r. 

W. S. Paxton broke the first ground in the town 
for Daniel McNeil, who planted the first crop. Mc- 
Neil had his first official building east of the Bank on 
Broadway. 

According to Joel Hargrove, Wm. S. Paxon opened 
the first store in the town, in the spring of 1831, 
where Scott & Bros', grocery house now stands. Iti 
was in a little wickup, or round shanty, built with 
poles, mud and straw. 

Robert Black was the pioneer in the school de-' 
partment in this town, opening a school in the sum- 
mer of 1 83 1. The second school was opened by 
Alpheus Russell. 

Thomas B. Ciillum was licensed to keep a store 
at Monmoutl,, July 4, 1831, and he celebrated Inde- 
pendence day by opening his little stock of goods 
for sale to the settlers. He was followed in October 
by Joel Hargrove, and in December by Elijah David- 
son. 

June 6, 1 83 1, the sale of lots by order of the 
Commissioners took place. The order read: "The 
highest and best bidder to be tlie purchaser, provid- 
ing the large or ' ouilots ' be not sold unless the bid 
offered should amount to at least $2 per acre ; the 
bid on the ' inlots ' be not sold for less than $4 per 
lo*, and those adjoining the Public Square not to be 
sold unless the bid offered be at least not less than 
$10 per lot. There was realized from the sale of 
lots this day $965.62." 

The town was retarded in its growth by the In- 
dian troubles. Soon after the sale of the lots a re- 



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760 



ir 



WARREN COUNTY. 



port came of the rising of Black Hawk's band. This 
alarmed the settlement very much and some fami- 
lies left the town. After consultation it was decided 
that forts be built and that the settlers come together 
for mutual protection. Accordingly one fort was 
built about a mile from town, and another at Peter 
Butler's place a few miles from the settlement. 

After the Indian troubles were over other business 
houses were opened and this settlement advanced 
rapidly. 

With the increase of population came a desire to 
have a corporate government of some kind, and 
Daniel McNeil, Jr., took the lead in this movement. 
Finally notices were posted about tlie town inform- 
ing the legal voters that a meeting would be held 
Nov. 29, 1836, at the school-house, to determine 
this question. The proceedings were under the gen- 
eral law of this State, approved Feb. 12, 1831, which 
was entitled an " Act to incorporate the inhabitants 
of such towns as may wish to be incorporated." At 
the election Elijah Davidson was chosen President 
of the meeting and Henry Jennings to act as Clerk. 
The objects of the meeting having been fully set 
forth by the Chairman, Mr. Davidson, voting was 
announced to be in order. There were 23 votes 
cast in all for incorporation, there being none in op- 
position. When the result of this election was made 
known, an election for Town Trustees was ordered 
for Dec. 5th following. At the December election 
Elijah Davidson, Daniel McNeil, Jr., James McCal- 
lon, Alexander Ritchey and George H. Wright were 
elected Trustees. A meeting of the Trustees was 
duly held at which Daniel McNeil was chosen Pres- 
ident of the Board, and Henry Jennings. Clerk and 
Treasurer. 

The first meeting of the Board after organization 
was at the house of James McCallon, Dec. 26, when 
they passed their first ordinance, which was as fol- 
lows: " Be it ordered by the President and Trustees 
of the town of Monmouth in council convened 
that the corporation be one-half mile east, one-half 
mile west, one-half mile south, and one-half mile 
north from the center of the Public Square, contain- 
ing one mile square.' 

The village continued to grow and prosper, fine 
blocks went up and large business houses and man- 
ufactories were established and the future develop- 
ment of Monmouth seemed to be assured. With 



an increased population came a desire among the 
citizens for a city government. Accordingly a bill 
was presented to the Legislature for this purpose. 
It was passed and received the approval of the 
Governor, June 21, 1852, the first section of which 
read as follows : " Be it enacted by the people of the 
State of Illinois, represented in the General As- 
sembly, that the inhabitants of the town of Mon- 
mouth, in the county of Warren, and State of Illi- 
nois, be and are hereby constituted a body jwlitic 
and corporate by the name and style of the City of 
Monmouth, and by that name shall have perpetual 
succession, and may have and use a common seal 
which they may change and alter at pleasure." The 
second provision of this bill fixed the boundaries of 
the corporation which was to extend one mile each 
way from the Public Square ; and the tliird section 
provided for the division of the city into two wards. 
The election under this act was held Oct. 23d, 1852, 
at which Samuel Wood was elected Mayor, N. A. 
Rankin, Secretary; E. S. Swinney, James Thomp- 
son and William Rodgers, Aldermen. The officers- 
elect met Nov. 3, and organized the Council by ap- 
pointing E. F. Corwin, Clerk; (i. W. Savage, at- 
torney ; James Thompson, Treasurer, and James 
Finney, Marshal. 

The following is a list of the gentlemen who have 
served the city in the capacity of Mayor : 



i^ 



M.WORS. 



Samuel Wood 1852 

Cicorge \V . P.ilmcr 1853 

E. S. Swinney 1854 

Robert tirant 1855 

W. H. Voi.ng 1856 

1 vory Quinby 1857 

Jacob H Holt 1858 

N A. Rankin 1859-60 

H.G. Harding 1861-63 

.^amucl Wood 1863 

\\'m- S - Cowan 1864-65 

(ieorge Habcock 1866 

John M. 'rnrnbull 1667 

Samuel Wood 1868 



J. A. Templeton 1869 

S. Uouglas 1870 

W. B.'fiovd 1871 

\V. M. Huflington 1872 

I). Babcock 1873 

Jacob H. Holt "374-75 

J.L. Uryden 1876 

Jacob H.Holt 1877 

J. M. McCutcheon 1878-79 

William Hanna 1880-81 

I. P. Pillsbury 1882 

Henry Burtingim 1883-85 

Wm. B. Vouug 1885-86 



Ivory Quinby opened the first bank in this town, 
which was a private institution. In 1862 the First 
National Bank was established, which was the 38th 
established in the United States. In 1872 C. Jones 
& Co. opened their [)rivate bank, which was subse- 
quently merged into the Monmouth National Bank. 
Later on the Second National Bank was established. 
With one exception these banks have all been suc- 
cessful, and have had a good standing in the financial 
world. This exception is too 7f/f// known by the peo- 
ple of Monmouth to need any comments or explana- 
tions in this work. Suffice it to say that aged men 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



761 



4 



and women, once in affluent circumstances, lost ev- 
erything thrOiigh the action of a man, who to-day 
is within the lour walls of the penitentiary. 

In the suburbs of Monmouth are located Doctor 
Vanhoorebeke's stables, which were established 
over 20 years ago. Dr. Vanhoorebeke was one of 
the first to introduce imported slock into this State, 
and in the line of his business has crossed the ocean 
98 times. He breeds entirely from pure French 
horses, and mostly from imported stock. For fine 
draft horses Dr. Vanhoorebeke's stables are unex- 
celled by any in the State. He has a ready sale for 
all his stock, and at high figures. In the line of in- 
troducing good draft horses into the county and State, 
the Doctor has been a benefactor. .\ visit at his sta- 
bles is a treat which any lover of good horses will 
enjoy. 

The city is well and ably represented in the med- 
ical line by Drs. J. W. Brewer, H. L. Harrington, S. 
M. Hamilton, J. R. Webster, H. Marshall, J. H. 
Wallace, W. S. HoUiday, S. K. Crawford, W. E.Tay- 
lor and E. C. Linn. With this able array of med- 
icai men and those reliable druggists, Spriggs & 
Bros., and W. M. Schultz & Co., Monmouth is pretty 
well fortified against sickness or epidemics. 

The city of Monmouth has a very good Opera 
House, whicli is one of the features of the town. It 
was erected by Mr. Schultz in 1875, at a cost of 
about $50,000, including the store-houses below. It 
is a favorite place of amusement for the people of 
this city. 

There are many fine business blocks in the city, 
as well as a number of beautiful residences. Some 
of the church buildings are very creditable, and even 
an ornament to the place. The public buildings, 
however, with the exception of the jail, are about as 
inferior as any in the State. 

Monmouth is beautifully situated and well laid 
out, with a square or plaza in the center. The streets 
run in regular parallel lines and are adorned with 
handsome shade trees. The town is doited over 
with elegant residences and comfortable homes. The 
people, as a class, are intelligent and industrious. If 
marked by any particular phase of character, it is 
that of being rather set in their notions ; and it may 
be, too, that some of the inhabitants are a little 
prescriptive and Pharisaical. The population of 
Monmouth is estimated to be at the present time 
about 5,500. 



Upon the completion of the C. B. & Q. Railroad 
through Monmouth, iu 1855, quite an impetus was 
given to the growth of the town, and from that time 
on its growth has been steady With the completion 
of the railroad some very important manufactories 
were established in Monmouth. 

INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS. 

Weir Plow Company. — At an early date the in- 
ventive brain of W. S. Weir began to conceive of a 
better way for cultivating corn than with a hoe. He 
soon brought his ideas into practical operation. In 
1859 he completed a plow which, upon a test being 
had, proved successful. After some further altera- 
tions and improvements he had his cultivator pat- 
ented in 1862. Later on a factory was established, 
and the first year 400 cultivators were made. The 
year following he turned out some 500 cultivators. 
In 1869 a company incorporated as the Weir 
Plow Company, with a capital stock of $25,000. The 
members of this company were W. S. Weir, William 
Hanna, W. B. Boyd and Joseph Stephenson. The 
site was secured for the factory near the C. B. & 
Q. Railroad, and suitable buildings were erected. < 

Since then several changes have been made in the 1 
company, and many improvements made in the 
plow and cultivator. Extensive buildings have been 
put up for manufacturing purposes, which have been ' 
filled with the most complete and best machinery. 
They occupy now, with buildings and grounds, about 
four acres, and manufacture a full line of agricul- 
tural implements, such as cultivators, plows, double 
shovels and harrows. The capital stock has been 
increased to $500,000, and the present stock-holders 
are W. S. Weir, William Hanna, Delos Phelps and 
J. Ross Hanna. 

Active work generally begins about the first of Oc- 
tober, and closes in June. They employ from three 
to four hundred hands, and their trade extends into 
all the Western and Southwestern States, Ohio, Indi- 
ana and also into Mexico. Most of their timber is 
from Kentucky and Missouri. This Weir Plow 
Company has been a great auxiliary to the growth 
of Monmouth. The superior qualities of their ag- 
ricultural implements are known and appreciated 
throughout the country. 

The Pattee Plo7v Company was another establish- 
ment which has aided materially to the growth of 
Monmouth. It was established in 1875, under the 



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762 



WARREN COUNTY. 



firm name of Pattee Bros. & Co. The members of 
this firm were James H. Pattee, Henry H. Pattee 
and I. P. Pillsbury. They started with the manu- 
facture of the "New Departure" Tongueless Culti- 
vator, of which Mr. Pattee was the inventor. In 
1 88 1, they incorporated, with a capital stock of 
$10,000. James H. Pattee is President, I. P. Pills- 
bury, Vice-President, and H. H. Pattee, Secretary 
and Treasurer. During the manufacturing season, 
this establishment employs about 100 men, and man- 
ufacture principally the Tongueless Cultivator, the 
Combined Walking and Riding Cultivator, and the 
Cotton Planter. Their Tongueless Cultivator was 
patented in 1872, by J. H. Pattee. At this time, a 
tongueless cultivator was unknown, and like all men 
who present new ideas or new inventions, Mr. Pattee 
was the subject for much ridicule. But with Mr. 
Pattee, like all other brainy men, who have an idea 
or an invention to present for the benefit of the 
world, the shafts of ridicule fell harmless upon him. 
' If it had been a failure, people would have said, " I 
told you so." Having been a success, it would be 
more difficult now to find a man who did not say, 
•7 "he knew it would be a success," than it was for 
Diogenes of old to find with his lamp an honest 
man. 

Monmouth Mining and Manufacturing Company. 
— Following on in the development of the city, we 
come to this company, which was established in 1872, 
by Messrs. A. M. Black and J. M. VViiite. Subse- 
quently it became the property of tliose worihy citi- 
zens, Spriggs & Bros., who carried on the work for 
several J ears. In 1872, it was incorporated, with a 
capital stock of $350,000. W. H. Koonce was elected 
President; B. T. Hubbard, Secretary ; J. S. Spriggs, 
Treasurer. In 1874, the capital stock was increased 
toSioo,ooo, and G. B. Henderson luckily succeeded 
B. T. Hubbard as Secretary. In 1875, J. H. Spriggs 
was elected President, and, in 1866, Mr. D. D. Parry 
succeeded Mr. Spriggs. In 1877, William Hanna 
became President, with J. H. Spriggs, Vice-President, 
and J. S. Spriggs, Treasurer. In 1884, Mr. Hanna 
bought out Spiiggs & Bros, stock, and with his son, 
J. Ross Hanna, now controls tiie establislmient. 
When the enterprise was first started, it was expect- 
ed coal mining would be carried on extensively with 
the pipe and tiling business. It was found, however, 
that the coal veins were limited, and tliat part of 
the business has been abandoned. Mr. Hanna has 



greatly enlarged the capacity for manufacturing tile, 
and has now in tiiis establishment some of tine 
largest kilns in the country. They have 22 acres ap- 
propriated for the use of the works, the buildings 
covering about two acres. The clay beds are from 
70 to roo feet down, and furnish an excellent quality 
of clay. About 1,000 car loads of tile are manu- 
factured yearly, and 500 bushels of coal are used 
daily. From 65 to 75 hands are constantly employed 
at this establishment. 

Rcimer Lahann. While speaking of the industrial 
elements which have so materially advanced the 
prosperity of Monmouth, the cigar factory of Reimer 
Lahann should be mentioned. Mr. Lahann started 
his factory in i860, with no capital other than a 
strong heart, energetic mind, and a sympathetic wife, 
who was truly a help-mate. His business has stead- 
ily increased, until last year he manufactured 
1,500,000 cigars. By the close of this year he ex- 
pects to make 1,8000,000. He employs from 30 to 
40 hands. 

SCHOOLS. 

Tlie first public school opened in Monmouth, in-^ 
1834. The County Commissioners acting under a 
petition signed by several citizens, established the 
boundary of the first school district, which they , 
called No. i, which included the town of Monmouth. 
A building was erected on the site now occupied by 
the Methodist Church. This school was opened in 
June, and was held three months, at an expense of 
less than $50. At this period there were 50 chil- 
dren in the settlement between the age of 5 and 12 
years, and of this number 25 attended the schools. 
It was not long before this building was insufficient 
to meet the demand of the increasing number of 
pupils, and a new building was erected. This new 
building soon was inadequate to meet the wants of 
the population, and other buildings were put up, 
and private schools were also opened. Ward schools 
were finally established, the educational advantages 
were extended, and systems of instruction were im- 
proved from time to time up to the present period. 
The public schools of Monmouth are now divided 
up into four districts, or wards, having one school for 
eacli ward in the city. They are all graded and pro- 
vided with good teachers. 

Miss K. B. Leighty is Principal of the East Ward 
School, with the Misses J. H. Boyd, Winnie McCly- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 






763 



4 



monds, Ella Erskine and Kate Manchester as As- 
sistants, with an enrollment of 280 pupils. 

West Ward School, presided over by Miss L. B. 
Daer as Principal, who is assisted by the Misses J. S. 
Wiley, F. E. Sterret, Ida Matthews and M. Kin- 
kead. Enrollment, 207. 

North Ward. In this school Miss M. A. Sterrett 
is Principal, and the Misses Minnie S. Nelson, Jennie 
McBrown, Anna Peacock, and Mrs. M. D. Sterrett 
are Assistants. Enrollment, 243. 

South Ward. Miss W. Scott is Principal of this 
school With her are the Misses Jessie K. B^cock, 
A. Fleming.Sadie Parkinson, Delia Caldwell and Mag- 
gie McDill, with an enrollment of 268. 

The school buildings are inferior, old, with large 
cracks in the walls, and are not, some of them at 
least, very safe. Take them altogether for a city 
with the wealth of Monmouth, they are not at all 
creditable. Some day, if they are not lorn down, 
they will be tumbling down, burying beneath their 
ruins innocent children. 

MONMOUTH COLLEGE. 

V* This College was founded by the Reform Associate 
Presbytery of Illinois, and was first started as an Acad- 
emy. It was established as a Church institution, and 
"^ has contmued so. In 1856, it was converted into a 
College, when Trustees were appointed. In 1847, it 
was incorporated under the name and style of ''The 
Monmouth College." This act was amended in 1859, 
vesting the control of the College with the United 
Presbyterian Synod. It was further amended in 
1869, establishing a more liberal government, and 
providing for the admission of other bodies to its 
constituency. 

After several changes, additions and improvements, 
they have now a fine school building, three stories 
high, and constructed of brick, costing altogether 
about $35,000. The building is well furnished and 
the rooms are commodious. All the facilities for a 
thorough collegiate education have been provided, 
which includes a good faculty. After several exper- 
iments, a liberal endowment fund has been secured, 
upon a practical basis. This College is well patron- 
ized by the people of the county, and on its roll there 
are many students from other parts of the State. 

PRESS. 

The Monmouth Atlas .'—TMvi is the oldest paper 



Jlj 



in the county. It was established by C. K. Smith, 
and its first sheet was issued to the reading public 
Oct. 30, 1846. Mr. Byron was the editor. At that 
time it was a six-column folio paper and was issued 
every Saturday. It is a rare treat to peruse its old 
pages, every column of which is full of interesting 
matter. It was issued about the time of the begin- 
ning of the Mexican War, and its early issues are 
replete with the descriptions of the battles of Cero 
Gordo, Monterey, etc. Jan. r, 1844, the publishing 
day was changed to Friday. In October, 1857, Mr. 
John S. Clark purchased the Atlas, and has edited 
it from that time to the present. In i860 it was in- 
creased to an eight-column paper. In September, 
1884, a daily was started, and this venture has been 
eminently successful. The Atlas has a circulation 
of about 1,600, and a good job office is connected 
with the paper. It is Republican in politics, and is 
a well edited, briglit and newsy journal, and a credit 
to the county. It is an unusual thing to find a man 
who has been in the editorial chair as long as Mr. 
Clark. 

Moiitnouth Review. — The first issue of this paper 
was made Dec. 28, 1855, by A H. Swain, its founder 
and editor. It came out pretty fully fledged at first, 
having seven columns and issued every Friday. It 
was started about the time of the dissolution of the 
Whig party and the formation of the Republican 
party, which has since been so potent a factor in 
American politics, and was devoted to the principles 
of the Democratic party and the interests of Warren 
County. In 1856 it was an ardent advocate of the 
claims of James Buchanan for the Presidency. It 
was loyal to the Union and to the country during 
the war. In 1866 it was enlarged to an eight-col- 
umn paper, its present size. It has a circulation 
now of about 1,200, which is constantly increasing. 
The plant contains a steam-power press and a fine 
job office. The Review has never changed its ed- 
itor nor proprietor, nor its politics ; and it never has 
failed to make its appearance on publication day, 
which now covers a period of 30 years. There are but 
few papers in the country that have been under so 
long and continuous a management. It is neatly 
gotten up, ably edited, and zealously devoted to the 
interests of its patrons. Mr. Swain says he started 
his paper on a quarter of a dollar and has got that 
quarter yet. Amid the many changes of this life, it 
is pleasant once in a while to meet a man who has 



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764 



WARREN COUNTY. 



held on to a business so long and so successfully, 
and who is still hale and hearty and at his daily post 
of duty. 

The Monmouth Weekly Gazette, was established in 
1876, by G. G. McCosh, an experienced newspaper 
man. It was started as a seven-column folio, issued 
every Wednesday. In 1883 it was enlarged to a 
nine-column folio, its present size. Mr. McCosh 
having been prosperous in his weekly venture, and 
believing there was an opening for a daily, concluded 
to start one. With this man, to think was to act, 
and in February, 1883, he sent forth his daily sheet, 
which he called The Evening Gazette. The editor 
has had no occasion to regret his action, for the daily 
Gazette has been a prosperous enterprise. The cir- 
culation of this paper is from 1,000 to 1,200 per 
week and is increasing. The Gazette is independent 
in politics, is lively in its editorial department and is 
full of interesting reading matter. A good job office 
is connected with the paper, where first-class work 
' can always be secured. The (iresses are moved by 
steam. The genial editor is always ready to make 
new friends and welcome the old ones. Being com- 
paratively young in the editorial chair, he even now 
displays rare ability as an editor, and we expect to 
see the day when he will be among the distin- 
guished journalists of the State. 

-MILITARY. 

Co. H, Sixth Jiegt. I. N. G., 0/ Monmouth.— 
This company was oiganized April 29, 188 1, with 43 
members. Its present officers are: Captain, Geo. 

C. Rankin ; First Lieutenant, Rufus H. Scott ; Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, Wm. F. Reichard ; First Sergeant, 
Samuel H. Hogue. The Second, Third, Fourth and 
Fifth Sergeants are respectively J. R. Hickman, E. 

D. Brady, Wm. W. Shields, S. W. Porter. Corpor- 
als, John N. Thomson, E. I. Camm, S. L. Hough- 
ton, V. H. Webb. The first Captain was Wm. G. 
Bond. Size of armory, 60 x 66 feet. Adjoining this 
hall is an elegantly furnished parlor, and a room with 
lockers for uniforms. The company has fatigue and 
dress uniforms and is completely equipped with 
Springfield rifles. They are fine, soldierly looking 
men, well up in their drill and are creditable to the 
city of Monmouth. 

BANDS. . 

The Monmouth Marine Band was first organized 
in 1869, with a small membership. These members, 



however, were zealous and attached to the profes- 
sion, and determined to have a first-class band. 
They practiced regularly and systematically and 
finally became distinguished for the excellence of 
their playing. In 1878 they took the premium at 
the Fire Tournament in Chicago, and have since 
that time won honors in different parts of the State. 
They have a membership at the present time of 16, 
all of whom are good musicians. Prof. F. W. White, 
second E flat and Director; J. F. Saville, first E 
flat and leader; and J. A. Montgomery, bass drum 
and manager. There are not many bands in the 
country that can excel the Marine Band for the 
taste, skill and harmony of their music. Many a 
pleasant moment was spent during the past summer 
by the writer in listening to the sweet, melodious 
strains of music sent out on the warm evening air 
by this band, for which he takes this opportunity to 
express his grateful thanks. 

The Cadet Band was organized about a year ago, 
with Frank Young as leader. It is composed of' 
young men who are ambitious to distinguish them- 
selves in the musical world. They are in constant ^ 
practice and are improving every day. - 

There is also a colored band in town which has ' 
been recently started. They are practicing with a 
good deal of zeal and it is expected that at no dis- ■ 
tant day they will bcLume quite proficient and dis- 
tinguish themselves as musicians. They certainly 
deserve a great deal of credit for their perseverance. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The fire department of Monmouth consists of two 
engine companies, one a chemical, and two hook and 
ladder companies. H. A. Webster is Chief and is 
an experienced fireman. 

Monmouth Engine Company, No. i, has N. S. 
Woodward for Foreman, with 22 Imembers. This 
Company has one of Silsby's best nickel-plated en- 
gines, fourth size. It is a beautiful machine, costing 
$4,000. With it there are three hose-carts, and 
2,400 feet of hose. This engine has the power of 
throwing 500 gallons of water per minute. Cisterns 
and wells are provided at difi"erent parts of the city 
for water supplies. 

Mayor Holt Engine Company, No. 2, has a chem- 
ical engine with two 80-gallon tanks. They use a 
solution of soda and sulphuric acid. It is stationed 
at the freight depot. W. T. Hayes is Foreman, 



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with ten members. A team is connected with this 
engine which is at all times ready for use. 

Hook and Ladder Companies. — Rough and Ready, 
No. I, has a membership of 20, of which Oscar 
Henry is Foreman. The Alert, No. 2, has a mem- 
bership of 25, with John P. Gray, Foreman. 

The Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder Com- 
pany, as well as the Alert, have won a National rep- 
utation for their activity in the drill and for their 
athletic performances; and have in their hall many 
trophies of their victories. The Rough and Ready 
Company won the first belt at the first annual tour- 
nament of the Illinois State Firemens' Association, 
held at Decatur, Oct. 12, 1876. The feat was to 
run 300 rods, raise a 20-foot ladder and place a man 
on the top. This feat they accomplished in 70 sec- 
onds, being the best time made. The belt, which is 
made of solid silver and very neatly and artistically 
designed, was to be given to the company that 
should be victorious in three annual contests. The 
second contest was at Galesburg, Aug. 30, 1877. 
They performed the great feat at this time in 55 
seconds, making the best time. At the third contest 
of the annual Tournament of the Illinois State Fire- 
men's Association, held at Chicago, Sept. 5, 1878, 
two trials were allowed, their average time being 49 
seconds, which was the quickest time made. This 
gave them the victory over all contestants and they 
were presented with the belt. This company has 
another belt, also made of solid silver, or this com- 
pany and the Alert, No. 2, who went out as the Nip 
and Tuck Company, which they won at the Illinois 
State Firemen's Tournament, held at Quincy, in 
188 1. At this contest they made the time in 46^ 
seconds, and took the belt from the KnoxviUe Hook 
and Ladder Company, who h;d won it at the tour- 
nament held at Monmouth, Sept. 3, 1880, when the 
time was made in 52^^ seconds This belt had been 
previously won by the Abingdon Hook and Ladder 
Company, at the Illinois State Firemen's Tourna- 
nament, held at Peoria, Sept. 4, 1879; time 49}^ 
seconds. 

The Rough and Ready Conip.nny have also a 
beautiful firemen's lantern, which they won at the 
National Firemen's Tournament, held in Chicago, 
Sept. 5, 1878, time 49 seconds. 'J'his lantern was 
the gift of the National Firemens Journal. 

At the Annual Illinois Firemen's Tournament, held 



at Quincy, tlie National Firemens Jourtial offered a 
lantern as a prize, which was won by the Nip and 
Tuck ; time 46^ seconds ; this was a sweepstake 
prize. At this tournament there was also offered by 
Brunswick & Balke a prize, consisting of a fine bil- 
liard table, to be given to the best company in a hub 
and hub contest, distance 300 yards. This prize 
was won by the Nip and Tuck Company. 

The fire department have a neat hall, where they 
hold their meetings. This hall is decorated with the 
photographs of the firemen in uniform, the engine, 
hook and ladder wagon, etc. In this hall they also 
have a well selected library, for the use of them- 
selves and their families. 

SOCIETIES. 

Monmouth Masonic Lodge, No. J7, was instituted 
Oct. 6, 1846; George C. Lamphere was W. M. ; 
Samuel Webster, Sr. W. M.; John C. Young, Jr. W. 
M. This lodge now numbers 74 members ; present 
officers, W. S. Holliday, W. M. ; J. W. Gael, Sr. W. ' 
M.; A. G. McDowell, Jr. W. M., and D. D. Dun- 
kle. Secretary. They have a large, fine hall, which 
they own. It is neatly frescoed with emblematic ' 
illustrations of the order. The lodge is well equipped 
and in a flourishing condition. It is the first society 
organized in the county. 

Warren Chapter, No. jo, R. A. M., was organ- 
ized Oct. 2, 1856. At the first organization David 
B. Rice was H. P.; Wm. A. Seaton, K. ; Samuel 
Stanley, Scribe. Th's lodge numbers at present 80 
members, and meets in the Masonic Hall.; present 
officers, D. D. Dunkle, H. P. ; Levi Roadhouse, K. ; 
Levi Page, Scribe, and A. C. McDowell, Secretary. 
The Masons met with some misfortune last spring, 
having had the roof of their hall taken off by the cy- 
clone that visited this place. Another roof, however, 
was put on and their hall is again in good condition. 

Trinity Lodge, No. jdi, A. F. cr A. M., was or- 
ganized June 27, 1867, with 16 charter members; 
first officers, Joseph Hill, W. M.; J. N. Reece, S. 
W.; E. C. Johnston, J. W.; S. Gamble, Treasurer; 
G. R. Barbour, Secretary; A. H. Swain. S. D. ; L. 
Stansbury, J. D. ; C. Coates, Tyler. Present officers, 
O. B. Wilcox, W. M. ; L. F. Schusler, S. W. ; John 
H. Hogue, J. W.; E. C. Johnston, Treasurer; Pey- 
ton Roberts, Secretary ; R. Dony, S. D. ; J. H. 
Beeny, J. D. ; H. T. Harkless, Tyler. This lodge 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



has a fine farm, which is well equipped and in a good 
working condilioii. 

EncampmenI, No. 8j, was chartered Oct. 13, 1868, 
with seven members — C. W. Palmer, J. T. Wallace, 
G. A. Samson, R. S. Frew, Wni. M. Smiley, T. O. 
Hamsher and Jeremiah M. McGrew. This lodge is 
well attended and is also in a flourishing condition. 

Warren County Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., was 
instituted June 10, 1855, with C. W. Palmer, W. B. 
Jenks, Elisha Nye, George McGowan as the charter 
members. In 187 i the fire destroyed their building; 
the records were at this time also burned. In 1875 
some 20 of the members i>f this lodge seceded and 
formed a new organization. In 1881 they completed 
and moved into their new hall. It is large, airy and 
elegantly equipped and beautifully decorated. Their 
furniture and regalia cost about $1,500. Financially 
they are in good condition, having something over 
$3,000 out at interest ; number of active members at 
present is over 117. L C. Nott is the Noble Grand. 

/. O. O. F., No. 5JJ, Monmouth Lodge, was or- 
ganized May 18, 1875, with 23 charier members. 
The first officers were L. S. Holden, N. G. ; John V>. 
Weir, V. G.; Isaac Mark, R. S. ; Peyton Roberts, P. 
S. ; Riemer Lahann, Treasurer. The membership at 
present is 127, with the following officers: Henry 
Mclntyre, N. G. ; Riemer Lahann, V. G. ; E. W. 
Stevens, R. S.; L. S. Holden, P. S. ; W. VV. Brooks, 
Treasurer. This lodge has a fine, large hall, neatly 
furnished and elegantly equipped with all the para- 
phernalia of the order. It is out of debt, has money at 
interest, and is in a prosperous condition. Meetings 
are held by the Lodge every Wednesday. 

Monmouth Lodge, I. U. O. F , Rebecca Degree, No. 
128. — This order was instituted November, 1853, 
with 54 members, and have increased their numbers 
since their organization to 60. Present officers, Mrs. 
A. E. Mcintosh, N. G.; Mrs. Nettie Emert, V. G. ; 
Mrs. Maltie Baker, R. S,; Mrs. E. W. Stevens, F. 
S. ; Mrs. .Mmira Cottrell, Treasurer. They meet 
the second and fourth Fridays in each month. 

Rebecca Degree Lodge, Ao. 122, /. O. O. F., was 
instituted Oct. 11, 1870. They have quite an inter- 
esting lodge and meet regularly, in the Warren 
Lodge Hall. Mrs. N. Y. Frew is at present N. G. 

McClanahan Post, G. A. R. No. 330 was char- 
tered Aug. 27, 1883. First officers: J. P. Higgins, 
C; 1). D. Dunkle, Sr., V. C. ; J. G. Burchfield, Jr., 



V. C. ; J. H. Hurdman, Adj't. There were 34 char- 
tered members in the organization. The Post num- 
bers at present 65, witli the following named of- 
ficers : D. D. Dunkle, C. ; W. T. Ramsey, S. V. C. : 
S. A. Hogue, J. V. C. ; J. H. Hurdman, Adjt. They 
have a good large hall, 22x60 feet, which is nicely 
furnished. The Post is in a flourishing condition 
and hold their meetings twice a month. They have 
an altar tastefully gotten up, which stands in the 
center of the hall, erected to the memory of their 
fallen comrades. 

Monmouth Relief Corps, No. 6. This is an aux- 
iliary to the G. A. R. McClanahan Post. It was 
chartered June 18, 1884, with 25 members. Mrs. E. 
J. Hurdman, President. They meet in the G. A. R 
hall. Considerable interest is manifested in this 
lodge by the ladies of Monmouth, and it is increas- 
ing in its membership. 

A. O. U. W. Lodge, jg2, was organized in Aug- 
ust, 1881, with 37 charter members. This society 
has been prosperous and has increased its member- 
ship to 68. They have a hall which they have fitted 
up for their meetings, and it is neatly furnished. 
Present officers: George M. Peters, P. M. W. ; 
C. B. Bristol, M. W. ; F. Ahlstrand, Foreman ; James 
Wilson, Overseer; J. F. Coleville, Recorder; C. E. 
Blackburn, Financier; A. H. McGrew, Receiver; 
M. Raims, Guide. This society has lost only two 
members since its organization. 

Modern Woodmen of America, Maple City Camp, 
No. 94. This camp was organized April 22, 1885, 
with 19 charter members. Officers: C. E. Black- 
burn, Counsel ; A. W. Morton, Advisor; H. M. Put- 
man, Clerk; David Turnbull, Banker. They have 
now 20 members and meet regularly in the A. O. (J. 
W. hall on the 2d and 4th Tuesdays of each month. 
Maple City Camp is new, but it is active, is steadily 
increasing in numbers, and is in a prosperous condi- 
tion. 

Order of Chosen Friends, Monmouth Council, 
No. 15, was instituted Aug. 7, 1883, with 25 mem- 
bers. Edward Parkinson was Chief Counsellor; E. 
J. Clark, Secretary ; and H. M. Wright, Treasurer. 
This society meets in the Odd Fellows' Hall, holding 
tlieir sessions twice a month. Present membership 
is about 50. Present officers as follows; J. W. 
Smith, C. C. ; Wm. B. Vorwick, V. C. ; J. Chaffee, 
Secretary; E. C. Linn, Treasurer; J. H. Moore, P. 



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767 \ 



C. C. ; J. T. Piper, Prelate; H. H. Reed, Warden; 
G. H. Coaltrap, Guard. This is an insurance order 
and a beneficiary one, with pohcies ranging from $1,- 
000 to $3,000. Some of tiie cardinal features of this 
society are that it furnishes its benefits at cost. Its 
plans are equitable and just, and its fraternal obli- 
gations binding and forcible. It makes no distinction 
in regard to sex, and the season of old age is soft- 
ened and made bright by reaping substantial benefits 
at 75 years. When a member becomes permanently 
disabled, he receives one-half of his benefits. The 
sick are looked after and a home is found for the 
orphaned. It has for its foundation mutual aid ; for 
its superstructure reciprocity. This Order is grow- 
ing and it is in a prosperous condition. They pro- 
pose in the near future to have a hall of their own 
for their meetings. 

Lfiderkranz of Motunouth was instituted March 17, 
187 I, and was incorporated Feb. i, 1875. The ob- 
ject of this society is to further the sociability and 
unity of the Germans. At the time of the incorpor- 
ation a beneficiary order was attached to it. The 
financial matters of each are kept apart and mem- 
bers of the Leiderkranz if physically disabled can- 
not be members of the Beneficiary Order. They as- 
sume the same charitable duties as most of the 
other societies, such as taking care of the sick and 
helping those that are in great need. Should a mem- 
ber be sick, or rather an invalid, 40 weeks, then his 
beneficiary claim ends; his case is considered one of 
chronic illness, and he has no longer any claim upon 
the society. When a member dies, $30 is given to 
the family of the deceased for funeral expenses, and 
one dollar is assessed on each member for their ben- 
efit. They have a large hall fitted up for their use 
and have about 50 members. Their financialstanding 
is good and they are as a society, prosperous. Pres- 
ent .officers : John B. Andrews, President; David 
Woelber, V. P.; German Leins, Secretary; P. D. 
Good, Financial Secretary; Reimer Lahann, Treas- 
urer. 

Supreme Council, Order 0/ the Golden Rule. This 
order had its inception in Monmouth and was incor- 
porated under the general corporation act, approved 
April 18, 1872, with the following officers: O. S. 
Barnum, S. P. ; John Troutman, S. S. ; W. B. Young, 
S. T. ; J. H. Wallace, S. M. D. ; T. S. Stamps, S. D. 

As this is a new order it may not be inopportune to 



mention its objects. Like most societies, it is se- 
cret in its government, with signs of recognition and 
insignia of office. It aims to unite all persons of a 
moral character into a social, benevolent and frater- 
nal society, with the principles of the Golden Rule 
as its foundation, and to aid its members in the 
struggles of life in any way that may be suggestive 
by common feelings of humanity. The Order also 
proposes to establish a fund by voluntary contribu- 
tion for the benefit of widows and orphans of de- 
ceased members. Another feature of this Order is 
the extending to women the privilege of meeting the 
men of the country in the halls of secret organiza- 
tions. It is beneficiary in its operations, afford- 
ing an opportunity to its members in case of death 
of leaving a very liberal provision to their families or 
heirs; also of receiving a certain annuity while liv- 
ing. Since this order was established there has been 
several organized in different parts of the State. 

Order of the Golden Rule, Council No. i. This 
council was instituted March 20, 1884, with 92 char- 
ter members. First officers were W. C. Norcross, C. 
H. ; V. H. Webb, C. C. ; D. C. Barnes, C. Capt. ; A. 
G. McDowell, C. G. ; James Westerfield, F. G. ; 
Frank Downer, S. G. ; David J Parret, Sentry; D. 
E. Ward, Secretary; Wm. Glendening, Treasurer. 
This society meets at present in the Odd Fellows'' 
Hall and has a membership of upwards of 100. It 
was the first local Lodge of this order organized. 

Citizens' League of Warren County. This League 
was organized in the spring of 1885, and was char- 
tered July 2d following. There are six directors who 
are named in the charter for the first year, to-wit : 
J. Ross Hanna, Robert A. Wilson, W. H. McQuis- 
ton, C. C. Secrist, Isaac Kirkpatrick and O. S. Bar- 
num. The objects of this League are to enforce the 
laws and ordinances enacted for the suppression of 
the liquor traffic. Headquarters of this society is at 
Monmouth. Its charter extends for 20 years. 

IVo/na/t's Christian Temperance Union. The first 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Monmouth 
was organized in June, 1872, under the name of the 
Monmouth Ladies' Temperance Society. Its objects 
were the education of the old and young in the im- 
portant truth that it is dangerous and morally wrong 
to use intoxicating liquors as a beverage; also the 
recovery of the fallen and the cultivation of sound 
temperance sentiment. Signing the pledge and 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



paying 50 cents fee constitutes a membership. It 
was the first woman's temperance organization in the 
county, and was working efficiently 18 months be- 
fore the Woman's Tempt:rance Crusade was organ- 
ized in HiUsboro, wliich was Dec. 23, 1873. When 
tlie Illinois Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
was organized in 1878, it at once became auxiliary 
and has continued to be one of the most useful tem- 
perance organizations in the State. In April, 1879, 
another Woman's Christian Temperance Union was 
organized in Monmouth, and by way of distinction 
this Union iias been known as tlie First Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union. The Union elects 
aniuially a President and Vice-President from each 
Church in the city, a Corresponding and Recording 
Secretary, Treasurer and Superintendent. The fol- 
lowing branches of work are recommended by the 
National and .Stale Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union : Band of Hope work, Sunday-School work, 
scientific temperance work, evangelistic and press 
work, young woman's work, work among foreigners, 
colored people, prisons and jails, and temperance lit- 
erature. Present membership, 144. This organiza- 
tion has been useful in creating the strong temper- 
ance sentiment which exists in Monmouth. 

The Crusade Society. This is another temperance 
organization, which was started May 10, 1879, witli 
Mrs. A. J. Herbert as President; Mrs. L. M. Reed, 
Vice-President; and Mrs. H. J. Boyd, Secretary. 
Mrs. D. Babcock is the present President, and the 
Society has some 60 members. They liold their 
meetings regularly, and are very energetic in their 
endeavors to suppress the liquor traffic in the city of 
Monmouth. 

CHURCHES. 

The First Presbyterian Church. Tlie Schuyler 
Presbytery, at their spring meeting in 1836, ap- 
pointed Rev. Silas Riggsto organize the Presbyterian 
Church in Warren County. At the September 
meeting of the Presbytery, held at Monmouth some 
years later, the committee reported the organization 
of a society to be named the First Presbyterian 
Church of Warren County. This was the first 
Presbyterian organization effected in the county. In 
October, 1839, it took the name of Fall Creek 
Church. At this meeting of the Presbytery, when 
the report of the organization of the Church was 



made and accepted. Revs. Sill and Riggs were 
appointed to supply the Church as often as they 
could. The Fall Creek Church, with the consent of 
its members, was dissolved Aug. 26, 1873. Its mem- 
bership had run down to less than half a score, 
owing to tlie fact tliat other organizations had been 
formed, which supplied the wants of those living in 
their vicinity. This was the outgrowth of the Mon- 
mouth First Presbyterian Church. The Presbyte- 
rian Church of MonmoLth was organized Sept. 2, 
1837, by Rev. L. G. Bell, who was appointed to the 
work by tiie Schuyler Presbytery, at its meeting in 
Macomb, April 12, t837. It was organized with 16 
members, all of whom being members of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Warren County, were dis- 
missed to enter the new Church. James P. Hogue 
and Hamilton Roney were installed as Elders. The 
following are the names of the first members : Nancy 
Jenkins, Margaret Montgomery, Margaret Hogue, 
Margaret Roney, James Brasselton, M. A. Marick, 
Lydia Talbert, Mary A. Hogue, Eliza Andrews, 
Thomas G. Hogue, Benjamin Hercules, Hamilton 
Roney, and George P. and James P. Hogue. 

The Church had supplies until September, ,< 
1839, when they secured tlieir first settled pastor. 
Rev. Samuel Wilson. Revs. L. G. Stewart, M. 
Hammer, James Stafford, W. K. Stewart and Jos. Gray 
were the supplies. Mr. Wilson's services were ter- 
minated by his death, which occurred Aug. 15, 1847. 
During his pastorate 67 meinbers were added to 
the Church. Up to 1842 this society had no church 
building, but held their services in difTerent places, 
sometimes in a store, sometimes in the old American 
hotel and at private houses. On the 17 th day of 
April, 1842, Theodore Coburn and his wife gave a 
deed conveying to the trustees of the Church lot 6, 
in block 32, old to.vn plat of Monmouth, upon which 
a church building was constructed at a cost of about 
$800. This they used as a place of worship until 
1851, when the building was taken down and the 
brick sold to James Hill. In 1848 the Rev. William 
F. Ferguson became the supply of the Church, serv- 
ing it until 1851. It was very hard times in those 
days, but this zealous congregation was resolved to 
have a new house of worship. During the year 
185' many of the congregation, aided by their pastor, 
were engaged in hauling himber from Oijuawka for 
the new building. That season was a wet one, and 
it was impossible to get the lumber to their church 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



769 



building. During the construction of their new- 
edifice they were tendered the use of the Method- 
ist building every alternate Sabbath. In the latter 
part of December, 185 i, Rev. Robert C. Mathews, 
a talented young man from the South, was called and 
engaged to preach for them for three months. He 
was subsequently engaged and served the Church 
until death took him away, Nov. 15, 1879-* (See bi- 
ography in this volume). Mr. Mathews did more to 
harmonize the discordant elements among the vari- 
ous Churches of this community, by his Christian 
spirit and his great devotion to his Master's work, 
than all the other clergymen together. 

"In his duty, prompt at every call, 

He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all." 

In 1852 the edifice was so far completed as to en- 
able the congregation to hold their meetings in the 
basement. It was finished and dedicated in 1853. 
It cost about $3,000. In 1863 the church building 
was enlarged ljy the addition of 22 feet to the length 

r of it, at a cost of $1,500. In 1S76 the society de- 
termined to erect a larger and more commodious 
edifice, and for this purpose a building committee 

» was appointed. They were unable to raise the nec- 
essary funds that year, however, but secured the lots 
for the building, for which they paid $1,350. The 
matter rested here until the early part of 1880, when 
measures were again taken to raise funds to go on 
with tiie work. A portion of the money necessary 
was raised, and in October the contract was let. 
The contract price was $14,700, the building to be 
completed by October, i88t. To give more room an 
additional lot was purchased, at a cost of $150. The 
building was completed and dedicated May 7, 1882. 
The total cost of the building, with lots, furniture, 
organ, etc., was $21,058.83. The pipe organ cost 
$1,350. The edifice is a large handsome structure 
of Gothic architecture ; the walls are built of brick 
trimmed with stone, and rest on a stone foundation. 
The auditorium is 48x84 feet, and is very neatly fin- 
ished. In the basement there is a lecture-room, 
parlor, a Sunday-school room, a study and a kitchen. 
The whole building is heated by a furnace. 

In 1 881 the Rev. A. H. Dean, the present pastor, 
was called and took charge. The Church is now out 
of debt and is prosperous, having 350 members and 
a large and interesting Sunday-school. The latter 
was started in 1838. In 1864 it was divided into 
three departments, the Bible class, intermediate and 



infant. Each department has its separate room. 
The total membership of the Church since its or- 
ganization numbers 987. From this Church and 
Sabbath-school 12 persons have entered the minis- 
try. Two of this number became Missionaries to 
foreign countries. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Momnouth. — 
As the organization of this Church was the com- 
mencement of Methodism in the county, and a 
great deal of the early history of the Church is con- 
nected with this society as well as the general early 
pioneer life of the county, a somewhat extended ac- 
count of the history of this Church is given. Abraham 
Swartz came into Warren County in April, 1829, 
and located near Monmouth. The county was then 
new and there were not more than a dozen families 
then residing in it, and Mr. Swartz and wife 
were the only Methodists; and as a few Methodists 
had settled in Knox County, Mr. Swartz and his wife, 
in order to be with his Church people, left Warren 
County and moved into Knox, which left the former 
without a Methodist. Field Jarvis settled at the 
head of Ellison Creek in the summer of 1829, and, 
in the winter following, John F. Eberman, whose ^ 
wife was a Methodist, came in and settled near Mr. 
Jarvis. Daniel McNeil Jr., settled at what was then 
Yellow Banks (Oquawka), in 1830. Jonathan Buf- . 
fun settled at Cedar Creek the same year. Nathan- 
iel Hopper, a young man, with his father, settled 
near by in the spring of 1831. Jacob Mills, a 
brother of Mr. Mills of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, came from the East in tlie autumn of 183 1, 
and rode through the counties of Knox and Warren 
for some three months, preaching wherever he could 
get a iiearing. These were nearly the only meetings 
in Warren County of the Methodists until the au- 
tumn of 1832, when Elder Barton Randall was sent 
as a circuit preacher on the mission. The first 
quarterly meeting of the mission was held in Knox 
County, at which time Thomas Pearce and Daniel 
McNiel, Jr., were appointed as Stewards of Warren 
County. The second quarterly meeting was ap- 
pointed to be held at Thomas Pearce 's residence, 
March 18, 1833. The weather was cold and blus- 
tering, and the Methodists were so scattering that 
no person attended, and the meeting was dismissed 
by the preacher. 

The third quarterly meeting was held in June, 
1833, at the house of Mr. Samuel Jamison, five miles 



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770 



WARREN COUNTY. 



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south of Yellow Banks, in Henderson County, at 
which meeting the Presiding Elder, Peter Cart- 
wright, attended and presided. On Sunday the sac- 
rament was administered for the first time in this 
section. The weather was fine and some of the 
members had traveled 30 miles in order to be pres- 
ent. There was a general turn out from all parts of 
this county. At this meeting three children were 
baptized, ten persons joined the Church on trial, and 
the seven following named members surrounded the 
table of the Lord and partook of the emblems of His 
body and blood shed for them: Barton H. Cart- 
wright, Robert Bell, Thomas Pearce, Daniel Mc- 
Neil, Field Jarvis, Elisha Griffith and his wife. 

There were at this lime a number of preaching 
places in Warren County. A class was formed at 
Brother Pearce 's, called at that time Bowling Green> 
and one at Jamison's Settlement, yet there were few 
names returned belonging properly to this county. 
In the autumn of 1833, the Conference appointed 
Rev. D. R. Trotter, as circuit preacher. In 1834, 
a class was formed in Monmouth and one at the 
Ihead of Ellison Creek, while the old classes at Bowl- 
rTing Green and Jamison's Settlement grew a little 
and the mission, upon the whole, prospered so that 
Brother Trotter, at the annual Conference of 1834, 
'"held at Mt. Carmel, 111., urged the necessity of a 
division of the mission. Knoxville Mission was 
then formed out of Henderson River Mission and 
included Knox and Henry Counties, wliile Hender- 
son River Mission included Warren and Mercer 
Counties. Rev. 15arton H. Cartwright was appointed 
to the Knoxville Mission and Rev. Peter R. Boerin 
to the other. Brother Boerin taking sick, Rev. Bar- 
ton H. Cartwright was ordered to take charge of 
both Missions. 

In the summer of 1830, Daniel McNeil, Jr., 
opened a Sunday-scliool about two miles from the 
Yellow Banks, which continued for about three 
months. He had in this school about 16 scholars. 
The next year he opened a Sunday-school in the 
Court-house at Monmouth, but it was discontinued 
for want of help. In 1832 the school was again 
opened in Monmouth under more propitious circum- 
stances, but the Indian disturbances broke up the 
school for a time. 

Rev. Asa D. West, who settled in Monmouth, in 
1834, was the first local minister of any rank wlw 



settled in Warren County, except Barton H. Cart- 
wright, who was licensed 10 exhort and then licensed 
to preach. In 1834, there were in Warren County 
eight preaching places, one local elder, one local 
preacher, three class leaders, and about 50 Church 
members. Rev. Asa D. West, George Pearce, Field 
Jarvis, Nathaniel Hopper and Daniel McNeil con- 
stituted the first Board of Trustees for Monmouth, 
who were elected Dec. 13, 1834, when there was 
neither church nor parsonage buildings in Monmouth, 
and but little prospect of having any very soon. At 
the next Conference, held in 1835, Rev. Justus 
Woodworth was appointed for this circuit. In Octo- 
ber, 1836, the Henderson River and the Knoxville 
Missions were discontinued, and the two Missions 
were formed into a circuit called the Knoxville Cir- 
cuit, in the Quincy District, and Rev. Joel Haring- 
ton was appointed preacher. 

At a Quarterly Conference held at Knoxville, in 
June, 1837, Thomas Jones, Justus Woodworth, Dan- 
iel McNeil, Alfred Allen and Jesse Coleman were 
appointed Trustees to build a meeting house at 
Monmouth. 

In the fall of 1837, Rev. Henry Summers was 
made Presiding Elder, Rev. Chauncy Hobert, 
preacher in charge. 

At the Annual Conference of 183S, Rev. Asa D. 
West was appointed to take charge. In the .\nnual 
Conference held in October, 1839, the Knoxville 
Circuit was divided, the line of Warren and Knox 
Counties to be the division line. There were at this 
time about 550 members in the circuit, or about 275 
members in each of the counties of Warren and 
Knox. Rev. William H. Clark was appointed circuit 
preacher. The first Quarterly Conference for Mon- 
mouth Circuit, was held at the head of Ellison 
Creek, near New Lancaster, on the i6th day of No- 
vember, 1839. There were present Revs. N. G. 
Berryman, William H. Clark, Asa I). West, and Local 
Elder, Joseph Williams. The next Conference re- 
turned Mr. Clark to Monmouth Circuit. Rev. 
William Haney was afterward placed in charge, Mr 
Clark having taken sick. At the Annual Conference 
in 1 84 1, Rev. Zadock Hall was appointed circuit 
preacher. 

The Illinois Conference, held in August, 1842, 
formed a new district called Peoria, and appointed 
Rev. A. E. Phelps, Presiding Elder. The Method- 



t* 



-*4- 



-){■ ■ . 

WARREN COUNTY 



•^-^^ 



77' 



*x 



ist chapel was so far completed that on Sept. 23, 
1842, it was opened for worship. 

William Justice succeeded Brother Royal, and 
John Morey followed Brother Justice. In 1844, 
Richard Haney was appointed Presiding Elder. In 
1845, Rev. Barton H. Cartwright was appointed to 
take charge. In 1846, Rev. William Haney was the 
preacher in charge. At this time Monmouth Circviit 
embraced Monmouth, Oquawka, Olena, Warren, El- 
lison, Stringtown, Berwick, besides several other 
preaching places. 

In 1847, Monmouth was placed in the Rock Island 
Circuit, with the Rev. John St. Clair, Presiding El- 
der, Joseph O. Gilbert, preacher in charge. In the 
fall of 1848, the district was again changed, so that 
Monmouth Circuit was in the Knoxville District, with 
John Morey, Presiding Elder ; James Taylor, preach- 
er in charge. In answer to the question as to the 
number and condition of the Sabbath-schools in the 
first Quarterly Conference for the year, held at Mon- 
mouth, Sept. 30, 1848, it was said that there are none 
on the circuit. At the Fourth Quarterly Conference 
, it was reported that there was one Sunday-school on 
the circuit. At the Annual Conference, Rev. B. Ap- 
plebee was appointed preacher in charge. He was 
returned for the second year. Brother Applebee 
seems to have been the first jireacher who served 
the Church here two years in succession, and judg- 
ing from the increase of the number of Sunday- 
schools in the circuit during his first year, the 
appointment was a good one. At the Quarterly Con- 
ference held at Ellison, Sept. 7, 1850, the report 
showed the number of schools to be 11; officers 
and teachers, 96; scholars, 300. 

In 1 85 I the Monmouth Circuit was divided so as 
to leave Berwick and Ellison to another circuit. 
James F. Chaffee was appointed to the Monmouth 
Circuit, Feb. 21, 1852. In 1853 Monmouth was 
made a station, with Rev. John P. Brooks in charge. 
The first quarterly meeting for Monmouth station 
was held Oct. 23, 1852. At this meeting the Su- 
perintendent of the Sunday-school reported that the 
Sunday-school was in an extremely critical condi- 
tion, and withoJt efficient co-operation of the Church 
it must cease to exist. At the next Conference Rev. 
B. C. Swarts was appointed preacher in charge, and 
at the next Rev. Richard Haney was appointed Pre- 
siding Elder, and H. Richey preacher in charge. In 
_ — . -•- . 



1855 Brother Elijah House succeeded H. Richey. 
In the fall of 1856 Rev. J. Soule was stationed at 
Monmouth, with Rev. R. N. Morse as Presiding El- 
der The Rock River Conference was divided, and 
Monmouth placed in the Peoria Conference. During 
1857 $6,200 were secured on subscription to build a 
church. The lot was purchased where the building 
now stands, and the work on a new edifice com- 
menced. Rev. A. D. McCool succeeded Rev. J. 
Soule. In the spring of 1858 the old church build- 
ing was sold, and the basement of the new one used 
for worship. At the Conference held in 1858, Rev. 
Henry Summers was appointed Presiding Elder. 
In 1859 the name of the Conference was changed 
from Peoria to Central Illinois Conference, and the 
name of Monmouth given to the district. Rev. R. 

C. Rowley was appointed for Monmouth station, 
Rev. O. C. Price was sent to Monmouth as pastor 
and Rev. John Morey succeeded Rev. H. Summers 
as Presiding Elder for Monmouth district, in the fall 
of i86r. Rev. John P. Brooks was appointed next 
to succeed Rev. O. C. Price, bat having been elected 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, he resigned 
the charge. Rev. J. Tubbs was appointed to fill ' 
out the term, ; Rev. C. Springer was sent to Mon- 
mouth, and Rev. Francis Smith appointed as Pre- 
siding Elder. In 1865 Rev. J. S. Cummings was 
appointed to the charge at Monmouth, and at the 
close of this year was made Presiding Elder at 
Onarga district and Rev, E. Wasmuth appointed 
to Monmouth, with Rev. W. H. Hunter as Presiding 
Elder. Mr. Wasmuth remained three years, being 
the first pastor to remain on the charge that length of 
time. In the fall of 1868 he was succeeded by Rev. 
A. Magee, with Rev. Richard Haney Presiding El- 
der. In 1870 Rev. P. Warren was appointed pastor 
of Monmouth station. He was succeeded by Rev. 
G. Evans, who remained until the fall ol 1872, and 
was succeeded by Rev. William Underwood. Mr. 
Underwood was followed by Rev. S. Jones, and Rev. 
J. S. Cummings Presiding Elder. Mr. Jones re- 
mained two years and was succeeded by Rev. John 

D. Smith. During Mr. Jones' term the parsonage 
was erected, at a cost of $i,8co. Mr. Smith re- 
mained two years and was followed by Rev. J. S. 
Cummings, and A. K. Falls was appointed Presiding 
Elder. In 1880 Rev. S. VV. Barnes was sent in 
charge, remaining two years, when he was followed 
by Rev. R. G. Pearce, who remained one year and 



V 



772 



WARREN COUNTY. 



was succeeded by Rev. G. R. Palmer, who remained 
one year, when, on account of foiling health, he 
was obliged to resign. In May, 1885, Rev. George 
C. Wilding was transferred from the West Virginia 
Conference and stationed at Monmouth. He is the 
present pastor, and Rev. M. C. Bowlens the Presid- 
ing Elder of the district. When Mr. Wilding took 
charge of the Church he found it in rather a disor- 
ganized condition, and in some financial embarrass- 
ment. He has restored harmony in the Church and 
also put it in a good financial condition. The mem- 
bership of the Churcli at present is 304. 

The Trinity Episcopal Church was organized as a 
Mission July 15, 1878, with 13 members. The ves- 
try were co nposed of W. P. Rupp, Joiin W. Litter. 
E. I. Canjm and V. H. Webb. The cliurch building 
was erected in 1883, and w.is consecrated on the 
22d of November, of the same year. The corner- 
stone of this chapel was laid July 3d, and com- 
pleted at a cost of $3,600, including lot. This soci- 
ety has been supplied by Rev. George H. Higgins, 
of Galesburg, C. W. Leffingwell and E. H. Rudd, of 
Knoxville. Service once a month. During the in- 
terval lay service is held by Rev. V. H. Webb. The 
first installed clergyman was Rev. W. F. Lloyd, serv- 
ing 18 months, commencing January, 1S81. Follow- 
ing Mr. Lloyd was Rev. E. H. Rudd, with monthly 
service. He served one year and was succeeded by 
Rev. R. G. Walker, who remained with the Church six 
months, with service every Sunday. Following Mr. 
Walker was Mr. Rudd, who served uniil September, 
1884, and was the last regularly installed pastor. 
Rev. V. H. Webb, who was ordained a Deacon June 
23, 1885, has had charge of the Church. Since his 
installment there has been regular service every Sun- 
day, either by a clergyman or a lay-reader. Present 
communicant membership, 35. A Sunday-school 
is connected with the Church numbering 50 schol- 
ars. Mr. Webb presides over this school. The 
present vestry is V. \l. Webl), E. L Camm, John S. 
Spf'ggs, James R. Marshall and E. C. Morgan. 

United Presbyterian Church. — The first society of 
this Church was organized May 9, 1853, by Rev. 
Robert Ross, with 21 members. It was organized 
in the south room of the Academy, where they held 
their services until 1856, when they used the old 
College Chapel. Rev. D. A. Wallace, from East 
Boston, Mass., was their first regular pastor, who was 



installed the first Sabbath in October, 1856. Mr. 
Wallace served the Church until i860, when he was 
succeeded by Rev. Alex. Young, who had charge 
until 1862. Rev. D. G. Bradford accepted a call 
and commenced his services Nov. 26, 1863, and con- 
tinued until August, 1867, when he resigned. In the 
spring of 1868 Rev. R. B. Ewing look charge of the 
Church and remained until June i, 1870. Rev. J. 
G. Barnes was tlie next pastor, who entered upon his 
duties the second Sabbath in May following, and 
served the society until he died, which was in 1880. 
Mr. Barnes was succeeded by Rev. P. H. Hanna, 
the present pastor. The first house of worship for 
this congregation was completed in 1858 and was 
dedicated July 4th, the same year. Tiiey had at the 
dedication a union service, Rev. Joiin Scott deliver- 
ing the first address. It was a frame building, cost- 
ing about |l6,ooo. They have a membership at 
present of 436, with a Sabbath-school numbering 250 
scholars. A committee has been recently a()pointed 
to take into consideration the construction of a new 
church edifice in the near future. 

Second United Presbyterian Church was organized J^ 
Oct. 25, 1862, by Rev. D. A. Wallace and Elders ' 
Wm. Goudy and W. J. Thompson, with a member- 
ship of 19. At a meeting of the congregation, Nov. 
12, 1862, it was deciiLd to call Rev. Alex. Young 
and D. A. Wallace as pastors. The call was ac- 
cepted and the Church was served by these gentle- 
men for several years. At the close of the year, 
1868, Mr. Wallace retired and Mr. Young was 
retained as pastor, and remained with the society 
until July, 187 1. The first service of the Church, 
and all the meetings were held at the residence of 
Mr. A. Y. Graham, until June, 1863. From this 
date on, and until their church building was com- 
pleted, the meetings were held in the College Chapel. 
Their house of worsliip was completed in the spring 
of 1867. It was a frame structure, built on the site 
of the present edifice, and cost about $to,ooo. It was 
torn down to make room for the new church in the 
fall of 1879. The w^tw building was completed in 
1880, and dedicated Dec. 12th, of the same year, 
by Rev. W. T. Campbell, assisted by Revs. Alex. 
Young, D. M. Ure and J. B. McMichael. Mr. Young 
was succeeded by Mr. Ure, August, 1872, who 
served as pastor until August, 1874. November 28, 
Rev. W. T. Campbell received a call, which he ac- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



773 



4 



I 



cepted, and on Feb. 28, 1875, was duly installed as 
pastor. 

The present edifice is situated on the corner of 
East Garden and College Streets, and was completed 
at a cost of about $20,000, in 1880, and was dedica- 
ted Sept. 12, the same year. It is a large, commo- 
dious brick structure, with an auditorium 54 x 84 
feet, and is well finished. In the basement there is 
a lecture room, two Sunday-school rooms, a study 
and a kitchen. The building is heated by a furnace. 
Mr. Campbell is the present pastor and has a con- 
gregation numbering 350 souls. A Sunday-school 
numbering 255 pupils is one of the interesting fea- 
tures of this Church. In connection there is a 
Ladies' Missionary Society, who are laboring for the 
salvation of the heathen. 

Christian Church of Monmouth. — Soon after the 
village of Monmouth was laid out it was found that 
20 believers in this faith resided adjacent to the 
town, and, on the 31st day of March, 1839, a meet- 
ing was called for the purpose of organizing a con- 
gregation. At that meeting Elders Pliny and Livy 
Hatchett and James R. Ross were present and as- 
sisted in forming an organization. Elijah Davidson 
was chosen Clerk and Deacon, and Alexander Da- 
vidson, Elder. There were 19 members forming 
this first congregation : Hezekiah Davidson, Eleanor, 
Alexander and Rachel Davidson, William C. and 
Ann Hall, William C. and Rebecca Butler, James 
S. Hodgens, Jacob L. and Nancy Burgan, Elijah, 
Nancy, Gamelia Ann, Solomon S., Thomas H., Eliz- 
abeth and \\'illiam B. Davidson. During the year 
1839 several meetings were held, at which the ques- 
tion of building a house of worship was discussed, 
and a committee appointed to secure funds for this 
purpose, the result of which was that a church build- 
ing was erected, at a cost of some $Soo. It was a 
frame structure, and located on the northeast corner 
of the block upon which the Baldwin House now 
stands. On the iglh of April, 1843, a meeting was 
called to choose additional officers, when Elijah 
Davidson and James Hodgens were chosen Elders, 
and John H. Sparling, Solomon S. Davidson and 
David Smith, Deacons. On the 4th of November, 
1843, N. A. Rankin, Elijah Davidson and Ira F. M. 
Butler were chosen Trustees. In 1861 a new build- 
ing was erected and dedicated by Rev. Isaac Errett, 
of Cincinnati, who delivered an able address on the 
occasion. The present number of members is 136. 



The Church has enjoyed many seasons of prosperity, 
adding laTgely to its membership, but emigration 
westward has from year to year depleted its num- 
bers. Since the organization services have been held 
every Sunday morning and evening, and a prosper- 
ous Sunday-school is connected with the Church, 
which was organized about the time the congregation 
was. The following pastors have served the Church 
since its organization : Revs. Pliny and Livy Hatchett, 
James R. Ross, Alex. Davidson, A. J. Kane, James E. 
Gaston, T. J. Matlock, John Errett, Lawrence S. 
Wallace, John LaGrange, J. M. Williams, A. P. 
Aten, F. M. Bruner, N E. Corey and J. W. Kelsey, 
who is the present pastor. They have a plain, neat 
and substantial church building, and the congrega- 
tion is in a thriving condition. 

The Third United Presbyterian Church of Mon- 
mouth, was organized in May, 1868. During this 
year a church building was put up at a cost of $2,- 
500. Rev. John N. Henderson was the first pastor, 
and served the Church untill 1872. They had sup- 
plies then until 1874, when Rev. Daniel Inches as- 
sumed the pastoral duties, and remained until Au- 
gust, 1876. At this time tlie Church was disbanded 
by the Presbytery. A Union Mission School has 
been organized here wliich is under the control of 
the Second United Presbyterian Church. Mr. H. 
H. Bell is Superintendent of this school, and has 
about 175 scholars. 

Unity Church. This society was organized in 1S82 
under the auspices of the members of the Unitarian 
and Universalist Churches, with Rev. Arthur Bevis 
as their preacher. They purchased the old Presby- 
terian building and used that as a house of worship. 
There were about 25 members at the formation of 
this society. Mr. Bevis remained two years when he 
was succeeded by Rev. C. K. Gibson, who remained 
until June, 1885, when he terminated his relations 
with the society. Since Mr. Gibson left they have 
had no pastor, and it is doubtful if they will ever 
have another, as the organization was effected only 
by great effort on the part of a few of its members. 

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of the 
Augustana Synod, was organized in 1859 by Rev. T. 
N. Hasselquist, then pastor of the Lutheran Church 
at Galesburg, III. The members of this first organ- 
ization were as follows: John Beck. Mons Cassel, 
Ake Nelson, Louis Nelson, James Olsson, James 
Skibber, Olof Johnson, Truls Swensson, Jorgen Han- 



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774 



- . -X^ . 

WARREN COUNTY. 



.i_T> 



4 



sen and their families. Services were held in private 
houses by Rev. T. N. Hasselquist, until 1866. 
From 1866 to 1868 they were conducted by Rev. A. 
W. Dahlston. During this year the Church was re- 
organized and services were held in the Court House, 
in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, and 
also in the second story of John Beck's shoe store. 
In 1870, the churcii edifice was erected at a cost of 
about $(,600, and in 187 i it was dedicated. From 
1870 to 1875 services were conducted by the Rev. 
N. T. VVintjuist and other ministers in the vicinity. 
The first installed pastor was Rev. .\. V. Holmgren, 
who took charge of the congregation in 1876. He 
was succeeded in 1877 by Elias Peterson, who left in 
1878. From thence until 1885, services were con- 
ducted by professors and students from the Theo- 
logical Seminary in Rock Island, 111. On July i, 1885, 
Rev. J. K. Floren took charge and is the present pas- 
tor. Mr. Floren was born in Sweden, in 1859, and 
came to this country, in 1872. He was graduated 
at Augustana College, in 1883, and at the Theolo- 
gical Seminary at Rock Island, in 1885; and was or- 
dained in Rockford, 111., June 28, 1885. Under the 
administration of this talented young man this 
Church IS rapidly increasing in numbers and stand- 
ing. They have a Sabbath-school of about 30 mem- 
bers. With the society there is ;i parsonage costing 
about $1,500. 

African Methodist Episcopal Church, was organ- 
ized in 1868, in a hall on Main Street. Some 12 
members were present at the organization, of whom 
Francis and Zachariah Price and A. H. Knight were 
the leaders. In 1869, they erected and dedicated 
their house of worship, which cost, including lot, 
about $800. They had supplies for several years, 
when the Rev. S. F. Jones came in and took charge. 
A large Sabbath-school is connected with this organ- 
ization which belongs to the Circuit of Monmouth 
and Macomb. They have at present about 35 mem- 
bers, who are under the charge of Rev. W. G. Reyn- 
hart. 

African Baptist Church, was organized in 1865, 
at the house of Mrs. Miller. They had only a few 
members at the time of the organization. Rev. J. C. 
Graves was their first pastor. Two years later they 
erected a church building at a cost of $t,5oo. At 
present their membership numbers 30, with Sabbath- 
school of 35. They have no regular pastor but are 
served by preachers from outside. 



Immaculate Conception (Catholic) Church. Rev. 
James Ryan was the pioneer Father of the Church 
in this part of the country. Services were first held 
after the manner of the primeval days, under a cot- 
ton-wood tree about the center of what is now the 
city of Monmouth. This service had this pleasing 
feature — it was voluntary and of choice, not forced 
as of necessity, for fear of violence as in the days 
when persecution was rank and dominant. This 
little band of pilgrims representing some 15 families 
assembled about thirty years ago, as stated, under the 
cotton-wood tree, with Father Ryan from Galesburg 
as their spiritual counsellor. They afterward held 
their meetings in a log cabin, the home of Stephen 
Cannon ; subsequently in the Court House with Rev. 
Michael Powers, the Missionary in charge. This 
was a quarter of a century ago. While this society 
was under the charge of Father Powers, the first 
church building was completed, which was in 1864, 
at a cost of $3,000. At this time there was a mem- 
bership of 35 families. Soon after the completion of 
the church. Rev. D. Bowles took charge and was the 
first resident pastor. He added to the Church prop- 
erty by the purchase of a parsonage. Father Bowles 
was succeeded by Rev. James H.Upin, who founded 
the Churches at Alexis, Raritan and Keithsburg. The 
membership was increased under Father Halpin's 
administration to 70 families. Rev. Thomas O'Far- 
rell succeeded Mr. Halpin, remaining three years. 
He was followed by Rev. William Murphy who 
served the Church tliree years when he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. F. C. Duffy, the present pastor, who 
took charge in 1883. Under Father Duffy's able 
and energetic pastorate the present grand church 
edifice was erected and the membership largely in- 
creased. Lots were purchased on Broadway west 
of the Court House at a cost of $3,750, ujxin which 
the finest church structure in the country was erected, 
costing $22,000. It was dedicated Oct. 5, 1884, by 
Bishop Spaulding of Peoria. This is one of the 
best constructed buildings in the county. Its archi- 
tecture is graceful and complete in its style. The 
ground was first tiled and then a cement bed was 
made, upon which a stone foundation was built. The 
sujierstructure is constructed of Chicago pressd brick 
trimmed with Ohio stone. A graceful spire towers 
up into the heavens, surmounting the whole. The 
inside is neatly finished and furnished with beauti- 
fully frescoed walls and ceiling. The altar is con- 



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WARREN COUNTY. 



±* 



775 



structed with elegance and classical taste. The 
present membership is about 150 families. 

Baptist Church. — As the Album of Warren County 
appears with the history of the Baptist Church at 
Monmouth left out, we feel it a duty we not only 
owe to our patrons, but to ourselves, to make the fol- 
lowing statement and place the responsibility where 
it properly belongs : The historian, in gathering up 
material for Church history, called, as the natural 
and first place to go, on the Pastor of this Church, 
by whom he was referred to one of the Deacons of 
the Church, who was Steward or Clerk, and had the 
records. The Pastor knew but little about the 
Church, having been Pastor, as he stated, only two 
years and a half ! After repeated solicitations from 
the Clerk, and much importuning, the historian was 
obliged to leave the county without any data regard- 
ing this Church, and with the belief that an account 
of it was not desired by those in authority. After 
leaving the county, the parties having the records of 
the Church were further solicited by the historian 
through the mails, for the necessary data, but with- 
out success. Hence, having failed to procure any 
information from the parties upon whom we had to 
depend, and to such as we always look for inform- 
ation regarding Churches, this Baptist Church has 
" no representation in this book. 

, MONMOUTH CEMETERY. 

It would seem that when the people of Monmouth 



first laid out grounds for the interment of their dead, 
they did not expect their town to grow very much, 
for they only set aside an acre for this purpose, and 
in what is now the settled portion of the town. This 
cemetery is now located in the northeast corner of 
the southwest quarter of section 29. As a natural 
sequence to the growth of the town, this ground was 
in a few years all taken up and it became necessary 
to have new and larger grounds. 

In 1858, a new cemetery was laid out. It was lo- 
cated on the northwest corner of the northeast quar- 
ter of section 20. In 1880 an addition was made to 
this from the southwest corner of the southeast quar- 
ter of section 20. The ground now enclosed for the 
cemetery embraces about 20 acres. It is rolling and 
beautifully located, having rare natural advantages 
for this purpose. 

The interments here are more numerous than 
would be supposed, calculating the time of its loca- 
tion and the population. 

There are many costly monuments, and most of 
the tombstones display refinement and taste. The 
lots are usually well cared for and in the season of 
flowers are adorned with those emblems which speak 
to the heart and move it to deeper emotions than 
the cold marble. 

If some of the tombstones were righted, the grass 
and weeds removed, and the unsightly fences around 
the lots taken away, it would add much to the beauty 
of this cemetery. 




tjr 



.j^ 



¥ 



J, 



«4= 



-— <^ 



ry^ 




Abbey, George 197 

Adams, John 23 

Adams, Jolin Qiiincy 39 

Adcock, Joseph W 618 

Ailcock, William 640 

Alcxamler, E. U 642 

Alexander, J. E 484 

Allard, David 400 

Allen, \Vm. A 512 

^ Almond, Wm. S 255 

Amos, James E 395 

Anderson, Perry 502 

Armstrong, A.AV., M. D 418 

Arthur, Chester A 99 

Arthurs, James F 198 

Atchison, Capt. E. C 454 

Aylesworth. Flora A 3B8 



Babcock. Draper 218 

I!abcock, Elijah C 221 

Haglcy, James 448 

Railey, J 261 

Baldwin, Hiram 536 

Baldwin, Jacob 411 

Baldwin, M . S •■587 

Barber, J. W 215 

Barnes, John 402 

Beck, R. A 210 

Bcckner, George W 309 

Bellinger, Cicorge W 576 

Bcngtson, Olof 268 

Bennett, John 342 

Bennett, I-orenzo ... .400 

Bennett, Mrs> M. M 424 

Bcvcridge, John L 171 

Billings, A. B 318 

I'illini;slcy, David S 324 

Bird. Daniel ...230 

Birdsall. P. D 654 

Bissell, William H 151 

Black, A. H 353 

Blackburn Charles E 596 



BIOGFJfll^P^I^plj. 



niayncy, John C 534 

r.lodsictt, Kciward L 47' 

lily the, J. C 554 

llolon, J. W 457 

liond, J. W 189 

lioncl, Major John C 189 

lioiKl, Jesse W 616 

Hond, Shadrach m 

liond, W. U 485 

Booth. Franklin 244 

lioyd, Drury I! 287 

Koyil, Drury li 639 

Uoyd, W. T a6o 

liradshaw, Charles O a86 

lircnt, David C 572 

Krciu.i;. W 638 

lirent, W. I> 645 

lircnt. Paul 330 

lircwcr, J. W., M. D 604 

Bristol, C. li 663 

Brooks. Chester 249 

lirooks, W. H 205 

liruen, John N 460 

liruinKton, George 648 

Iiruini;ton, N. P 464 

Hruner,(leorgc F 528 

Buchanan, James 75 

Btillman, Theodore F 507 

iiurchfield J. G 567 

Burford, A 381 

Burke, J. H 638 

Burt, U. W 518 

Bute, Cyrus 544 

Bycrs, Jacob 253 



c 



Cable, Ezra 22^ 

Cable, W. H 335 

Caldcr, J 571 

Caldwell, John .. . 242 

Campbell, James. . . . . .431 

Campbell, John P 199 

Capps, I M 441 

Capps, Orvillc 336 

C.ipps, T. L 334 



Carmichacl, C. A 538 

Carr, J. O 317 

Caison, Walter . . .505 

Catt, Jesse 446 

Caytnn, A. J 494 

Chapin,N.A 573 

Chapman, A. A 369 

Chapman, Orson O 399 

Chattcrton, M rs. Sarah J 327 

Christie, I. L 515 

Clark, John S •■763 

Clarke, E. J 578 

Clarke, T. S 501 

ClaycombG. W.. 548 

Cleveland, S. G rover 103 

Coats, J. W 620 

Coddington, John 472 

Cogbill, J. W 281 

Coles, Edward -115 

Colver, Charles S 304 

Conlce, J. W 667 

Cowan, William 583 

Co wick, Levi B 202 

Crandall, Emery H -. .360 

Crane. S. B 333 

Crawford, S. K., M. D 650 

Crosby, William 348 

Cullom, Shelby M 175 

Cuininings, J . K 321 



D 



Davidson, J. W 664 

Davifi, I.. B 503 

Dawdy, W. H 644 

Day, Coridon D 528 

DifTenbaugh, Samuel 536 

Dixson, Eli 646 

Dixson, Stephen 359 

Douglas, H. S 200 

Douglas, Samuel 566 

Douty, I.. S 394 

Duffey,Rcv. F. C 774 

Duffield, David 366 

Dull, C. M 270 

Duncan, Joseph 131 

Dunkle, D. D 595 



Edelman, Leonard W 439 

Edwards, Ninian 119 

Edwards, William 406 

Eldred, Arnold 43' 

Eldred, Sarah M 493 

Eidredg, Truman 262 

Elliott, R. A 65 

Emans, E. P 

Evans, James A 279 

Ewing.W. L.D.... 127 



62 

'5> II 

76 K 



Field, J. I 34» 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

Firoved, James P 384 

Fish. George W 303 

Flake, John 666 

Fletcher, Charles S 420 

Ford, Ihomas 139 

Forwood, B. F 227 

Frantz, H. M 334 

Frantz, J. H 317 

Frantz, W. H 195 

Freeman, Mary F. ^37 

French, Augustus <" 143 



G 



Galbraitb, James 53a 

Gallaugher, William 533 

Galloway, C 667 

Gardner, Benjamin H 481 

G ardner, James 628 

GarBeld, James A 95 



> 



■*i^ 



■ tT ' 



INDEX. 



— H^ 



777 



Gerlaw, R. W 357 

Gibson, R. A 629 

Gibson, Samuel.. 607 

GidJings, H. C 306 

Gilliland, H. R ." 547 

Gilliland, S 585 

Gilmore, James T 291 

Gilmore, J. H 587 

Gilmore, L. H 270 

Glasgow, James L 602 

Glenn, Hon. John J 636 

Godfrey, Burton 37' 

Gordon, John .-V 45^ 

Gordon. N 577 

Gossett, George 298 

Gowdy, Joseph S '99 

Graham, A. R 47= 

Graham, D 668 

Graham, J. R 275 

Graham, Samuel 552 

Grant, Ulysses S "37 

Grigg, John D 294 

Grooms, Samuel E 330 

Guilinger, J. F, 430 



H 



Hall. Frank L 

Hall, Leonard. 

^ Hall, Mrs. Mary 

H.ill,M. W 

Hall, Wm. E... 

Hallam, D. M 

Hamilton, John M 

Hamilton, Rev. G. W.. 

Hamilton, S. M., M. D 

Haney, Richard 

Hanna, William 

Hanna, J. R 

Hardin, Chancy 

Harding, H. G 

Harding, Gen. .-V. C 

Harrington, H. L., M. D 

Harrison , Wm. H 

Hartman, J. T 

Hayden, D. S 

Hayden, Jacob 

Hayes, Alfred 

Hayes, Rutherford H 

Hebbard, C. A 

Heinzman, Frederick 

Henderson, S. S . . . - 

Henry, R. H 

Hess, Thos. M., M. 1). . 

Hibbard, Luther C 

Higgins, Capt. J . P 

Hodgson, John 

Hogan, H. M. 

Hogue,J.C 

Holeman, D. 1> 

Holeman. Reuben 

Holliday, W. S., M. D 

HoUoway, Robert 

Holman, Perrine 

Hoornbeek, Jeremiah 

Hoornbeek, Dr. Nathaniel B 



280 
436 
557 
.^83 
281 
179 
65S 
316 
58. 
.613 
■505 
363 
491 
S4I 
.487 

5' 
,608 

■574 
.418 
.306 
• 9' 
■654 
■659 
210 

503 
.388 

486 
■557 
■46s 

300 
.620 
.659 
•358 
•524 
■ 623 
.360 
•■3"5 

445 



Houlton, E. R 648 

Houlton.F. R.. 190 

Hughen, Elisha J 425 

Huston, S. W 363 

Howk, Capt. R. A 653 



Ingersoll, Hiram 348 

Irwin, James C 628 

Ivcy, John J 345 

J 

Jackson, Andrew 43 

Jared, Israel 269 

Jefferson, Thomas 27 

Jenkins, Isaac zoo 

Jenks, W. B zo6 

Jewell, Henry L 436 

Jewell, Jacob 578 

Jewell, John 4°' 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

Johnson, Win. U 597 

Johnston, E. C 304 

Jones, Furney 469 

Jones, N. W 666 

Jones, Parker S.. 498 

Jones, Wm. P 3^5 

K 

Karns, Philip J 205 

Kellogg, Oscar N 588 

Kelsey, John 414 

^ Kelsey, James 255 

Kettering. Eenj. T -323 

Kidder, Almon 377 

Kidder, Henry H 487 

Kidder, Larnard 42^ 

Kidder, Nathaniel 29S 

Kidder, William O 3^1 

Kirby, I. B 198 

Kirby, Joseph us 208 

Kling;ngsmith,Mrs. Mary C.208 
Kobler, G.J 494 



Laferty, Wm. . - 440 

Lahann, R 662 

Lair, Wm. M 492 

Lanpherc, J. E 478 

Lnthrop, J iiliiis I 275 

Lee, Dr. J 407 

Lester, Lamben 660 

Lewey, Alfred 526 

Lewis, Hoh.H. M 2S5 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Linn, E. C, M. D.- 413 

Lippy, J. H 247 

Livermore, Derrick 459 

Lorimer, John 655 

Loudon, Wm. F 656 



Lowther, John F 535 

Lucas, J . C 217 

Lusk, J. W 615 

Lusk, Lem M 6ig 



M 



Madison, James 31 

Maley, Levi 543 

Malony, Joseph B 527 

Marshall, Hugh, M. D 6oi 

Martin, Joseph 293 

Martin, Hugh. . 342 

Mather, Miss Desire E 3S2 

Matson , W. St. Clair 516 

Matthews, Kev. Robert C 522 

Matteson,B. P 294 

M atteson , Col by 223 

Matteson, Joel A 147 

Matthews, John W., 537 

McClanahan, John 653 

McClannahan, J.A.,M.D.286 
McClanahan, John P., M. D.551 

McConnell, Rev. W.T 603 

McCosh, George G 511 

McCoy, William 523 

McCurdy, R. W 288 

MeKnight, John A 565 

McM ah ill, George \V 352 

McMichael.J.B.. A.M.,D.D 604 

McNeil C 645 

McQiiiston James H 438 

McWilUanis, John T 419 

Meacham, F. W. 216 

Meachiim, Harrison 322 

Meacham, Wm 483 

Meadows, Thomas 661 

Meginnis, J. B 625 

Miles, Henry C... ... 568 

Miles, John 497 

Miller, John A.. 513 

Milter, J- W 

Miller, William D 563 

Mitchell, William A 478 

Mcnroe, James 35 

Moore, Robert '47 

Moore, Wm. V,, Sr 279 

Morey, G. W 230 

Morford, Rebecca 248 

Morgan, lames W 574 

Morris. A. K 626 

Morris. F. K., M. D 206 

Morris. J. C 651 

Morris, Easton z8o 

Morris, Thomas J 311 

Morse, David E 577 

Murdock, J. H 291 



N 



Nance, R. H . . 649 

Nash. J. B 625 

Nesbit, John A 235 

Nevins, J- R -446 

Nicol, W J 352 

Nisely, G. W 420 



o 

Ogden, Rufus 435 

Oglesby, Richard J . 163 

Osborn, Mrs- Mary 477 

Owen, James 452 

Owens, J. F 405 



Paddock, Merrit 453 

Page, Charles T 516 

Paine, John Edward 407 

Palmer, G. W 222 

Palmer, John M 167 

Palmer, Schuyler 259 

Parker, A G 211 

Parker, Barzillai 396 

Parrish, P. R 4*7 

Parry, Hon. D. D 235 

Parsons, H . C 366 

Patch. L. D 668 

Patch, William 243 

Pattee, Henry H 537 

Paiton, N. Thomas 423 

Patterson, Hon. .Azro.,. .. . . .328 

Patton. Roberts 558 

Paxton, William S 476 

Pearce, T h eodore C 354 

Perry, L. B 310 

Perry, Marvin 346 *< 

Perry, Timothy P., Jr 525 

Phelps, Dclos Porter .591 

Phelps, Porter 633 

Phelps, DeWitt 315 

Phillips, A. S 299 

Pierce, C H 640 

Pierce, Clement 3?2 

Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pine, Frank J 54^ 

Pine, Joseph 657 

Pinkerton, Wm- M 644 

PIttman, W. E.,M. D 639 

Polk, James K.. 59 

Pollock, James F . -.-438 

Porter, Hon. John 626 

Porter, Joshua •■333 

Porter, T- J • .-■ 333 

Porteri William E 465 

Porter, Wm 630 

Parsons, Charles Henry 366 

Postlewait, C. W 49E 

Pratt, Isaac L 641 

Pressly, Wm. P 66«; 

Pruitt, Willis 201 



tjuinby. Ivory -375 



R 



Randall. Asal P 556 

Randall, O ^■.■370 



^ 



mAj 



-^ 



Randall, Dr. WiUiam 64 

Ranking C. G 32* 

Rankin, George C 532 

Rankin, N. A 215 

Ranney, Royal 508 

Ray, J. C 658 

Ray. M, B 370 

Ray, OrviUe 565 

Rayburn, W. R 309 

Reed, John T 442 

Reid, Andrew J 341 

Rces, M. S 643 

Rcichard, John T 536 

Reynolds, J. B 249 

Reynolds, John 123 

Reynolds, John W 276 

Rhinehart. I>. W 211 

Rice, Thomas H 387 

Riggs* J esse 353 

Ritchey, Andrew Jackson 389 

Roberts, Peyton 615 

Roberts, Ransom 425 

Robertson. J. W 229 

Robinson, G. W 201 

Robinson, Milton C 538 

Robinson, John S 504 

Rockwell, Alfred H 393 

RocTcwell, Albert J 4" 

Rodgers, A 372 

Rodgers, S. W 636 

Rodgers, Hon. Calvin M ... .514 

Rogers, Charles 514 

Rogers, John 412 

^ Rogers, Prof- Thomas H — 596 

Roncy, Hercules 274 

Russell, Charles E 423 

Russell, Jonathan 442 

Ryner, James S 466 



Sallee, George M 517 

Salter, John, Sr 548 



Alexander, E. D 461 

Brooks. W. H ao4 

Buford, A 380 

Calder. J 570 

Campbell, James. 284 

Carson, William 450 

Chapman, A. A .368 

Coats, Joshua W 416 

Crane, S- B 232 

Edelman, L. W 428 

Edwards, William 404 

Frantz, J. H 258 

Fraotz, W. H 192 



Sawtell, Mrs. Jemima... ..aaS 

Sexton, W. H 390 

Seymour, A. G 21a 

Shaw, D. J 351 

Shawler, Jacob 32* 

Sheldon, Burr 563 

Sheldon, Hiram S45 

Sheldon, Wilson 53» 

Shclton. Samuel '1' 555 

ShuUz, k. H 254 

Shultz. C 254 

Sickmon, George 606 

Sigafoos, Henry 4*3 

Simcock. John -• 347 

Simmons, Andrew W 482 

Simmons, James 4»3 

Sisson, Asahcl D. B 390 

Sisson, A. J ?97 

Smith, James 256 

Smith, W'm. V 401 

Sofield, J. B 3'^9 

Sorenson, Frederick 45 » 

Sorcnson, Martin 485 

Soulc, MclvillcC 553 

Speakman, William P 209 

Sperry, .Alonzo 20a 

Spriggs, James H 545 

Spriggs, John S., Jr $35 

Spriggs. John S., M. J> 586 

Staat, Henry 241 

Standley, James W. M. D...588 

Stark, William 353 

Stem, David 287 

Stem, Scth P...'. 584 

Stewart, l>avid B 488 

Stewart, James H 399 

Stewart, William K 250 

Slice, G. W 662 

Strong, John M 437 

Swinney, Ephraim S 595 

Swain, A. H 339 




Sykcs, William P 267 

Sickmon, George 606 



Taylor, /iachary O3 

Taylor, Warren E., M . I). . .506 

'I'eare, Henry 228 

Teare, Robert 374 

'I'crpcning, I>avid 483 

Tcri>cning, John P 56' 

Thayer, (ieorge. . . 37a 

'I'homas, Timothy ...218 

Thompson, Erick 334 

Thomson, H. R 384 

Thomson, James F 306 

Thorn, William R 496 

'I'inkham, Joseph 423 

Tinkham, Mrs. Cordelia A. ..585 

Torrance, Charles 273 

'IrulocW, Henry F. 402 

Tucker, Kev. Anson 614 

Tucker, John 657 

TurnluiU, J. C, Sr 327 

'iurnbuU, Captain John M..617 

Turnlmll, David ... .603 

Tuttlc, David — 656 

1 witchell, J. C 546 

Tyler, John 55 



Van Arsd.-ile, J. B 378 

Van Burcn, Martin 47 

Vandcvecr, .\ 242 

Van Gilder, David 312 

Vanhoorebcke, Dr. A. G ...469 

Van Riper, A. C 655 

Van Tascll, Isaac 244 

V.-in Tasell, James W 36a 



:^0 



-oto— 



Forwood, B. F 246 

CIcrlaw, R. W 356 

Gilmoic, J . T .. .296 

Haney, Mrs. M. E 438 

Hanna, William.. 6ro 

Hoornbcck, Jeremiah 320 

Ivey, John J 344 

Jewell, Henry L 404 

Lair, William M 428 

Lester, Lambert 380 

Lewis, H.N 384 

Lucas, J. C aao 

Matteson, Colby aao 



Mitchell, Wm. A 4fii 

McQuision, James H.l 438 

Owens, ). F 404 

l*almcr, Schuyler 258 

Parrish, Parker K 416 

Porter, T. J 332 

Ray, N. B : 368 

Rayburn. W. R 308 

Rees, M, S 474 

Ritchey, A. J 368 

Rockwell, A. H 392 

Rockwell, Htrlen M 372 

Koncy, Hercules 27a 



Van Tuyl. Mrs. Elizabeth A. 495 

\'aughan, P. A . 248 

Vorwick, Joseph W 476 



w 



Wagy, Lemuel .'. 448 

Wallace, John C 535 

Wallace, James H., M. D 521 

Washington, George 19 

Watson, James 598 

Weakley, T. A 288 

Webster, John R., M. D 439 

Weir, William S 605 

Whelan, J. S 661 

White, J. M 207 

Wickcrsham, E. 1 236 

Wilson, W. W a24 

Wingaie, John a^K) 

Wondcrly, John 247 

Wood, John 155 

Wood, Samuel 303 

Wood, William 598 

Wood, Cyrus J 197 

Woodward, Dr. Norwood S...424 

Woodward, R. B 336 

Wray, Joseph us 553 

Wray, Mrs. S. E 586 



Varde, Aaron... 475 

Varde, Charles F. P 451 , 

Yates, Richard 159 

Young, Clark M 523 

Young, Joseph L 285 

Young, Lyman H .564 



Shaw, D. J 33» 

Shawler, Jacob 320 

Sigafoss, Flora 450 

Sisson, .*\ . J 296 

Simcock, John 344 

Sykcs. Anna C 393 

Sorenson, Fred 45" 

Stewart, D B 428 

Torrance, Charles 272 

Weakly, Thomas A 284 

Wondcrly, John 346 

Varde, Aaron .474 



*^ 



rJL: 



r 



4 



rv^ 



-^^-4-»- 



INDEX. 



779 




Adams, John 22 

Adams, John Quiiicy 38 

Arthur, Chester A g8 

Beveridge, John L 170 

Bissell, Wm. H 150 

Bolon, J. W 456 

Bond, Maj. J. C 188 

Bond, Shadrach no 

Buchanan, James 74 

Byers, Jacob 252 

Carlin, Thomas 134 

Chatterton, L. E 326 

Clarke, T . S goo 

Cleveland, S. Grover 102 

Coles, Edward 114 

Cullom, Shelby M 174 

I'uncan, Joseph 130 

Edwards, Ninian 118 

Evans, James 278 

Ewing, Wm. L. D 126 

Fillmore, Millard , . 66 



Ford, Thomas 138 

Forwood, B. F .226 

Frantz, W. H 193 

French, Augustus C 142 

Gardner. B. H 480 

Garfield , James A 94 

Gilmore, J. T 290 

Grant, Ulysses S 86 

Haney, Rev. Richard 580 

Hanna, William 610 

Harding, Gen. A . C 540 

Harding, Harry G 490 

Hardin, Chancy 362 

Harrison, Wm. H so 

Hayes, Rutherford B 90 

Hollo way, Robert 622 

Hoornbeek, Jeremiah ■314 

Hoornbeek, Dr. N. B 444 

Jackson, Andrew 42 

Jefferson, Thomas 26 

Johnson, Andrew 82 



Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Madison, James ■ ho 

Matthews, R. C 523 

Matteson, Joel A 146 

McClanahan, Dr. j. P 550 

McCosh, G- G 510 

Monroe, James 34 

Ogden, Riifus 434 

Oglesby, Richard J 162 

Palmer, John M 166 

Phelps, Delos P 590 

Phelps, Porter 632 

Pierce, Franklin 70 

Polk, James K 58 

Pratt, Isaac 640 

Quinby, Hon. Ivory 374 

Randall, Dr. William 648 

Rankin, N. A 214 

Reynolds, John 122 

Rice, Thomas H 386 



Roukwell, A. J 410 

Shaw, D.J 350 

Sheldon, Wilson 530 

Staat, Frances 238 

Staat, Mrs. Margaretha 239 

Stewart, Hon . James H 398 

Swain, A. H 338 

Sykes, Wm. P 264 

Sykes, Anna 265 

I'aylor, Zachary 62 

Terpening, John P 560 

Tinkham, Joseph 422 

Tyler. John 54 

Van Buren, Martin 46 

Vanhoorebeke,Dr. A. G 468 

Wallace, Dr. J H 520 

Washington, George 18 

Wood, John 154 

Wood, Hon. Samuel 302 

Yates, Richard — 158 







INTRODUCTORY 665 

EARLY SETTLEMENT 667 

Organization of County 669 

INDIAN HISTORY 672 

The Black Hawk War 674 

CIVIL GOVERNMENT 679 

Board of Supervisors 682 

TOPOGRAPHICAL 684 

LEGAL HISTORY 685 

Trial of the Murderers 

of Wm Martin 686 

Trial of Joe Smith 687 

John Baxter 688 

Brockner & McMahill 690 

Probate Court 690 

County Court 690 

Judges 691 

State's Attorneys 693 

Members of the Bar 694 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS 695 

County Jail 695 



County Poor Farm 
WAR FOR THE UNION 
WARREN COUNTY LI- 
BRARY 

RAILROADS 

Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy R. R. 



697 
698 

702 
704 

704 



Central Iowa Railway 706 



MISCELLANEOUS 
County Officials 
Educational Matters 
Old Settlers' Association 
Agricultural Fair 

TOWNSHIPS 
Berwick 
Cold Brook 
Ellison 
Floyd 
Greenbusli 
Hale 
Kelly 

• '\- • 



707 
707 
709 
709 

7 10 

711 
711 

714 
7.8 
720 
722 
724 
728 



Lenox 
Monmouth 
Point Pleasant 
Roseville 
Spring Grove 
Sumner 
Swan 
Tompkins 

CITIES AND VILLAGES: 

Berwick 

Cameron 

Ellison 

Greenbush 

Larchland 

Roseville 

Alexis 

Gerlavv 

Little York 

Youngstown 

Swan Creek 

Kirkwood 

CITY OF MONMOUTH 



730 
733 
734 

735 
740 

745 
749 
752 



713 
7,6 

720 
723 
732 
737 
742 

744 
748 

751 
75' 
754 

75 S 



i* 



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